IONIA. Phokaia. Circa 625/0-522 BC. Hekte (Subaeratus, 9 mm, 2.06 g, 11 h), a contemporary plated imitation. Head of a lion to left; below, seal to left. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. Bodenstedt 25 (for prototype with seal above and the reverse with a square incuse punch, not a quadripartite one). Minor breaks in plating, otherwise, very fine.


The lion's head obverse copies Bodenstedt 25, which dates to circa 625/0-522, but has the seal placed below the lion's head instead of above it, as on our coin. Also, the reverse of Bodenstedt 25 is a plain square incuse punch. Ours is a quite distinct quadripartite incuse punch, thus suggesting it was copied later, probably after 521.