Nomos 23

IONIA. Phokaia. Circa 478-387 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 10 mm, 2.57 g). Bearded head of King Midas to left, wearing laurel wreath and with an ass's ear; behind his neck to right, seal swimming downwards. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMC 19. Bodenstedt Em. 66, (Vb/Rβ). SNG Copenhagen 1025. Very rare, with a noble portrait of the heedless king, and of great mythological interest. Extremely fine.

From a German collection, formed prior to 2000.

The story of Midas, King of Phrygia, was not only familiar to the ancients - he is mentioned by Herodotus, Aristotle, Ovid, Arrian, Claudian, et al. - but is still well-known today. He comes across as well-meaning, but thoughtless and greedy. He received his ass's ears as the result of his declaring Marsyas a better musician than Apollo; this was not appreciated by Apollo! Then, because he was a generous and expansive host to Dionysos's companion Silenos, Dionysos decided to reward him with whatever he wished to have. Midas asked for immense wealth. And, so, Dionysos gave him the "Golden Touch", which meant that everything Midas touched turned to gold. Needless to say, everything went wrong: not only did trees and rocks and chairs turn to gold, so did Midas's food, drink and, even, his daughter! Midas then begged to be freed from his own misjudgement, and was told to bathe in the river Pactolus: thus, the Pactolus became famous for its gold (the source of early electrum coinages) and Midas earned added fame as the first ancient Vegan.