Sale: Nomos 1, Lot: 92. Estimate CHF5750.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2009.  Sold For CHF655. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 480-450 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 2.71 g). Sphinx, with ornamental tendril on her head and with her right forepaw raised, standing left on tunny fish Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA 1451. SNG France 278-279. SNG von Aulock 1200. Von Fritze I 127. Extremely fine.

Ex Hirsch 233, 22 February 2004, 1415.

The sphinx on this coin is depicted as a human-headed winged lion, just as we find on many archaic Greek vases; as, for example, 7th century Rhodian (which also show sphinxes with tendrils coming out of their heads). On this coin not only do we have a very well struck sphinx, we also have a very detailed tunny fish, who seems to be content to have this dangerous creature standing on top of him!