Nomos 33

IONIA. Uncertain mint. 5th century BC. Hemihekte or 1/12 Stater (Electrum, 7.5 mm, 1.01 g). Siren standing to right, beating, with her right hand, a tympanum or hand drum held with her left. Rev. Bukranion, with a fillet hanging from each horn. Rosen 369. Very rare. A most unusual coin, minted in an as yet unidentified mint, well-struck and clear. Good very fine.

From the Collection of Jonathan H. Kagan.

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? In fact, what is certainly the best modern vision of what a Siren looked like can be found in Sir Edward Poynter's 1903 painting, 'The Cave of the Storm Nymphs'.