GREEK (Archaic/Classical). Macedon, Skione AR Hemiobol (6mm, 0.34g, 1h), c. 5th century BCE.
Obverse: Head of Protesilaos (?) right wearing taenia
Reverse: Schematic human eye within incuse square. (Legend in incuse? Σ−K−I or var.?)
Reference: Marathaki (2014) No. 93 (E70/O67) (this coins illustrated on Pl. 27, enlarged on Pl. 57); Galst & van Alfen XIII.9 (this coin illustrated); HGC 3, 677 var. (no taenia).
Comparanda: Marathaki cites it as the only example of its obv. die. See also two examples of similar later style, otherwise unpublished: (1) BnF btv1b8590874v; (2) Forum (Joe Sermarini, n.d.) GA73133.
Provenance: Ex Collection of Dr. Jay M. Galst (1950-2020), published in his 2013 book with Peter van Alfen, Ophthalmologia Optica et Visio in Nummis (NY: ANS); Classical Numismatic Review vol. XXV [CNR 25] (Summer 2000), “A Selection of Macedonian Fractions,” No. 22; CNG e-Auction 531.1 (25 Jan 2023), Lot 78.
Notes: A rarer variety of distinctly more Classical style, and depicting Protesilaos (?) wearing diadem/taenia. (Protesilaos was first to die, heroically, in the Trojan War. He fulfilled prophesy by leaping first onto the shores of Troy, knowing it meant he would be killed by Hector.)
Presumably struck later than the traditional dating for the Archaic style Hemiobol of the same type (still a scarce type). Possibly struck as late as c. 423 BCE or later. (Otherwise unpublished, I’m only aware of the two other examples above — Collection BnF, Paris & FAC/Sermarini archive.)