Tiniest Fraction Ever Handled!
Lot 162: Ionia, Miletos. Late 6th-early 5th centuries B.C. AR 1/128 stater(?). 
AUCTION: Triskeles - Auction 17 (Auction 320)
- Sold Winning Bid: $205
- 4 Bid(s)
Ionia, Miletos. Late 6th-early 5th centuries B.C. AR 1/128 stater(?) (4 mm, 0.07 g). Lion's head facing within triangular dotted border / For-rayed stellate pattern of simple design within incuse square. Cf. SNG Kayhan 461 (1/32 stater); cf. Klein 423 (same). The tiniest, lowest weight fraction we've ever handled! Typical light porosity. Very fine.
In twenty years of cataloguing coins professionally for most of the major US auction firms that hold significant sales of ancient coins, this is the smallest fraction by far that I have ever come across. The weight would indicate that the denomination is 1/128th of a stater, but I don't believe I have ever heard of a denomination smaller than 1/96th stater. - JCL
- Offered By: Barry P. Murphy
- Lot #: 162
- Listing #: 174797
- Closed: Friday, September 16, 2016 5:53:40 PM CT
- Estimate: $200