protectress of little girls. Thus, one can wonder whether the female head on Arcadian coins might not sometimes represent Artemis rather than Despoina. In any case, this unusual reverse provides valuable insight into Greek religious rites.
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99. Troas. Gargara. c. 400 BC. Trihemiobol (?), 1.99g (6h). Obv: Head of youth right. Rx: ΓΑΡ Horse galloping right, all in incuse square. BMC p. 52, 2, pl. X, 4. SNG Oxford 1130. Head, HN, p. 545. Cf. Traité II 2, 2287, pl. 163, 13. Some porosity, otherwise EF $1,500 The small town of Gargara was situated on the northern coast of the gulf of Adramyttion. Gargara was famous for its fertile soil and was a member of the first Delian league. Its coinage consists mainly of bronze coins, and its silver coins are great rarities.
100. Mysia. Cyzicus. c. 550-475 BC. Hecte, 2.69g. Obv: Forepart of winged lioness left; at right, tunny fish. Rx: Four-part incuse square. von Fritze 96. SNG von Aulock 1179. Extremely sharp and unusual type. EF $9,500 Although few wild lions still lived in classical Greece, the Greeks were deeply fascinated by the lion as a symbol of royal power and fighting spirit. The Myceneans consumed lion flesh (as proven by lion bones in Mycenean fireplaces) and appear to have exterminated the lions in mainland Greece; only a few lions are said to have survived until the 4th century BC in the Mt. Olympus area. The lion-hunt images on Macedonian coins and grave paintings perhaps attest the continued survival of wild lions in the Balkans. In any case, the Greeks were very familiar with the characteristics of lions and deeply respected their courage. The ferocity of wounded lions was proverbial, and the aggressiveness of a lioness, particularly when defending her cubs, was also well known. Our winged lioness gives an idea of that ferocity.
101. c. 520 BC. Obol, 0.67g. Obv: Tunny fish left. Rx: Incuse square with windmill pattern. v. Fritze, Nomisma IX, pl. V, 5. Rosen Coll. 520. Very rare. About EF $1,000 Unlike the fourth century silver, the early silver coinage of Cyzicus is extremely rare. These coins were probably intended for internal circulation only, while the Cyzicene electrum was the main currency for the Black Sea trade of all Greeks.
102. c. 500 BC. EL Hecte, 2.67g Obv: Naked youth kneeling left, holding tunny fish by tail in right hand. Rx: Quadripartite incuse square. v. Fritze 112, pl. III, 3. Cf. SNG Paris 253 (stater). The head of the man is flatly struck, otherwise this coin is Mint State $4,000 A representation full of archaic directness and esprit.
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