Pre-Long Beach Auction #90

Mysia, Kyzikos. Electrum Stater (15.98 g), ca. 550-500 BC. Nude youth crouching left, holding crested Corinthian helmet in outstretched hand and sword at his waist; below, tunny left. Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 34; SNG BN -. Some marks and abrasions along with a natural planchet crack at 4:00 Very rare type. Very Fine.

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 significance of the types on Kyzikos' electrum coinage of the 5th and 4th centuries BC often elude us. Unlike the types found on the coinage of other cities which nearly always reference some important aspect of the issuing city and are ripe with meaning, the many diverse types found on Kyzikene coinage often have no apparent association to the cults, mythology or historical events of the city. The only consistent image is the tunny, and nearly always as an adjunct to the main type and seemingly of secondary importance. Because of this and the volume of trade transiting the borders, which of course affected nearly every aspect of life in the city, it has been suggested that the types perhaps derived from designs on Greek vases and other artworks that circulated in trade throughout the area. This is an interesting hypothesis with significant merit, and if correct would seem to be a phenomenon unique in Greek coinage.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 8,000.