MYSIA, Cyzicus. temp. Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Medallion (44mm, 40.77 g, 1h). Struck circa AD 180-192. NGC Ch VF, 5/5, 3/5.

Keystone 17 – The W. Toliver Besson Collection
Lot: 81. Estimated: $ 2 000

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 3 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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MYSIA, Cyzicus. temp. Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Medallion (44mm, 40.77 g, 1h). Struck circa AD 180-192. Draped bust of Kore Soteira, wearing grain wreath and necklace / Galley left with oarsmen and a helmsman; on prow, Triton holding fish and oar; on stern, two vexilla; in water below boat, fish to left, dolphin to right. RPC IV.2 Online 760; SNG BN 566; von Fritze, Autonome, Group VI, 6h. Green and brown patina. In NGC encapsulation 8213881-020, graded Ch VF, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5. Extremely rare, two recorded in RPC, only this coin in CoinArchives.

From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex Heritage 61485 (24 March 2025), lot 23031.

The appearance on this and the previous impressive medallions of Kore Soteira, the Greek “Savior Maiden” and an alternate form of the goddess Persephone, harkens back to much earlier issues of Cyzicus, the well-known silver tetradrachms struck between the fifth and second centuries BC (see CNG Feature Auction 132, lots 349 and 351 for examples). Persephone was deeply tied to Cyzicus in the city’s lore, with the city itself being considered the maiden’s dowry offered by Zeus to Hades upon their marriage, and the eternally youthful goddess thus becoming the protectress of Cyzicus.

Closing Date and Time: 22 July 2026 at 10:26:40 ET.



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