My new favorite coin

I have to say, the number and artistic quality of the devices on this coin's obverse are simply mind-boggling! It's almost enough to make a collector of 12 Caesars Romans branch out into certain areas of ancient Greeks.

I tried to research more about these coins and was unsuccessful in finding another example with the griffin on the obverse -- which to my eyes is one of the all-time coolest small details I've ever seen. Does anyone know exactly how rare this particular element is on these coins?

 

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Congratulations on a wonderful acquisition!! I can certainly understand why you want to post it early (and Goldberg usually takes ages to ship, so you might be waiting a while )

 

What a wonderfully informative first post here! I've read many of your posts on Forvm (but have very rarely dared to post there myself). Welcome to this side of the coin Internet!

 

The down-to-earth side.

 

Thank you Joe! I love to share informations on ancient coins, I think the ultimate goal of study must be the sharing of knowledge, otherwise study would be boring and meaningless.

Hi IdesOfMarch01,
the griffin on neck guard is seen only on the earlier groups (B and C) of the Thurian distaters, I share the related plate from Noe...



There are also several samples of griffins on helms (not on neck guard) seen on the coinage of Magna Graecia and Sicily, like:

Velia


Heraklea


The Lucani


Caelia


Taras


Syracuse


The iconography was very popular in south Italy, in fact the most beautiful depiction of griffins ever seen comes from Ascoli Satriano, area of Ancient Daunia (northern Apulia): a marble Trapezophoros found in a princely tomb, perfectly preserved, of which we can still appreciate the polychromy:


From an iconological point of view, the griffin was linked to power, royalty, strength and victory. The frequent occurrence on the helmets is to be linked to the Greek literary traditions in which griffin are described in their function as fearsome guardians, such as for the precious wine of Dionysus or for Apollo's treasure (Herodotus was the main exponent of those traditions); therefore, their presence on the helmets had an eminently protective function.

Bye
Nico

 

Welcome @NSisci FAC's loss is definitely our gain

 

Yes, welcome @NSisci

 

Nice to welcome you coin friend. The owner of the other site has a strong business interest in his site which I feel directly Conflicts with the threads posted making them so less valuable to numismatics. His lieutenants are also keen to kiss his rear, so it's impossible to have balanced discussions. Forum is like a Chinese human rights debate....... If he's right , he's right. ... If he's wrong, he's right!!

 

Wow, ancientnut => that OP-coin is fricken awesome!! (congrats)

yah, I have been shot-down on several occasions trying to score one of those babies!! (and man, my targets weren't even as sweet as your score, so I can only imagine how many dimes you shelled-out for that puppy!!)

=> money well spent (that coin is a keeper in anybody's gun-safe!!)

I'm totally jealous of your great new prize

 

Fantastic coin! There is a lot of beauty in that piece. Congrats on your new acquisition.

 

I've been there for years and I haven't found it like that (I've also openly disagreed with Joe on more than one occasion). There are very informative contributions by well known experts there making it very valuable to numismatics. Joe just doesn't like lots of market talk because he's a coin dealer. That seems fair enough to me. It's his coin shop, after all.

 

Wow, I just got back online and it took me 20 minutes to read everything that's been added to this thread! Thank you all very much.
Extra special thanks and a hearty welcome to Nico! I certainly appreciate the valuable additional information, including the re-dating and the engraver's signature. I didn't have a clue what the phi stood for...

John

 

Phi (initial of Phrygillos), not theta

 

Hi Nico and welcome! I used to post a lot over at Forvm as well and moved here for precisely the same reasons. You'll see several friends here you haven't seen for a while there who feel the same as you.

This is a MUCH friendlier group. You can talk about sellers and where you got your coins freely.

Your expertise will be greatly welcome here. Have fun!

Carthago

 

Wonderful coin and great story! I especially like the Skylla,

 

Nico: The tomb marble of two griffins feasting on a deer is amazing! What is the approximate date?

 

True, definitely a relaxed atmosphere here, whereas Forvm is more formal. I've noticed your absence at FAC, Carthago. I'm sorry so many have left, but I'm glad I can see many of you here!

 

I have found this be be so. Many a time I have gone to FAC for expert opinion and help. However, I have never felt welcome let alone at home there. I'm glad so many of you have migrated here.

This is so true. A friendly group. Like family. And like family we have a rare family feud which never lasts long.

 

Welcome to CT, @NSisci! That marble trapezophoros is truly extraordinary! Thanks for sharing all that information.

 

The trapezophoros is at the Getty Villa, dated to ca. 325-300 BCE, from South Italy.
http://www.digital-images.net/Gallery/Art/GettyVilla/gettyvilla.html?
You have to scroll down about 75% of the way.