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Hekte
| Issuer | Uncertain Ionian city |
|---|---|
| Year | 600 BC - 550 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Electrum Stater |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Quadripartite incuse square divided by a raised cross into four roughly equal rectangular compartments of varying depth, a hallmark of early Greek hammered coinage produced by a punch die. The incuse impression is irregular but deeply struck, consistent with archaic minting technique. No inscription or additional device is present within the compartments. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Plain |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Among the earliest struck coins in human history, Ionian hektes of this period predate any standardized issuing authority — attribution remains contested between Miletus, Ephesus, and a handful of other Lydian-coastal workshops. The electrum itself was not an artificial alloy; it was harvested directly from the Pactolus River, whose natural gold-silver composition varied enough that no two hektes carry identical fineness.