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Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXIV  19-20 Jan 2021
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Lot 615

Estimate: 7500 USD
Price realized: 13 000 USD
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MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-450 BC. EL Stater (17.5mm, 15.96 g). Warrior, nude but for helmet, blowing into trumpet(?) held in right hand, left hand holding sheathed sword behind, crouching left on [tunny left] / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 115; Greenwell 96; Boston MFA –; SNG BN 261 = Pozzi 2180 corr. (weight); BMC –; Gulbenkian –; Jameson –; Myrmekion 27. Lightly toned, minor scrape on obverse. Good VF. Well centered.

From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex Nomos 13 (7 October 2016), lot 205.

This beautiful and rare issue depicts a nude warrior, wearing a helmet and gripping a sheathed sword while blowing a trumpet. Greenwell suggests that the figure is likely Jason or one of the argonauts since they tie in so closely to the mythology of the city. Jason and the argonauts were received well by king Kyzikos and the Doliones, carousing and feasting with them before they departed back upon their journey. But, upon being blown back to Kyzikos from a different direction then they came, they were mistaken for the enemies of the city and attacked. The king and many of his men were killed in the dark, but after Jason and the argonauts were extremely sorrowful and mourned and honored the dead king for three days.
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