Mysia
Kyzikos. Circa 550-500 BC. Hemihekte or twelfth stater (Electrum, 7.5 mm, 1.34 g). Facing lion’s head; to right, tunny fish swimming downwards. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA 1412. SNG Paris 183. Von Fritze 43. Very rare. Clear and attractive. Good very fine.

Ex Tradart 5, 8 November 1992, 97.Interestingly enough, this issue of hemihektai with the lion's head is often found plated, as CNG e347, 210 and e458, 102. Stylistically there is, however, very little difference between the good metal issues and the plated ones – could it be that corrupt mint workers made the fake ones, after hours, as a way of increasing their salary?