Nomos 24

MYSIA. Kyzikos. Circa 425-400 BC. Stater (Electrum, 19 mm, 16.04 g). Head of Zeus-Ammon to right with a ram's ear and horn; below, tunny right. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA 1520. Gulbenkian 640. SNG Paris 281. Von Fritze I, 130, pl. IV, 16. Extremely rare and impressive. Some light scratches and scuffs, otherwise, good very fine.

From the Villiers Collection, ex Roma XII, 29 September 2016, 300.

In the SNG Paris the late E. Levante placed this coin at the end of a group dating to 500-450 BC, just before coins given a date of 5th-4th century BC. In fact, this coin, and some of those around it, almost certainly has to date no earlier than c. 425, and is probably later. What is interesting about this coin is the fact that Zeus Ammon is depicted both with the expected ram's horn and, for coins at least, a rather unexpected ram's ear! Normally, on coins he has a human ear (as he appears on the superb drachm from Euhesperides, lot 265), and so, one cataloguer of the present coin suggested that it actually might depict Midas. An intriguing idea, but Zeus Ammon is shown with an animal ear, exactly like this, on ancient stone and terracotta sculpture; and, in addition, Midas never has a ram's horn!