Nomos 22

MYSIA. Kyzikos. Circa 500-450 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 10 mm, 2.65 g). An infant boy, probably Herakles, nude, seated facing, his head turned to right, propping himself up with his left hand while holding tunny by the tail with his right. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. Cf. SNG BN 316 (stater). Cf. Von Fritze 169 (stater). A lovely scene of a powerful infant toying with a fish! Some minor die rust, otherwise, very fine.

From a Swiss collection.

This infant boy must be Herakles and what is interesting about him is the way he is depicted: holding a fish. Of course, this fish is the tunny badge of Kyzikos, but the inspiration behind the scene must be the legend that Hera sent serpents to kill the infant Herakles, as well as his mortal twin brother Iphikles, who were about 8 months old at the time. They were sleeping when the snakes arrived; hearing Iphikles' warning cries, Herakles promptly strangled them and when his nurse came, she found him playing with them! The ancient user of Kyzikene electrum coins with this type would have immediately recognised the allusion.