Astakos, Founder of Nicomedia

365, Lot: 271. Estimate $75. Sold for $400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BITHYNIA, Nicomedia. Julia Mamaea. Augusta, AD 222-235. Æ (20mm, 4.56 g, 7h). Draped bust right / The hero Astakos advancing right off prow of ship, head left, holding spear and gesturing for companions to follow; rocks in background to left. RG –; SNG von Aulock –; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC –; Corsten –; CNG E-314, lot 248 (same dies). Fine, red-green patina, some smoothing. Extremely rare.

Astakos was son of Poseidon and the nymph Olbia and the founder and eponym of the city of Astakos in Bithynia. During the reign of Nicomedes I, Nicomedia was founded nearby to repalce Astakos, and the cult was moved to the new city.