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1⁄48 Stater
| Issuer | Uncertain Ionian city |
|---|---|
| Year | 600 BC - 550 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Plain incuse square punch, characteristic of early Ionian electrum fractions, applied by a single square-headed punch to serve as the countermark securing the metal during striking. The incuse cavity is irregular and somewhat shallow, with rough, uneven interior surfaces reflecting the primitive striking technique of the period. No device, legend, or additional design element is present within the incuse. The surrounding field retains the natural convexity of the hammered electrum flan. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Among the earliest coined money anywhere in the world, these fractional electrum issues from the Ionian coast predate any standardized mint authority — which is precisely why attribution remains contested. The naturalistic alloy composition varies piece to piece, drawn from river electrum rather than refined stock, meaning no two examples are chemically identical.
At 0.27 g, this denomination would have represented genuine small-change purchasing power in a market economy still learning what coinage was for.