The Argo and the Argonauts

Triton XVIII, Lot: 571. Estimate $30000. Sold for $27500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 550-500 BC. EL Stater (18mm, 16.04 g). Prow left, the lower hull decorated as a winged forepart of a wolf, the head of which forms the ship’s embolon (ram); below, tunny left / Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze I 80; Greenwell 170; SNG France 210 = Traité II 2797, pl. CLXXVII, 33 = de Luynes 2459; Ars-Classica & Naville XII, lot 1721 = Egger XXXIX, lot 304; Leu 52, lot 82. Good VF, a couple edge splits. Extremely rare, the fifth known, two of which are in museums (Berlin and Paris).

This prow type is exceptional among the staters of Kyzikos, which typically portray deities, animals, and mythological creatures and scenes. Greenwell suggests that the prow portrayed here is probably intended to be that of the famed Argo, as the expedition of the Argonauts plays an important part in the mythological history of Kyzikos.