Heritage World Coin Auctions
CSNS Signature Sale 3099 5-7 May 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Ancients
MYSIA. Cyzicus. Ca. 450-350 BC. EL sixth-stater or hecte (11mm, 2.70 gm). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 4/5. Cecrops facing left, grounded olive branch in right hand, resting left on thigh; tunny left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Greenwell 32. SNG France 5, 306. Von Fritze I, 158. An unusually sharp and attractive example of this rare issue.
Cecrops was the mythological first king of Attica and this coin is part of a series with Gaia presenting Erichthonius to Athena. The king here is shown with his lower half ending in serpent form, displaying his autochthonous, earth-born origin. The olive branch is the gift from Athena, which he chose over the salt-water spring of Poseidon when both presented their offerings as a bid for the city's allegiance. Cyzicus and Athens were closely tied to each other, explaining why the origin myths of the one city appear on coinage of the other.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-mysia-cyzicus-ca-450-350-bc-el-sixth-stater-or-hecte-11mm-270-gm-ngc-choice-au-4-5-4-5/a/3099-31140.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3099-05052022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
MYSIA. Cyzicus. Ca. 450-350 BC. EL sixth-stater or hecte (11mm, 2.70 gm). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 4/5. Cecrops facing left, grounded olive branch in right hand, resting left on thigh; tunny left below / Quadripartite incuse square. Greenwell 32. SNG France 5, 306. Von Fritze I, 158. An unusually sharp and attractive example of this rare issue.
Cecrops was the mythological first king of Attica and this coin is part of a series with Gaia presenting Erichthonius to Athena. The king here is shown with his lower half ending in serpent form, displaying his autochthonous, earth-born origin. The olive branch is the gift from Athena, which he chose over the salt-water spring of Poseidon when both presented their offerings as a bid for the city's allegiance. Cyzicus and Athens were closely tied to each other, explaining why the origin myths of the one city appear on coinage of the other.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-mysia-cyzicus-ca-450-350-bc-el-sixth-stater-or-hecte-11mm-270-gm-ngc-choice-au-4-5-4-5/a/3099-31140.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3099-05052022
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved