Lot 161
Mysia, Kyzicus, c. 400 BC. Silver Tetradrachm (14.28 g). Head of Kore Soteira left, wreathed with grain, veil wound around hair, wearing ampyx, triple pendant earring, and pearl necklace. Reverse: Apollo seated left on omphalos, holding phiale in extended right hand and kithara in left, feet resting on tunny fish left, monograms in lower left field and in lower right field. Cf. SNG Paris 414 (right monogram varies). Rare. A handsome tetradrachm struck in high relief. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $5,000 - UP
Situated adjacent to the mouth of the river Aisepos on the southwest shore of the Propontis, Kyzikos was purported to be the first in a long line of Milesian colonies. The city possessed two fine harbors, both contributing greatly to its growth and prosperity. Traders plying the routes between the Aegean and Black Seas often stopped at Kyzikos to load tunnies, a main export as the fish were plentiful in the waters thereabouts.
The earliest coinage of Kyzikos was struck in electrum, a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver. However, by the fifth century BC, although electrum was still used to facilitate trade with the coastal cities of the northeastern Black Sea littoral, Kyzikos had also adopted the use of gold and silver for its coinage, appealing to its Greek market. On this magnificent tetradrachm stuck on the Rhodian standard, the obverse sports a large bust of the goddess Kore-Soteira, the "maiden saviour" goddess Persephone, her hair bound with a large band of cloth known as an ampyx and wreathed with grain ears. The reverse shows the god Apollo, seated upon the omphalos (Greek: navel or center), a boulder from Delphi which was criss-crossed with fillets and thought to be the center of the world, having his lyre within handy reach beside him and his feet resting on the symbol of the city, the tunny fish.
Ex Sternberg 23 (29 X 2000), lot 263
Goldberg's Auction 59, lot 2135
The Peh Family Collection.
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| Realized $10,200 |
