Heritage World Coin Auctions
CCE Signature Sale 3064 20-21 Apr 2018
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Ancients
IONIA. Phocaea. Ca. 477-388 BC. EL sixth stater or hecte (9mm, 2.51 gm). NGC AU★ 4/5 - 4/5. Siren (with human female head and bird body) standing left, seal above / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 61. Extremely rare, with only one other specimen to have been offered at auction in recent years!
Sirens, the mythical offspring of the river-god Alpheus and several of the Muses, are described by ancient mythmakers as birds with the heads of female humans, whose beautiful singing voices that drew sailors to their deaths. The most famous episode involving Sirens is undoubtedly found in the Odyssey, whence Odysseus stops up the ears of his crew with wax and has himself lashed to the ship's mast so that only he can hear their deadly song. An early myth suggests sirens received their wings when Demeter sent them off to search for her daughter Persephone.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 2000-3000 USD
IONIA. Phocaea. Ca. 477-388 BC. EL sixth stater or hecte (9mm, 2.51 gm). NGC AU★ 4/5 - 4/5. Siren (with human female head and bird body) standing left, seal above / Quadripartite incuse square. Bodenstedt 61. Extremely rare, with only one other specimen to have been offered at auction in recent years!
Sirens, the mythical offspring of the river-god Alpheus and several of the Muses, are described by ancient mythmakers as birds with the heads of female humans, whose beautiful singing voices that drew sailors to their deaths. The most famous episode involving Sirens is undoubtedly found in the Odyssey, whence Odysseus stops up the ears of his crew with wax and has himself lashed to the ship's mast so that only he can hear their deadly song. An early myth suggests sirens received their wings when Demeter sent them off to search for her daughter Persephone.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 2000-3000 USD