| Nomos AG > obolos 30 | Auction date: 17 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 625 Price realized: 75 CHF (Approx. 87 USD / 79 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: L. Marcius Censorinus, 82 BC. Denarius (Silver, 17.5 mm, 3.63 g, 8 h), Rome. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. [L ·] CENSOR Marsyas advancing left, extending right arm and holding wineskin in his left hand over his left shoulder; behind, column bearing statue on top. Babelon, (Marcia) 24. Crawford 363/1d. Sydenham 737. Lightly toned. Good very fine. Ex Obolos 16, 11 October 2020, 1087. Marsyas was a Phrygian satyr connected to the worship of Dionysos via his flute playing: he was one of the Tityroi, the double-flute playing satyrs in the train of the god. Legend said that it was Marsyas who invented flute playing. The story goes that Athena had crafted the very first flute, but discarded it because she did not like how it disfigured her cheeks when she blew into it. Marsyas found it and played it beautifully. He felt that he was so good that he challenged the god Apollo to a musical contest, the winner to determine the fate of the loser. Apollo won, of course, and after tying Marsyas to a tree he flayed him alive for his presumption of challenging him. Starting price: 75 CHF |  |
