Ionia, Uncertain, 5th Century BC, AR Hemibol, Horse / Incuse Square

$45.00

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SKU: G12.8 Categories: ,

Description

Greek,  Ionia, Uncertain, 5th Century BC, AR Hemibol (silver, 0.27g, 7.3mm)
Obv: Head of a horse to right
Rev: Quadripartite incuse square
Ref: Klein 332 (Kyme) Rarity/Choice: Common, Good VF (slightly off-centered otherwise lovely)
Note: During the 5th century BC, Ionia, an ancient region on the western coast of Anatolia, was home to a diverse array of Greek city-states. This period saw the flourishing of Ionian culture, marked by significant achievements in art, philosophy, and commerce. The coin, struck to the Milesian standard, features a small hemiobol in silver. On the obverse is the head of a horse facing right, a common motif often associated with the region’s strong equestrian tradition. The reverse displays a quadripartite incuse square, a distinctive feature of many early Ionian coins. This incuse square was created by stamping the coin between four engraved dies, resulting in a sunken design divided into four equal sections. The significance of this design remains a subject of debate among numismatists, but it likely held symbolic or practical significance for the issuing city-state, perhaps representing its authority or serving as a means of authentication for the coin’s value.