Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Mysia, Cyzicus.
Stater circa 400-330, EL 16.07 g. Cow standing l., head turned, suckling calf; below, tunny-fish. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Dewing 2188. Greenwell –. Boston, MFA –. SNG France –. von Fritze 219.
Very rare. Extremely fine
From a Distinguished Swiss Collection.
Perhaps the most unusual of all Greek trade coins were the electrum staters of Cyzicus: they defied convention in most every way, yet they were eagerly accepted by merchants in the Greek world and beyond. They are described in ancient inscriptions, including the Delian inventories, by the nickname 'Cyzicenes'. Cyzicene gold was referred to as if that was the very definition of electrum, and their familiarity is even implied from a quip of Aristophanes (Peace 1176): "...and last of all there was Cyzicus, (a city) chock full of staters." Indeed, they circulated all along the Black Sea trade routes, and are unearthed at many locations from the shores of the Crimea, the interior of Thrace, and even the agora of Athens, where unlike any other foreign currency, Cyzicenes achieved a popular acceptance. They seem to have been equal in value to a Persian daric, as Xenophon describes both coins as being a month's pay for a soldier (for the daric: Anabasis I, iii, 22 and VII, vi, 7; for the Cyzicene: Anabasis V, vi, 23 and VII, iii, 10). Calculations from other texts suggest darics and Cyzicenes were roughly equal to 24 attic silver drachms and 20 silver Persian sigloi. Most Greek coins made for international or regional trade maintained a familiar design because a disruption in the appearance might undermine their acceptability. At Cyzicus, about 240 different designs appear on the staters, indicating that their appearance changed at least once per year. The daring policy of rotating designs (which often were represented in a light-hearted manner) did not adversely affect the reputation of these coins. The variety was countered by three elements that provided consistency in lieu of designs: first, the coins had a distinctive 'archaic' style and fabric; second, they were made of electrum in an age when this alloy had been largely abandoned in favour of high purity gold or silver; and third, a tunny fish, the civic badge of Cyzicus, was incorporated into every design. The result was a coinage so familiar that not even an inscription was required to make their origin known. Most of the Cyzicene designs appear to have been inspired by works of art in other media, primarily statues or statuary groups. Yet others clearly were derived from other coinages, such as the present type, which almost certainly copies a composition from the coinages of Corcyra, Apollonia and Dyrrhachium. The use of this type would be impossible to explain if not for the fact that Cyzicenes portray a broad selection of ancient coin designs, including (perhaps) those from Taras, Gela, Syracuse, Acanthus, Abdera, Maroneia, Panticapaeum, Corinth, Delos, Sinope, Lampsacus and Cyrenaica.
Stater circa 400-330, EL 16.07 g. Cow standing l., head turned, suckling calf; below, tunny-fish. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Dewing 2188. Greenwell –. Boston, MFA –. SNG France –. von Fritze 219.
Very rare. Extremely fine
From a Distinguished Swiss Collection.
Perhaps the most unusual of all Greek trade coins were the electrum staters of Cyzicus: they defied convention in most every way, yet they were eagerly accepted by merchants in the Greek world and beyond. They are described in ancient inscriptions, including the Delian inventories, by the nickname 'Cyzicenes'. Cyzicene gold was referred to as if that was the very definition of electrum, and their familiarity is even implied from a quip of Aristophanes (Peace 1176): "...and last of all there was Cyzicus, (a city) chock full of staters." Indeed, they circulated all along the Black Sea trade routes, and are unearthed at many locations from the shores of the Crimea, the interior of Thrace, and even the agora of Athens, where unlike any other foreign currency, Cyzicenes achieved a popular acceptance. They seem to have been equal in value to a Persian daric, as Xenophon describes both coins as being a month's pay for a soldier (for the daric: Anabasis I, iii, 22 and VII, vi, 7; for the Cyzicene: Anabasis V, vi, 23 and VII, iii, 10). Calculations from other texts suggest darics and Cyzicenes were roughly equal to 24 attic silver drachms and 20 silver Persian sigloi. Most Greek coins made for international or regional trade maintained a familiar design because a disruption in the appearance might undermine their acceptability. At Cyzicus, about 240 different designs appear on the staters, indicating that their appearance changed at least once per year. The daring policy of rotating designs (which often were represented in a light-hearted manner) did not adversely affect the reputation of these coins. The variety was countered by three elements that provided consistency in lieu of designs: first, the coins had a distinctive 'archaic' style and fabric; second, they were made of electrum in an age when this alloy had been largely abandoned in favour of high purity gold or silver; and third, a tunny fish, the civic badge of Cyzicus, was incorporated into every design. The result was a coinage so familiar that not even an inscription was required to make their origin known. Most of the Cyzicene designs appear to have been inspired by works of art in other media, primarily statues or statuary groups. Yet others clearly were derived from other coinages, such as the present type, which almost certainly copies a composition from the coinages of Corcyra, Apollonia and Dyrrhachium. The use of this type would be impossible to explain if not for the fact that Cyzicenes portray a broad selection of ancient coin designs, including (perhaps) those from Taras, Gela, Syracuse, Acanthus, Abdera, Maroneia, Panticapaeum, Corinth, Delos, Sinope, Lampsacus and Cyrenaica.