Sale: CNG 61, Lot: 717. Closing Date: Sep 25, 
2002. Estimate $1000  

IONIA, Persian Satraps. Ephesos(?). Circa 350-340 
BC. AR Tetradrachm (14.77 gm). Persian king 
kneeling right, holding bow in left hand, spear in 
right.
Incuse relief map of the hinterland of Ephesos(?). 

BMC 3; Traité pl. 89, 8.
Johnston 25 in "The Earliest Preserved Greek Map: A New Ionian Coin Type," JHS (1967); Leo Mildenberg, "Money Supply under Artaxerxes III Ochus," in Studies in Memory of Martin Price, pl. 61, 81.

Johnston has interpreted this reverse design as a 
relief map of the hinterland of Ephesos, which would 
make it the earliest Greek map and first physical relief 
map known. On the right (north) are the mountains Tmolos 
and Messogis between the Ca˙ster and 
Maeander valleys to the left. Johnston and Six suggest that the coins were probably struck under the Persian general Memnon at Ephesos, ca 336-334 BC. Johnston's theory has been the subject of some doubt, most recently by Leo Mildenberg. 

Lot sold for $800, plus buyers fees.

Used by permission of Classical Numismatic Group, www.cngcoins.com.