Triton XVII, Lot: 266. Estimate $2000. Sold for $1500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Kyzikos. 5th-4th centuries BC. EL Hemihekte – Twelfth Stater (8mm, 1.32 g, 8h). Bearded head of satyr left, wearing ivy wreath; below, tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. Hurter & Liewald II 191 = Leu 76, lot 149 = Münzen und Medaillen AG 41, lot 144 (same die and punch); cf. Von Fritze I 191 (denomination not listed); cf. Boston MFA 1564 (stater); cf. SNG von Aulock 7319 (stater); cf. SNG France 330 (stater). VF. Extremely rare, one of two recorded examples.

From the Alex Shubs Collection.

This interesting type, featuring the head of a satyr facing left, is clearly reminiscent of similar types found on some coin issues of Pantikapaion (cf. MacDonald 48ff and Anokhin 995ff). These cities, on opposite shores of the Black Sea, certainly conducted trade with one another, and one wonders whether this earlier type at Kyzikos influenced the choice of types at Pantikapaion.