Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Ionia, Miletos, c. 259-246 BC. AR Stater (10.59g). Laureate head of Apollo left. Reverse Lion walking left, head right, looking back at eight-pointed star; monograms to left and magistrate's name "Samios" in exergue. Deppert-Lipitz 504 (this reverse die); Bement Collection (Naville, June 1924) lot 11465 (this obverse die). Extremely Rare, one of only four known. Superb Extremely Fine.

This is an extremely rare issue, known as the "Persic" stater. One of only 14 surviving examples struck on this unusual weight standard, and one of only four in the name of this magistrate Samios. The normal struck coins of the 3rd century BC from Miletos were didrachms of about 6.5 grams. This coins was struck on a standard equivalent to two of the old Persian sigloi and therefore dubbed the "Persic" stater.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 14,000.