Ionia, Kolophon. ca 389-350 BC. AE 12mm - possibly unpublished symbol
Ionia, Kolophon (Colophon), ca 389-350 BC. AE 12mm (2.17g). Laureate head of Apollo right / Lyre within linear square; KOΛ to right, thyrsos or bow in case (?) to left.
Milne, Kolophon, 81A (thyrsos).
gVF, dark green, glossy patina - tiny and beautiful piece of classical art (quite nice in hand). Very rare and possibly unpublished!
The symbol to left of the lyre on the reverse appears to be a bow in case, which is not published in any of the standard references, including Milne (the standard reference for Colophon). It could be a thyrsos (with the top part representing the pine cone - Milne 81A, a very rare variant itself), but this tiny coin in hand really seems to show a bow case. The other possible variations - corn ear and astragaloi - do not seem to apply. You judge for yourself.