MYSIA. Kyzikos. Circa 500-450 BC. Stater (Electrum, 20 mm, 15.90 g). Bearded man, nude, kneeling to left, and holding a tunny by the tail with his extended right hand. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA 1487. Greenwell 86. SNG Paris 253. Von Fritze 112 and pl. III, 31 ( same dies ). Perfectly centered and with gentle toning around the devices; a wonderful example, elegantly designed. Extremely fine.

From a European collection, acquired prior to 2020.

We have already seen harpies who are possibly offering tunnys for sale, or have just bought one, but what is this man doing with his? He cannot be either a fishmonger or a buyer of fish, since even today such people rarely do so in the nude; almost certainly he is the successful winner in an athletic contest and has just knelt to receive his fishy prize!