Numismata hellenica: a catalogue of Greek coins; with notes, a map ...

Metal Size Weight
M
M
M
M
M
JR.
M
2Si
21
•^2
9-8
M
M 6
91-5
93-4
85-
186-9
186-8
EUROPEAN GREECE. 95
Caracalla.
AYT. K. M. AYPH. CGYH. ANTiiNeiNOG. Bust of Caracalla to- r - R.
C6PAIKHC.
Hermes to I.
OYAniAC
in right hand, purse ; in left, caduceus and
chlamys.
SESTUS Thraciffi.
Note.— Sestus occupied the position of the modern lolova, the direct distance of which from
Abydus, now Cape Nagara, is two geographical miles. Strabo overrates the distance therefore at
thirty stades. The length of the bridge of Xerxes, from Apobathra (between Sestus and Madytus)
to Abydus, was little more than one geographical mile direct.
Laureate youthful head (Apollo 2) to r., in dotted circle. 8. 2H. Lyre.
Head of Apollo to I. R. [SH2]TI. Tripod ; below which, bow and arrow ; in field
to I., A.
Head of Apollo to I., in dotted circle. U. SHSTI, in two lines ; between them,
tripod, all in dotted circle ; in field to I., mon. (or figure) 85.
Caracalla.
AYT. M. AYPH. ANTiiNeiNOC. Bust of Caracalla to r. R. CHCTIUJN. Leander,
swimming to I., across the Hellespont ; on left, a tower, upon which stands
Hero, to r,, holding a lamp ; above Leander is Cupid, flying to I., and bearing a
torch ; all within dotted circle.
AYT . . AY. ANTUJNeiNOC. Same type. R. . HCTIIDN. Hero, standing to I., in
a tower, in her right hand, lamp; Leander swimming to r.— Electrotype from
the B. M.
SICYON Achaiffi.
Note.—The remains of Sicyon are found at a distance of two miles from the sea, and twelve miles
westward of Corinth, on a tabular height, naturally fortified by precipices, and by a river on either
side (the Asopus and the — Elisson). Vide Tr. in the Mor^a, III. p. 368.
?E. Bird, standing to I., with wing expanded. R. Bird, flying to l.\
in a wreath of
olive.
Another similar.
Note.— This and the former were the only coins procured by me on the site of Sicyon, and they
were sufficient to convince me that all those with the types of the Chimsera and dove, and with the
legend SE, which numismatists at that time attributed to Seriphus, belong to Sicyon, as well as those
with the same types and 21, which they gave to Siphnus. It would seem, from a comparison of
styles, that the change from SEKYQN or SEIKYQN to SIKYQN, occurred on the coins of Sicyon
about the time of Alexander the Great. The bird is probably the wood-pigeon, great numbers of which
still inhabit the cliffs which surround the ancient site. They were sacred perhaps to Venus, whose
temple was one of the principal edifices of Sicyon, and in which there was a seated statue of the
goddess by Canachus, an artist of the highest celebrity (I'ausan. Cor. 10).
Same type.
R. Large S, in quad, incus.
Note.—The Sicyonii wore upon their shields, instead of a device of the usual kind, a large sigma
(Xenoph. Hell. 4, 4). The sigma of this coin, which is more ancient than Xenophon, is of a pecu-
liar form, not resembUng any of the early sigmas, but having the upper and under line parallel,
and of an unusual —The length. Chimaera alludes to Bellerophon, a hero not less honoured at
Sicyon than at Corinth.
Chirasera, stepping to I. ; at the end of the tail, a serpent's head ; under the lion,
SE. R. Dove, flying to I. ; in wreath of olive.
Same legend and type ; in field to »•., small wreath. R. Same type ; in field to I., I,
— in wreath of olive.