Nomos 15

MYSIA. Kyzikos. 5th-4th century BC. Stater (Gold, 21 mm, 16.05 g), c. 360-330. Head of a youthful Dionysos to left, wearing an ivy wreath and with tangled hair; below neck truncation, tunny fish to left. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA 1558. Jameson 1413a = SNG von Aulock 7317. Kunstfreund 211. SNG France 332 = Traité 2613 & Pl. CLXXIII, 22. Von Fritze 193. Unusually clear and very well centered on a full flan. Minor scrape, some die rust and minor porosity, otherwise, good very fine.

From a European collection.

The head on the obverse of this coin has been identified as a Maenad by Jameson, von Fritze and E. Levante. It is, rather, seen as Dionysos by A.B. Brett in the Boston catalogue, by von Aulock, in the Babelon's description of the Paris piece in the Traité, in the description of the Hermitage specimen that appeared as Kunstfreund 211, and by T. Eden in his note to lot 26 in Morton & Eden 86 (2017). The apparent effeminacy of the head is surely what misled those who saw it as being a Maenad (and, as such, as a pendant to von Fritze 192 with its head of youthful satyr - as SNG France 331). However, this pendancy works equally well if it is viewed as being Dionysos himself. While not in the best condition, the present specimen is remarkably well-centered on a full flan, and is very impressive.