MYSIA. Germe. Pseudo-autonomous issue. 1/4 Assarion (Bronze, 13 mm, 2.06 g, 11 h), time of the Severans, circa 193-217. Horned head of Pan to right. Rev. ΓΕΡΜΗΝ Syrinx. Ehling 402. SNG Copenhagen 128. Extremely rare, apparently the fourth known example. A lovely coin with a beautiful rendering of the syrinx. Minor smoothing, otherwise, very fine.


According to the legend, Pan fell in love with the nymph Syrinx and wanted to take her as his wife. When she rejected him, she was enchanted into a reed by a protective deity. Out of grief, Pan cut himself a pan flute, which he later used to compete against Apollo in the music competition - hence the name syrinx for a pan flute.