Lot 3026

Description

Mysia, Cyzicus, second period, (c.450-400 B.C.), electrum hecte on Phokaic standard (2.65 grams), obv. prow of ship to left, below tunny fish to left, rev. quadripartite incuse punch mark (S.3831 [£850], SNG Von Aulock 1183, cf.Von Fritze 80 [stater], cf.Greenwell 170 [p.124, Pl.VI, 35 this being the stater], BMC -, Boston -). Slightly off centred on the obverse, otherwise good very fine, very rare and important type.

Greenwell notes [p.124-5] that the expedition of the Argonauts plays an important part in the mythical history of Cyzicus, and the prow represented on the stater [the hecte unknown at the time of writing, p.44] is probably that of the ship Argo.