TYPE Ancient Greece, Istros (Thrace), 4th c. BC, bronze AE13
DESCRIPTION .
Obv: Young male head (Apollo?) right
Rev: Eagle on top of dolphin, Greeek legend "ISTR[ION]"
REFERENCE: L3 A41d var.
GRADING: AVF / VF+, dark patina, scarce
ORDER INFO: G1967, $65
While hardly reflecting zoological reality - as an 18-pound eagle is unlikely to attack a much heavier dolphin at sea - the reverse scene, present on coinages of two Black Sea cities (Istros and Sinope - though rather distant, they were both originally Milesian colonies) might have some symbolic significance in juxtaposing two leading deities - Zeus and Poseidon - through their sacred animals.