Kyzikos (BC 500-450) EL 1/12 Stater

ca 500-450 BC. EL 1/12 Stater (1.34g, 9mm). Lion right, gnawing on leg of prey; below, tunny right / Quadripartite incuse square. gVF.
This is the second of three known that have been offered at auction.

This obverse has very close links to other coinage of similar period. Early drachmae of Velia have a similar type. Colin M. Kraay [Archaic and Classical Greek Coins (1976), p. 263] comments on the connection of the drachmae and this Kyzikos example, noting the rarity of deliberate reproductions of specific coin types across cities. An almost identical type is also found on a hecte emission of Mytilene (Bodenstedt 78 – Coin ID #11257).