circa 400-375 BCE
Æ 10 mm, 1,19 g
Obv: Laureate head of nymph right, with hair in sphendone.
Rev: ΑΡΠΑΓΙΑ.
Fish right; below, grain ear right.
AMNG IV 597; CNG 88, lot 286; Triton V, lot 486 = Asia Minor Coins online #920.
Harpagion, listed either as in Caria or in Mysia, was situated between Priapos and Kyzikos. It was mentioned by Thukydides as playing a small part in the Peloponnesian War, as Athens captured some ships near there.
According to Strabo, there are some accounts that Ganymede was abducted from Harpagion. Ganymede was considered the most beautiful of mortals and was abducted by Zeus to serve as their cup bearer. However, Ganymede isn’t depicted on this coin, but instead a nymph with her hair in a sphendone. Strabo also mentions that other sources state he was abducted from nearby Dardanos.
Athenaios wrote that the most extraordinary myrtles grew around Harpagion. What I find intriguing about this coin, though, is the fact that Ganymede is not depicted. Since most cities preferred to exploit their connections to mythology or Homer, that implies that story, or at least it’s placing at Harpagion, was invented after this coin was minted.
An Athenian fleet under Thrasybulus barely defeats a Spartan fleet at the Battle of Kynossema. Three days afterward, several boats from Harpagion are captured.