Ancient Gold
Lot 727 Ancient Gold
Estimate $7,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
MYSIA, Cyzicus, fourth period, (400 - 350 B.C.), electrum stater on Phocaic standard (15.73 grams), obv. head of Attis right in Phrygian cap, tunny fish below rev. quadripartite incuse punch mark (cf S. 3840, Von Fritze 142, Greenwell 56). Very fine and very rare.
Ex. Boston Museum of Fine Arts (catalogue 1521 Warren Collection lot 203), NFA Sale June 6 1980 (lot 203 for US$7500). $$ Attis was the youthful consort of the great Anatolian mother goddess Cybele. The original Phrgian version of his myth (Pausanias vii, 10-12) is decidedly crude, involving the forcible unmanning of his father, incestuous longings and Attis' self-castration, a feature which came to charaterize the priesthood of Cybele. attis was a vegetation god whose death was mourned and annual resurection celebrated, but in Greek times he seems to have shared in the actual worship of the cult of Cybele.
Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.
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Adjacent lots
Lot 725
IONIA, Miletus, (c.570-550 B.C.), electrum stater, (13.88 grams), obv. lion lying to left, head reverted, ...
Estimate $12,000
Lot 726
MYSIA, Cyzicus, second period, (550 - 475 B.C.), electrum stater on Phocaic standard (16.0 grams), ...
Estimate $3,500
Lot 727 This lot
MYSIA, Cyzicus, fourth period, (400 - 350 B.C.), electrum stater on Phocaic standard (15.73 grams), ...
Estimate $7,000
Lot 728
LESBOS, Mytilene, c.450-338 B.C., electrum hekte (2.54 grams), Bodenstedt dates 360 B.C., obv. Persophone head ...
Estimate $400
Lot 729
LESBOS, Mytilene, c.450-338 B.C., electrum hekte (2.6 grams), Bodenstedt dates 358 B.C., obv. ivy leaf ...
Estimate $400