CARIA. Iasos. Circa 200-150 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 20 mm, 5.59 g, 12 h). Conjoined heads of Apollo, laureate, and Artemis, diademed, to right. Rev. [Ι]ΑΣΕ/ΩΝ The youth Hermias swimming to right, his left arm put around a dolphin swimming to right. Ashton, Iasos, Bronze Group B, 1-14. HN online 277. SNG Keckman I 58. Slightly rough, otherwise, very fine.



The figure depicted swimming with a dolphin on the Hellenistic coins from Iasos represents Hermias, a local youth who was said to have tamed a dolphin and ridden it daily after training in the gymnasion. According to the legend, Hermias tragically drowned one day - though in another version, he was accidentally pierced in the heart by the dolphin’s fin. The dolphin, overcome with grief, carried his body back to shore and died beside his beloved human companion.