Greek: IONIA. Miletus. Ca. 600-550 BC. EL stater (20mm, 13.91 gm, 12h). NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5....

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IONIA. Miletus. Ca. 600-550 BC. EL stater (20mm, 13.91 gm, 12h). NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5. Lion reclining left, head reverted; within ornamental rectangular frame divided into smaller rectangular compartments / Central oblong punch, containing three pellets connected and fox running left; stellate pattern within square punch to left, head of stag left within square punch to right. Weidauer 126. Rosen 577 var. (incuse punch designs). SNG Kayhan 440 var. (incuse punch orientation). Delightful archaic style on mellow surfaces.

From The Cambridge Collection.

Miletus was one of the greatest Greek cities of Asia Minor. Located on the west coast of Anatolia at the mouth of the Meander River, it was founded as early as the 15th century BC period by Minoan settlers from Crete, and had already acquired its name by the 13th century BC (Hittite clay tablets of that era refer to the city as Millawanda or Millawata). Destroyed during the Sea People upheavals of the later 12th century BC, it was resettled by Ionian Greeks circa 1000 BC. By circa 600 BC it was regarded as the wealthiest and most populous of all Greek cities, home to the Milesian School of Philosophers, with its own small "empire" of maritime colonies. It was certainly among the first Greek cities to strike coins, if not the first, and this pleasing electrum stater is one of the first full-weight pieces struck. The typology adopted before 600 BC featured a lion looking back and roaring, a theme that remained consistent for the next four centuries.

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