Asia Minor. Mysia, Kyzikos.
Tetradrachm, c. 386 - 362 BC. (Silver, 15.24g., 24.8mm). ΣΩΤΕΙΡΑ Head of Kore Soteira to left, wearing a grain wreath and a sphendone covered by a veil, the ends of which curl around her neck / ΚΥ- ΖΙ Lion’s head with open jaws and protruding tongue to left; below, tunny fish to left; behind, bunch of grapes shown horizontally. F. Sandstrom, The Silver ΣΩΤΕΙΡΑ Coinage of Cyzicus in the Fourth Century B.C. Diss. Brown 1995, p. 150, 102b (this coin). SNG Paris 398 (same dies = Sandstrom 102a).

Kyzikos (IACP 747), the great city on the Sea of Marmara, is thought to have been founded first by Corinth in 756 and then by Miletus in 679; archaeological evidence seems to support only the later date. It was the most important and most prosperous of all the cities on the Propontis and became a great trading center with the greatest of all ancient electrum coinages – ranging from the 6th century down to the time of Alexander. The city’s magnificence is mainly shown by its extensive coinage since the site itself was not only badly hit by a succession of earthquakes, but it was also used as a quarry both by the Byzantines, especially during the reign of Justinian for use in the building of Hagia Sophia and then, later, by the Ottomans. This silver tetradrachm of Kyzikos shows Kore the Savior, whose cult was one of great prominence in the city (she also appears on the city’s coinage during the Roman period). Her head on the coin shows us a woman coifed in the height of 4th century fashion.

Grading/Status: A very attractive and well-centered coin with a lovely head of Kore of very fine late classical style. Extremely fine.

Notes
Provenance:
Nomos Fixed Price List Winter-Spring 2008, 47.
Hess-Leu 31, 6 December 1966, 400.