ATTICA. Athens. Circa 545-525/15 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 6 mm, 0.37 g), 'Wappenmünzen' type. Scarab beetle. Rev. Diagonally divided quadripartite incuse square. HGC 4, -, cf. 1649 (obol). Kroll, Agora -. Seltman pl. IV, -. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG München -. Svoronos pl. 1, -, cf. 39-40 (obol). Apparently unpublished save for its previous auction appearance. Struck in high relief and darkly toned. Light scratches and the reverse struck somewhat off center, otherwise, very fine.

This beautifully toned hemiobol, struck in high relief, fills an important gap in the series of so-called 'Wappenmünzen' series ('heraldic coins'), as the scarab had previously only been attested on didrachms and obols. While the precise significance of the scarab in the Athenian context remains unclear, in ancient Egyptian culture the beetle was a powerful symbol of rebirth and protection. It is therefore plausible that the motif carried similar associations in late 6th-century Athens, perhaps in relation to the quadrennial Panathenaic festival. Herodotus’ later journey to Egypt - where he observed local customs and took a particular interest in religious practices - testifies to the Greek elite’s fascination with Egyptian culture, which already rested on millennia of tradition. The long-standing Greek presence in Egypt, through mercenary service under the pharaohs and the establishment of the trading post of Naukratis in the Nile Delta in the late 7th or early 6th century BC, likely further fostered cultural exchange. When Herodotus presents Egypt to a panhellenic audience as a land of marvels and mystery, it is important to remember that Greek-Egyptian interactions already had deep historical roots by his time.