Obolos 20

L. Marcius Censorinus, 82 BC. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.92 g, 6 h), Rome. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. L · CENSOR Marsyas advancing to left, extending his right arm and holding wineskin in his left hand over his left shoulder; behind, column bearing statue of a draped figure. Babelon, (Marcia) 24. Crawford 363/1d. Sydenham 737. Wonderful old toning with lightly iridescent hues around the devices. nearly extremely fine.

From the Vineyard Collection, ex Berk BBS 101, 18 March 1998, 314.

Marsyas was a Phrygian satyr connected to the worship of Dionysos via his flute playing: he was one of the Tityroi, the double-flute playing satyrs in the train of the god. Legend said that it was Marsyas who invented flute playing. The story goes that Athena had crafted the very first flute, but discarded it because she did not like how it disfigured her cheeks when she blew into it. Marsyas found it and played it beautifully. He felt that he was so good that he challenged the god Apollo to a musical contest, the winner to determine the fate of the loser. Apollo won, of course, and after tying Marsyas to a tree he flayed him alive for his presumption in challenging him.