Boar, Fish And Lion, Any Kyzicos Enthusiasts ....?

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Author	Replies: 6 / Views: 1,123
Doucet Pillar of the Community United States 1315 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 9:33 pm This tiny coin is a little, ancient Greek sculpture. I've wanted one like this, and when this one came up for a reasonable price I decided to go for it. The depth of the strike makes it hard for me to photograph, but this is the best one I've got yet. Mysia, Kyzicos 525-475 BC Silver trihemiobol 9-12mm, 1.07g Forepart of running boar to l., tunny fish upwards behind Roaring lion's head left, all in incuse square. I'm curious, do you think the engraver made this die with or without magnification. As you can see, the mane details and the lion's teeth are smaller than the point of a pin. It seems like this would be hard to do with the naked eye. If you think they used magnification, what do you think it was? I couldn't find a whole lot about it yet. A friend suggested perhaps a crystal or a piece of amber. Report this Post to the Staff

chrsmat71 Pillar of the Community United States 4973 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 9:37 pm wow, that's very nice doucet....super detail! Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 9:46 pm Very nice coin. Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 02/06/2013 9:47 pm Very nice coin. Report this Post to the Staff
Masis Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 946 Posts	Posted 02/07/2013 11:29 am Great coin! On the minuteness of detail, well I guess in that era the artisans had to produce quality and to excel, if they wanted to keep their jobs (or lives!). Let us not forget that from this culture came many wonders, such as the intricately made "Antikythera Clock". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism I would not be surprised if the cratspersons were teenagers, who had very likely begun their apprenticeship as children, were given the task to sculpt the Die mould, going from the plans drawn by the master. And of course, naturally, they would have the better eye sight. Even today in Turkey, you will see children in workshops as apprentices and by the time they are in their early adulthood they are highly skilled. Report this Post to the Staff
DavidUK Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 2624 Posts	Posted 02/09/2013 01:07 am I know that for some time coins have been modeled at a larger scale and reduced but I am unsure of the technique used to do it or how early it was devised. Maybe someone else can explain it and whether it was possible milenia ago. Either way I agree that they did have a lot of skill, I always admire Greek coins and Kyzicos designs appeal to me, I have some on my list of must have coins. Report this Post to the Staff
DVCollector Bedrock of the Community United States 10045 Posts	Posted 02/09/2013 01:29 am Fantastic details on that coin! I keep looking for one. Quote: I'm curious, do you think the engraver made this die with or without magnification. As you can see, the mane details and the lion's teeth are smaller than the point of a pin. It's quite possible some type of lens was used, there are lenses mentioned in ancient Greek records. It would certainly make the die work easier and more precise. Report this Post to the Staff
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