UNCERTAIN. Circa 2nd-1st centuries BC. AE (Bronze, 13 mm, 2.12 g, 1 h). Head of Medusa (?) facing slightly to right. Rev. ΘΠΡ (?) Bee. Apparently unpublished. Some deposits, otherwise, very fine.


This enigmatic issue is somewhat reminiscent of bronzes attributed tentatively to Praisos on Crete (see CNG E-Auction 387 (2016), 112, Naumann E-Auction 56 (2017), 127 and Roma E-Auction 3 (2018), 149). However, it differs in style and it has a different legend. While the other issues show a bee with two straight wings, the insect on our coin displays four spread wings. Furthermore, the legend on the other coins reads 'E', whereas we can tentatively read ΘΠΡ on our piece. If this reading is correct, it would suggest a date of 'year 189' rather than an ethnic. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that there are more letters hiding below the deposits. In any case, it is an enigmatic and lovely coin that is certainly worthy of more research.