Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXII 7-8 Oct 2021
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Mysia, Kyzikos EL Hekte. Circa 550-450 BC. Herakles, nude, in kneeling-running stance to right, holding club overhead and bow; behind, tunny upward / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I, 107; Greenwell 65; SNG von Aulock -; BMC -; Jameson -; SNG BnF 249 = de Luynes 2440; Boston MFA 1463. 2.68g, 11mm.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; one of only four examples offered at auction in the past 20 years.
Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.
The early Milesian foundation of Kyzikos on the isthmus of the Arktouros peninsula, protruding from the south-west coast of the Propontis, was ideally sited for its role as commercial intermediary par excellence at the centre of east-west trade. The earliest electrum coinage of Kyzikos with its characteristic 'tunny fish' emblem dates from about 550, and was based on the Phokaic weight standard of about 16.1g, the equivalent value to a Persian gold daric of 8.4g. They were contemporaneously called Kyzikenes and the distribution of hoard finds makes it clear that it was the acceptable currency for trade between Thrace and the northern coasts of the Black Sea, and from Athens to Ionia, so much so that Kyzikenes are mentioned in Athenian inventories (cf. ACGC p. 261-2). This electrum coinage bears a wide variety of types, many of which are mythological or historical and types copied from contemporary Greek poleis from Magna Graecia to the Levant.
Diverse in design and dynamic in composition, the coinage of Kyzikos has long been some of the most desirable of ancient Greek coins. The present issue is distinguished by its fabulous archaic style and detail, perfectly encapsulating the eminent artistic aptitude of the Kyzikene engravers. Struck circa 500-450 BC, a period during which the city was subject to the authority of the Achaemenid Empire under Darius I and then Xerxes I, it features on its obverse the demi-god Herakles in the trademark crouching-advancing position often observed on Kyzikene coinage of the time (see, for instance, the 'crouching satyr' type, Roma Numismatics, Auction XX, 29 October 2020, lot 219) employed out of artistic convention and as an expedient that allowed for a more compact design.
Herakles played an important role in the city's mythic early 'history', as indeed he did in that of many Greek poleis. The legend related to us describes that whilst accompanying Jason and his Argonauts on their fabled mission to Kolchis to locate the Golden Fleece, Herakles and his companions landed on the island of the Doliones located in the Propontis (modern day Sea of Marmara). The eponymous king of the region Kyzikos received the Argonauts with generous hospitality and offered provisions for their perilous venture. The night of departure brought with it a storm however, which forced the company back to the Kyzikene coast. In the darkness, they were misidentified as raiding Pelasgians, resulting in a skirmish in which either Jason or Herakles killed King Kyzikos. When day broke, the Argonauts realized their tragic mistake and gave Kyzikos an elaborate burial.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; one of only four examples offered at auction in the past 20 years.
Acquired from Leu Numismatik AG.
The early Milesian foundation of Kyzikos on the isthmus of the Arktouros peninsula, protruding from the south-west coast of the Propontis, was ideally sited for its role as commercial intermediary par excellence at the centre of east-west trade. The earliest electrum coinage of Kyzikos with its characteristic 'tunny fish' emblem dates from about 550, and was based on the Phokaic weight standard of about 16.1g, the equivalent value to a Persian gold daric of 8.4g. They were contemporaneously called Kyzikenes and the distribution of hoard finds makes it clear that it was the acceptable currency for trade between Thrace and the northern coasts of the Black Sea, and from Athens to Ionia, so much so that Kyzikenes are mentioned in Athenian inventories (cf. ACGC p. 261-2). This electrum coinage bears a wide variety of types, many of which are mythological or historical and types copied from contemporary Greek poleis from Magna Graecia to the Levant.
Diverse in design and dynamic in composition, the coinage of Kyzikos has long been some of the most desirable of ancient Greek coins. The present issue is distinguished by its fabulous archaic style and detail, perfectly encapsulating the eminent artistic aptitude of the Kyzikene engravers. Struck circa 500-450 BC, a period during which the city was subject to the authority of the Achaemenid Empire under Darius I and then Xerxes I, it features on its obverse the demi-god Herakles in the trademark crouching-advancing position often observed on Kyzikene coinage of the time (see, for instance, the 'crouching satyr' type, Roma Numismatics, Auction XX, 29 October 2020, lot 219) employed out of artistic convention and as an expedient that allowed for a more compact design.
Herakles played an important role in the city's mythic early 'history', as indeed he did in that of many Greek poleis. The legend related to us describes that whilst accompanying Jason and his Argonauts on their fabled mission to Kolchis to locate the Golden Fleece, Herakles and his companions landed on the island of the Doliones located in the Propontis (modern day Sea of Marmara). The eponymous king of the region Kyzikos received the Argonauts with generous hospitality and offered provisions for their perilous venture. The night of departure brought with it a storm however, which forced the company back to the Kyzikene coast. In the darkness, they were misidentified as raiding Pelasgians, resulting in a skirmish in which either Jason or Herakles killed King Kyzikos. When day broke, the Argonauts realized their tragic mistake and gave Kyzikos an elaborate burial.