MYSIA. Kyzikos. Circa 450-330 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 11 mm, 2.64 g). Male figure (Odysseus or Phrixus?), wearing pileus and chlamys, kneeling left atop a ram lying to left, preparing to sacrifice it with a dagger held in his right hand while pulling ram's head back with his left. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. BMFA -. Hurter & Liewald -. SNG Paris -. Traité II, 2, 2646 and pl. CCLXXIV, 22. Cf. Von Fritze 156 and pl. V, 4 ( stater ). Extremely rare and with a remarkably sculptural type, reminiscent of the Nike Parapet in Athens, and of very fine late Classical style. About extremely fine.

From a Dutch collection.

Unlike most Greek mints which used designs having to do with some aspect of the city's history, mythology, economy, or religion, the mint at Kyzikos employed hundreds of designs with no direct or obvious connection to the city, with the exception of the tunny fish, which represented the wealth of the city and which generally was employed only as one small aspect of the overall design. There have been several suggestions as to why Kyzikos did this, the most likely reason being to facilitate trade with cities along the Black Sea littoral. This wonderful coin depicts probably either Odysseos or Phrixus in the act of sacrificing a ram to the gods. If Odysseos, who is often depicted wearing a pileus as is the case on this coin, the ram was provided by Circe before descending into Hades. If Phrixus, the ram would be the golden ram sent by Zeus and whose golden fleece was pursued by Jason and his Argonauts.