Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 521 3 Aug 2022
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MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 600-550 BC. EL Stater (19mm, 16.13 g). Louvar left; below, tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. CF. Hurter & Liewald III p. 14, 3 (hekte); NAC 126, lot 204 = Gemini VII, lot 462; otherwise unpublished. Struck with severely worn obverse die. Good Fine. Extremely rare, apparently the second known.
From the Siren Collection.
The only extant species in the genus Luvarus and the family Luvaridae, the louvar, known in German as the Dianafisch and in Spanish as the emperador, dates from the Paleogene period, and is closely related to the surgeonfish. A large ellipsoidal fish, it can grow up to 2m (over 6 feet) in length and is considered a delicacy, but is rarely found in fish stores and is usually caught 'by-catch.' See CNG 105, lot 143, lot 462 for the hekte of this issue, and CNG 99, lot 170 for the hemihekte. Hurter & Liewald placed this issue in a section of coins "associated to Kyzikos", as they doubted the attribution without further information (they knew of only one example appearing in a private collection). However, a few more of these have recently come to market alongside contemporary issues definitively placed at Kyzikos, so the attribution to that city must be accepted.
From the Siren Collection.
The only extant species in the genus Luvarus and the family Luvaridae, the louvar, known in German as the Dianafisch and in Spanish as the emperador, dates from the Paleogene period, and is closely related to the surgeonfish. A large ellipsoidal fish, it can grow up to 2m (over 6 feet) in length and is considered a delicacy, but is rarely found in fish stores and is usually caught 'by-catch.' See CNG 105, lot 143, lot 462 for the hekte of this issue, and CNG 99, lot 170 for the hemihekte. Hurter & Liewald placed this issue in a section of coins "associated to Kyzikos", as they doubted the attribution without further information (they knew of only one example appearing in a private collection). However, a few more of these have recently come to market alongside contemporary issues definitively placed at Kyzikos, so the attribution to that city must be accepted.