CYCLADES, Keos. Ioulis. Circa 515-490/80 BC. Stater (Silver, 21 mm, 12.07 g). Grape bunch; to right, dolphin swimming downward. Rev. Incuse square with ‘windmill’ pattern. Sheedy 4 (O3/-). Exceedingly rare and of great importance, one of only seven known staters from Ioulis. Test cut on the obverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


Ioulis was one of three poleis on the island of Keos to strike its own coins in late Archaic time. Even compared to the very rare coinage of its neighbors Karthaia and Koressos, the output must have been very small: Sheedy knew of only six staters and one drachm, alongside a somewhat more abundant series of fractions, most notably obolai. Perhaps Ioulis, the sole inland city of the island, was less involved in maritime trade, which would explain the conspicuous lack of larger denominations.