Although I have tried to limit my collection to Magna Graecia, I couldn't resist this electrum stater of Kyzikos. It has a special appeal to me. I have been a student of Greek tragedy for more than 20 years and have more than 100 books of translations and analyses of these fifth century plays. Of the many thousands of tragedies which were staged in antiquity, a mere 32 survive intact. At the festival of Dionysus, each playwright usually presented a series of three plays relating to the same mythological theme. The only trilogy surviving from antiquity is the famous Oresteia of Aeschylus, named after Orestes, around whom the action centers, and which was first performed in 458 BC. For those who are not familiar with this masterpiece, here is a summary: AGAMEMNON: Orestes was a child when his father Agamemnon left for the Trojan War. Orestes’ mother Clytemnesta takes up with another man and when Agamemnon returns 20 years later, she murders him in his bath. THE LIBATION-BEARERS: Orestes and his friend, Pylades, arrive at the tomb of Agamemnon to find Orestes’ sister, Electra, and they pray to their father to aid in avenging his murder. Orestes and Pylades go to the palace, where they enter by trickery and Orestes murders his mother. The nightmare begins! Now enter primeval female demons known as the Erinyes, or Furies. They arise to spur a person to avenge an injustice committed against a family member. Orestes flees from them, realizing he has been caught in a classic Catch-22: The Furies would have tormented him until he avenged his father’s murder, but now that he has killed the murderer, his mother, they pursue and torment him for matricide!! EUMENIDES: Pursued by the Furies, Orestes flees to the temple of Apollo at Delphi and supplicates himself at the omphalos (“navel”), a stone which represented the center, or navel, of the world, which was located there. The opening scene of the Eumenides is represented on this coin (I don’t know why there are duplicate photos of many of the lots in this sale!?): https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=2505&category=52260&lot=2113858 Kyzikos, Mysia, electrum stater, 450-430 BC, 16.00 g. OBV: Orestes kneeling left, [holding sword and] resting left arm on omphalos; below, tunny left / REV: Quadripartite incuse square. Von Fritze 165; SNG BN -. Ex: The New York Sale IV, January 17, 2002, Lot 188. The sword in Orestes’ hand, which, unfortunately, is not on the flan in this example, might be fending off the Furies, but it is also an allusion to the recent murder of his mother. Although the sword is missing on this example, the head or Orestes has much more detail than the other three examples I have found: The New York Sale XXV: Pitted and missing most details: http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=923209 CNG: Missing most of the head of Orestes and some of the sword: http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=293373 The New York Sale XXVII: The most complete example, but again no detail in the head of Orestes: http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1178810 I am very happy to have acquired this example which features a very detailed head with expressive features. Poor Orestes. Is that fear I see...?
That is an outstanding piece of history. I take it you do not have it in hand yet? Also the the tragedy. The Greeks knew how to spin a tale.
Congratulations! I was unaware of the story behind this type but that provides fantastic and colorful context to the coin. EL staters are almost always a tradeoff - I agree with your choice of atypically solid facial detail versus slightly better centering.
So the "first link" is the coin that you purchased? ... all of the examples shown are amazing (congrats => great coin type) As AJ stated, the first link shows a great image of Orestes, with sweet facial features (I also really like the 3rd link, CNG, for it has a sweet tunny fish and a pretty cool dagger) ... oh, and the 4th link is pretty cool as well (great Orestes and dagger) => ancientnut => thanks for showing this coin-type (definitely out of my range, but very interesting)
What a wonderful coin! Any EL stater is a great coin-- yours happens to have a fantastic story as well
Thank you all for the kind comments. Yes, the first link is the coin I purchased yesterday from Goldberg Auction 90 and I haven't received the invoice yet, much less the coin. I decided to use a link, as my posted photos are usually blurry. I very nearly pursued the CNG example last October. As Steve mentioned, a nice tunny and (partial) sword, as well as detailed omphalos and well-defined body of Orestes. The two coins would have complemented each other nicely!
I very much like these but have not had the nerve to bid one one yet. You have me rethinking about it. Very nice. Nothing better than fat gold and these are phat fat gold.
4to2: I agree there is something very appealing about "phat fat gold." This is my first purchase of an electrum stater and I was surprised at the prices realized for the examples offered in the Goldberg sale. I had had my eye on the Orestes for awhile, but when the staters began selling, I didn't feel I had a chance on it. Here are the first two electrum staters offered yesterday: An earlier type, but with huge flan split and scratches. Winning bid: $11,500 https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=2505&category=52260&lot=2113849 Flan splits and a very irregular flan. Winning bid: $12,750 https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=2505&category=52260&lot=2113850
From the Goldberg catalog: The significance of the types on Kyzikos' electrum coinage of the 5th and 4th centuries BC often elude us. Unlike the types found on the coinage of other cities which nearly always reference some important aspect of the issuing city and are ripe with meaning, the many diverse types found on Kyzikene coinage often have no apparent association to the cults, mythology or historical events of the city. The only consistent image is the tunny, and nearly always as an adjunct to the main type and seemingly of secondary importance. Because of this and the volume of trade transiting the borders, which of course affected nearly every aspect of life in the city, it has been suggested that the types perhaps derived from designs on Greek vases and other artworks that circulated in trade throughout the area. This is an interesting hypothesis with significant merit, and if correct would seem to be a phenomenon unique in Greek coinage.
I don't know what you paid for yours, but I never expect less that 150% of low estimate on these coins in these winter auctions. It is christmas for coin collectors and anyone flush with year end bonus money is going to be shopping at these auctions. Having said that, the sphinx is fantastic and I love the irregular flan. Personally I think I like it better because of the flan shape. I can see it going that high......which is why I have yet to bid on one. For yours, the details in the face and overall skill of the engraver are superior to the engraver of the early type (lot 3126.) There is a relaxed and natural sense of resignation in the pose. The pose seems studied and well thought out. It captures a realism lacking in lesser examples. I focus on the CHOICE in the Choice VF auction designation for this coin. Want to trade it for an Aesillas Tet from the Roman Province of Macedon? btw flan cracks.......I don't mind them on a fat coin. I think it adds life to the coin. You can see the force of the strike baked into the coin for eternity. And you get to peek into the heart of the coin. All good by me.
Very perceptive: my coin opened at 150% of low estimate and I raised one increment and won it. I agree with you. I don't mind irregular flans at all and flan cracks can be appealing as long as they are not so severe as to possibly endanger the integrity of the coin. Nothing quite as devastating as receiving a coin in two pieces! I'll think about the trade you offered......NOT!!
Here's a flan crack that might bother me: https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=2522&category=52827&lot=2140295
Well, considering that the coin has stayed together for 2500 years, I could probably live with it (if the price was right, eh?)
