The Throwing of Astragaloi, an Ancient Greek Pastime
459
Mysia, Kyzikos (c.450-400 B.C.), Electrum Stater, 15.93g. Youth, wearing a himation, kneeling facing, throwing knuckle-bones (astragaloi), a tunny below. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square of mill-sail pattern (Von Fritze -; Boston Supplement 150; Regling, Prinkipo, 127; cf. ‘Kunstfreund’, lot 214). Good very fine, a fascinating type, extremely rare, perhaps only the fourth known specimen. $ 15,000 Ex Bank Leu Ltd., Auction 52, Zurich, 15 May 1991, lot 84 The throwing of knuckle-bones was a popular pastime in the ancient Greek world and here the moment that the astragaloi have been cast aside by the youth has been perfectly captured by the engraver.
A Very Well-Preserved and Impressive Facing Head of Apollo
460
Mysia, Kyzikos (c.410 B.C.), Electrum Stater, 15.90g. Head of Apollo facing, slightly inclined to right, wearing a laurel-wreath, a tunny below. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square, with granular surfaces (Von Fritze, Nomisma VII, 1912, 132, pl. IV, 18; W. Greenwell, ‘The Electrum Coinage of Cyzicus’, NC 1887, 17, pl. I, 18; Babelon, Traité II, 2602, pl. CLXXIII, 13; BMC 56; SNG France 283-284; Boston 1492; cf. ‘Kunstfreund’, lot 160 (these dies)). A few light marks, broad flan, high relief, good very fine, an impressive facing head, better than the ‘Kunstfreund’ example. $ 15,000 Ex Frank Sternberg, Auction VIII, Zurich, 16 & 17 November 1978, lot 97 Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 2, Zurich, 21 & 22 February 1990, lot 179 This issue is remarkable for its similarity in style to the contemporary facing head tetradrachms of Amphipolis. It is clear that the dies were created by a master engraver and illustrates how artistic influences travelled in the Greek world.