Ave!

Ionia, Phokaia, Electrum Hekte, Actor Wearing Mask, RARE!

Electrum; 11mm/2.6gm   Struck ca. 478-387 BC

Con/about Extremely Fine; soundly struck and perfectly centered on each side. Very rare and in unusually fine condition for this charming issue. 

Obv/ Head of a young actor to left, wearing Silenos mask on top of his head; to right, small seal swimming downward.

Rev/ Quadripartite incuse square.

Ref/ Bodenstedt 70   Extremely Rare, only three specimens cited by Bodenstedt, with a further five recorded in CoinArchives.

Seller's Note/ At first glance, you may wonder why the actor is depicted with a horse's ear? That is part of the optical illusion! Turned 90-degrees counter-clock wise, the illusion becomes obvious. The actor is wearing a mask of Silenus, featuring his typical bald pate, bulging eyes set back below his furrowed, overhanging brow, horses ears, snub nose and rounded cheek bones.