456, Lot: 146. Estimate $100. Sold for $280. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CYCLADES, Keos. Karthaia. Late 3rd-early 2nd century BC. Æ (18mm, 5.04 g, 1h). Laureate head of Apollo right / Forepart of dog (Seirios) left; rays around, fly(?) below. Papageorgiadou-Banis Series VIII, Issue 2; HGC 6, 557. Brown patina, light roughness, small pit on obverse. VF. Rare.

The Dog Star Seirios (Sirius) was associated with the heat of summer, drought, and pestilence. The heliacal rising of Seirios occurred shortly before the summer solstice, and the period that followed was termed by the ancients as the “dog days” of summer. Seirios held particular importance at Keos; a bright, clear appearance of the star portended good fortune, while a faint appearance signaled pestilence.