I don't post much but I will try to do more in 2020. I picked this up from FORVM recently and although not perfect I love the butting bull but really love the lit torch. It's golden color jumps out at you and makes it look like the whole thing is on fire. This coin is from Cyzicus in Mysia, now modern Turkey - AE 24.06; 6.330 grams; dated 200-100 BCE. The story about how the torch came to be and it's importance in Greek mythology is particularly intriguing: "The torch is a symbol of Demeter. After Hades abducted Demeter's virgin daughter Persephone to be his wife, Demeter searched for her lighting her way through the earth with torches. While she searched, she was preoccupied with loss and grief. The seasons halted; living things ceased their growth, then began to die. Faced with the extinction of all life on earth, Zeus sent his messenger Hermes to the underworld to bring Persephone back. However, because she had eaten while in the underworld, Hades had a claim on her. Therefore, it was decreed that she would spend four months each year in the underworld. During these months Demeter grieves for her daughter's absence, withdrawing her gifts from the world, creating winter. Persephone's return brings the spring." Steve S.
Excellent coin, and I didn't know Persephone's sojourn underground was the explanation for Winter so that was good too.
Very nice coin, comes from a very historical City. Kyzikos was one of first City states to introduce coinage. John
Great coin, and looks awfully familiar. I had it watchlisted and thought about buying I too think that butting bull is A++
