30017: MYSIA. Cyzicus. Ca. 450-350 BC. EL sixth-stater

MYSIA. Cyzicus. Ca. 450-350 BC. EL sixth-stater or hecte (11mm, 2.70 gm). NGC AU S 5/5 - 4/5. Ca. 410 BC. Helios, nude, kneeling right in front of foreparts of two horses prancing to left and right; tunny fish right below / Quadripartite mill-sail incuse square punch with stippled interior. Greenwell 23. Jameson 2194. SNG von Aulock 7312. Kraay-Hirmer 715. von Fritze 149. BMC 106. Cyzicene coinage has great diversity in themes, displaying both local and foreign myths and legends. the sun god appears as radiate on this issue and was worshipped as Helios in Zeleia, a town neighboring Cyzicus, and likely in Cyzicus itself as well. M. Six (Numismatic Chronicle, N.S. xvii, p. 170) suggested that this design has "been copied from a metope of a temple." (Greenwell, p. 59). Staters of this issue are well documented, however, hectes are exceedingly rare with only the worn British Museum example noted in Greenwell. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved