Nomos 23

ISLANDS OFF ELIS, Kephallenia. Same. Mid 4th-mid 3rd centuries BC. Obol (Silver, 11 mm, 0.70 g, 6 h). Head of Prokris to right, wearing wreath of leaves. Rev. ΣΑ Hunting dog, Lailaps, scenting to left. BMC 8 = Traité II, 3, 1268. Extremely rare. Well-struck, clear and with a dark patina. Some deposits, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the A. G. Collection, in Switzerland since the early 1990s.

The silver coinage of the city of Same, on the island of Kephallenia off the cost of Elis in the Peloponnesos, is all very rare, indeed. This obol, which may otherwise be only known from the single example in the British Museum cited in the Traité, has types that refer to the tragic myth of Kephalos and Prokris. On the obverse we see Prokris, one of the daughters of King Erechtheos of Athens. She married Kephalos (after whom Kephallenia - originally called Samos - was renamed) and had a somewhat turbulent marriage. Since he was an avid hunter she gave him the hound Lailaps, who always caught his prey, and a javelin, which never missed. Sad to say, while he was hunting Prokris made him a surprise visit and, rustling around unseen in some bushes, she was killed by Kephalos who mistook her for a wild animal, perhaps a boar.