Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 132 30-31 May 2022
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Lesbos, Mytilene
Hecte circa 412-378, EL 2.53 g. Head of Ariadne l., her hair in sakkos decorated with three grape bunches. Rev. Lion r., holding spearhead in jaws, linear frame around. All within incuse square. SNG von Aulock –. Weber 5617. Bodenstedt 78.
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly among the finest
specimens known. A lovely portrait struck in high relief and perfectly
centred. Extremely fine / good extremely fine
Ex Aufhäuser 10, 1993, 129 and Gorny & Mosch 236, 2016, 236 sales.
This hecte was struck as part of the coordinated electrum production undertaken by Mitylene on the island of Lesbos and the Aeolian city of Phocaea. The obverse features a superlative representation of Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos who assisted Theseus in his quest to slay the Minotaur. Her representation is extremely rare on ancient coins and this is almost certainly the finest Greek depiction. Here she is shown after the death of the Minotaur and her escape with Theseus to Naxos. Upon arriving on Naxos from Crete, the exhausted Aridane is said to have fallen asleep. She awoke on the beach to see Theseus sailing home to Athens without her. Understandably, Ariadne was broken hearted and almost overcome with despair, but she was saved by the sudden appearance of Dionysus. The wine-god took her as his wife and carried her off to Olympus. The Dionysiac crown of grapes that Ariadne wears beneath her sakkos head covering may perhaps represent her wedding crown. According to Greek mythology, after the wedding this crown was placed in the heavens to serve as an eternal memorial of the he happy event. It remains there to this day as the constellation of the Corona Borealis. Although it is often described as a lion breaking a spear, the reverse type actually seems to depict the animal gnawing on a bone. The type invites comparison with similar images of lions devouring prey on fourth-century coins of Velia in Magna Graecia, Morgantina in Sicily, and Plakia in Mysia.
Graded AU Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5 Fine Style, NGC certification number 6159318-004.
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Hecte circa 412-378, EL 2.53 g. Head of Ariadne l., her hair in sakkos decorated with three grape bunches. Rev. Lion r., holding spearhead in jaws, linear frame around. All within incuse square. SNG von Aulock –. Weber 5617. Bodenstedt 78.
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly among the finest
specimens known. A lovely portrait struck in high relief and perfectly
centred. Extremely fine / good extremely fine
Ex Aufhäuser 10, 1993, 129 and Gorny & Mosch 236, 2016, 236 sales.
This hecte was struck as part of the coordinated electrum production undertaken by Mitylene on the island of Lesbos and the Aeolian city of Phocaea. The obverse features a superlative representation of Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos who assisted Theseus in his quest to slay the Minotaur. Her representation is extremely rare on ancient coins and this is almost certainly the finest Greek depiction. Here she is shown after the death of the Minotaur and her escape with Theseus to Naxos. Upon arriving on Naxos from Crete, the exhausted Aridane is said to have fallen asleep. She awoke on the beach to see Theseus sailing home to Athens without her. Understandably, Ariadne was broken hearted and almost overcome with despair, but she was saved by the sudden appearance of Dionysus. The wine-god took her as his wife and carried her off to Olympus. The Dionysiac crown of grapes that Ariadne wears beneath her sakkos head covering may perhaps represent her wedding crown. According to Greek mythology, after the wedding this crown was placed in the heavens to serve as an eternal memorial of the he happy event. It remains there to this day as the constellation of the Corona Borealis. Although it is often described as a lion breaking a spear, the reverse type actually seems to depict the animal gnawing on a bone. The type invites comparison with similar images of lions devouring prey on fourth-century coins of Velia in Magna Graecia, Morgantina in Sicily, and Plakia in Mysia.
Graded AU Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5 Fine Style, NGC certification number 6159318-004.
View a video of this lot