CARIA. Iasos. Circa 250-190 BC. Dichalkon (?) (Bronze, 16 mm, 3.99 g, 12 h), Eomedes, magistrate. Laureate head of Artemis to right. Rev. IAΣEΩN / EOMHΔΗΣ Hermias swimming to right with dolphin. Ashton, Iasos -. BMC -, cf. 6-9 (differing magistrates). HN online -. Leschhorn -. SNG Copenhagen -, cf. 409 ff. (differing magistrates). SNG Keckman -. SNG von Aulock -. Light deposits, otherwise, fine.


The figure swimming with a dolphin on the Hellenistic coins from Iasos is Hermias, a local youth who is said to have tamed a dolphin and ridden it every day after training in the gymnasion. One sad day, however, Hermias drowned (in another version of the story, his heart was pierced by the dolphin's fin by accident) and the dolphin carried his body back to the shore, where the majestic animal died next to his beloved human friend out of grief.