Sale: Nomos 9, Lot: 142. Estimate CHF3600.  Closing Date: Monday, 20 October 2014.  Sold For CHF3200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Kyzikos. c. 520 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 12mm, 2.69 g). Harpy standing left on base, holding, with both hands, a tunny fish head downwards. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. SNG France 203. Von Fritze 74 and pl. II, 29 (stater). A well struck and attractive piece showing a fine late archaic harpy. With some minor flan breaks that do not affect the design. Good extremely fine.

Harpies and sphinxes were two of the female monsters that were part of the world of Greek mythology. Both had women’s heads but harpies had the bodies of birds, while sphinxes had those of lions.