Lot 1760

Description

Peloponnesos, Sicyon, (c.400 B.C.), silver triobol or hemidrachm, (2.63 g), obv. Chimaera walking to left, **SI* below, rev. dove flying to left, three dots above tail, (cf.S.2772, BCD 303.6 [This Coin], Traite 803 [Pl.CCXXI, 27], BMC 122, HGC 5, 213). Toned, nearly extremely fine and rare variety.

Ex BCD Collection, LHS Numismatics 8-9 May, 2006 (Lot 303.6).
The earliest description of the Chimaera comes from Homer's Illiad, "a thing of immortal make, not human, lion-fronted and snake behind, a goat in the middle, and snorting out the breath of the terrible flame of bright fire."There are a few myths associated with the Chimaera, but the most popular is from Corinth, where the beast attacked the city on a nightly basis, carrying off women, children, and livestock. Athena appeared to Bellerophon in a dream and gave him the golden bridle, allowing him to tame the Pegasos. Belleraphon was able to slay the Chimera while riding Pegasos, by driving a spear through its heart. Another variation of the myth is that the spear ended with a clump of lead, when heated by the Chimera's flaming breath, melted and sealed the monster's throat.