Nomos AG
obolos 16 11 Oct 2020
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CYCLADES, Mykonos. 3rd-1st century BC. Dichalkon (?) (Bronze, 15.5 mm, 3.80 g, 7 h). Bearded head of Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. M-[Y]/K-[O] Grape bunch on vine; to left, barley grain. BMC 1-2. HGC 6, 616. Joy -. SNG Copenhagen 698. Very rare. Brown patina. Corrosion on obverse, light porosity on reverse, otherwise, very fine.
From the Vineyard Collection, ex Hirsch 226, 13 February 2003, 1416.
Like its southern neighbor Naxos, Mykonos was noted in antiquity for the high quality of its vintages. Thus it is logical that the god Dionysos and grapes play a prominent role on the coins from the island. In fact, the god appears on every coin type from Mykonos except one, which shows the goddess Demeter on the obverse. However, all coins from Mykonos - and without exception they are all very rare - also show either a barley grain (as here) or wheat stalks. These are attributes of goddess Demeter Chloe, the epithet Chloe being a feminine name meaning "blooming" or "fertility." In Greek the word refers to the young, green foliage or shoots of plants in spring.
From the Vineyard Collection, ex Hirsch 226, 13 February 2003, 1416.
Like its southern neighbor Naxos, Mykonos was noted in antiquity for the high quality of its vintages. Thus it is logical that the god Dionysos and grapes play a prominent role on the coins from the island. In fact, the god appears on every coin type from Mykonos except one, which shows the goddess Demeter on the obverse. However, all coins from Mykonos - and without exception they are all very rare - also show either a barley grain (as here) or wheat stalks. These are attributes of goddess Demeter Chloe, the epithet Chloe being a feminine name meaning "blooming" or "fertility." In Greek the word refers to the young, green foliage or shoots of plants in spring.