Sale: Nomos 1, Lot: 91. Estimate CHF6000.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2009.  Sold For CHF3000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 480. Hekte (Electrum, 2.75 g). Lion, with right forepaw raised and open jaws, seated left on tunny to left Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA 1452. SNG France 216-218. SNG con Aulock 7297. Von Fritze I, 85. Rare. Sharply struck and well-centered. Good extremely fine.

Most known examples of this type are off-struck in some way, but this piece is nicely centered and extremely sharp with lovely surfaces. The lion on the obverse harks back to more archaic ancestors: it should remind those who have visited Delos of the late 6th century marble lions the Naxians donated to the sanctuary as guardians for the Sacred Way.