Nomos 25

IONIA. Uncertain mint. 5th century BC. Hemihekte or 1/12 Stater (Electrum, 7 mm, 0.96 g, 12 h). Siren standing to right, holding a tympanum or hand drum. Rev. Bukranion, with a fillet hanging from each horn. Rosen 369. Very rare. A most unusual coin, struck in an as yet unidentified mint. Struck on a tight flan, otherwise, nearly very fine.

From a European collection, and from the collection of the late Sheikh, Numismatica Ars Classica 124, 23 June 2021, 211 and The New York Sale XXV, 5 January 2011, 97 ($4750!).

In mythology the Sirens were creatures who lured sailors to their deaths by their sweet singing (both Jason and Odysseus managed to get past them). What is odd about this is that we know from ancient representations that a Siren had the head and body of a woman, wings instead of arms, a tail and leathery clawed feet. The fact that ancient sailors were attracted by such creatures must mean that there has been a huge change in the way seamen think between ancient and modern times! Can anyone imagine a modern sailor being overcome with passion for a woman with scaly, clawed feet and wings?