GREEK COINS
CRETE
Phaistos. Circa 330-320 BC. Stater (Silver, 27mm, 11.43 g 10). žΕΛΧΑΝΟΣ ( retrograde ) The nude figure of a young man, Velchanos, seated left within a tree; holding a rooster, standing on his right knee, with his right hand, and resting his left on his seat. Rev. ΦΑΙΣΤΙΟΝ Bull, with head lowered, butting to right. Le Rider p. 91, 38 and pl. XXII, 20. Svoronos p. 259, 29 and pl. XXIII, 24. Very rare and of elegant style. Dark patina as found and with traces of overstriking; otherwise , good very fine or better. From the Brünn Collection, acquired in Italy prior to World War I. Velchanos was a youthful male deity of Cretan origin; in time he became identified as Zeus and was worshipped in the form of a divine boy (one of his titles was ho megas kouros or ‘the great youth‘). His sanctuaries were often in caves or in woodlands (as here).