Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 125 23-24 Jun 2021
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Mysia, Cyzicus.
Stater circa 450-400, EL 16.01 g. Youth on horseback l., crowning horse; below, tunny l. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. von Fritze 214 and pl. VI, 26. Boston, MFA –. SNG France 344.
Extremely rare. A very interesting issue struck on a full flan, about extremely fine
Whereas the ultimate source for the obverse type of the preceding Cyzicene electrum stater is somewhat uncertain, it is very clear that the obverse type of the present issue comes from a silver nomos of Tarentum struck in the last quarter of the fifth or early fourth century BC. The nomoi of this period frequently feature a youth crowning his horse while he rides it. This type does not seem to appear anywhere else earlier although it is possible to find numerous examples in Sicily of chariot horses crowned by victory. Thus, it would appear to be a specifically Tarentine type that has been picked up for use on coins of Cyzicus. Since Cyzicus was located in western Asia Minor, quite a distance away from Tarentum in southern Italy, it raises the question of why this type was adopted-a question that can be posed for many types used for Cyzicene electrum that derive from the coinages of other cities. Was there some kind of general type model book that the Cyzicene engravers used to come up with their designs or did cities order electrum coins from Cyzicus with their own types? The tunny fish that appears below the obverse type served as the civic badge of Cyzicus from the very beginning of Cyzicene electrum. This symbol refers to the fisheries from which the city derived much of its wealth. It is not clear whether it should be understood to reflect a period prior to the introduction of coinage when goods were valued at Cyzicus in terms of dried fish, as has been suggested occasionally.
Stater circa 450-400, EL 16.01 g. Youth on horseback l., crowning horse; below, tunny l. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. von Fritze 214 and pl. VI, 26. Boston, MFA –. SNG France 344.
Extremely rare. A very interesting issue struck on a full flan, about extremely fine
Whereas the ultimate source for the obverse type of the preceding Cyzicene electrum stater is somewhat uncertain, it is very clear that the obverse type of the present issue comes from a silver nomos of Tarentum struck in the last quarter of the fifth or early fourth century BC. The nomoi of this period frequently feature a youth crowning his horse while he rides it. This type does not seem to appear anywhere else earlier although it is possible to find numerous examples in Sicily of chariot horses crowned by victory. Thus, it would appear to be a specifically Tarentine type that has been picked up for use on coins of Cyzicus. Since Cyzicus was located in western Asia Minor, quite a distance away from Tarentum in southern Italy, it raises the question of why this type was adopted-a question that can be posed for many types used for Cyzicene electrum that derive from the coinages of other cities. Was there some kind of general type model book that the Cyzicene engravers used to come up with their designs or did cities order electrum coins from Cyzicus with their own types? The tunny fish that appears below the obverse type served as the civic badge of Cyzicus from the very beginning of Cyzicene electrum. This symbol refers to the fisheries from which the city derived much of its wealth. It is not clear whether it should be understood to reflect a period prior to the introduction of coinage when goods were valued at Cyzicus in terms of dried fish, as has been suggested occasionally.