A Fully Loaded Pan

Pan: part man, part goat, child of Hermes and a Nymph, patron of shepherds. I have a fondness for this wild pagan god. It began years ago while reading Jitterbug Perfume, a fantastical work of fiction by weird and wacky author Tom Robbins. Pan was not a main character but his supporting role was intriguing and a bit titillating (no surprise about the latter, right? It is Pan, after all ).

I'm always on the lookout for coins with nice depictions of Pan. This one is a fabulous full rendering, with the faunal god in all his horned and cloven glory, complete with trademark syrinx and lagobolon.


THRACE, Hadrianopolis. Gordian III
AE 22 mm, 5.18 gm
Obv: AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC; radiate head right
Rev: AΔPIANOΠOΛЄITΩN; Pan advancing left, holding syrinx and lagobolon
Ref: Varbanov 3945 corr. (cantharus in place of syrinx). Very rare.

Pan is credited with inventing the syrinx, now commonly called the pan flute or pan pipes. It's a common story: boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, girl gets turned into reeds, boy destroys the reeds, boy regrets his anger and pines for girl, turning her remains into a musical instrument .

The more detailed version: Pan was smitten with a nymph named Syrinx but she fled from the horned god's advances, begging a river god (or nymphs) to hide her. She was transformed into river reeds. Thwarted, Pan thrashed the reeds and heaved a sigh. His breath blew across the broken reeds and stirred a beautiful sound. He strapped some shortened reeds together and carried his beloved Syrinx everywhere, charming all who heard with beautiful melodies.

There are many variations of the story, as is typical of such myths.

As for the lagobolon, as we know from prior posts it is a bunny bashing stick.



...

Let's see your Pans, your syringes (plural of syrinx!), your lagobolons

 

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Wow, that is stunning TIF.

 

I've bashed a few bunnies with my lagobolon.

 

In all seriousness, I don't think I've EVER seen a better depiction of Pan - this type is now very high on my want list!

 

Heh heh.

...

Another Pan and syrinx:


ARKADIA, Arkadian League
340-330 BC, Megalopolis mint
AR Obol, 11 mm, 0.77 g
Obv: head of Pan left
Rev: large Arkadian League monogram; syrinx below
Ref: BCD Peloponnesos (Megalopolis) 1517-8; HGC 5, 930
ex BCD Collection. Ex Vinchon (11-13 April 1988), lot 463
Pan looks youthful in this coin. Where's his wild beard?

A super cool coin with lagobolon, which zoomed to the top of my FIND ONE list after @zumbly and @Volodya posted theirs:


ILLYRIA, Apollonia
c. 1st century BCE
AR 15 mm, 1.25 gm
Obv: AI-NEA; fires of the Nymphaeum of Apollonia; dotted border
Rev: AΠOΛΛΩ-NIATAN, lagobolon; dotted border
Ref: BMC 44; Maier 121

 

There was a Pan I really really wanted in an earlier auction-- the Naumann auction that was delayed when Pecunem self-destructed. I planned a massive bid and was completely confident that I'd win.

Nope. At least two bidders kept fighting for it after I dropped out and it closed for 10x opening. I was heartbroken but acquiring this Hadrianopolis Pan has (mostly) healed that wound

Here's the one that got away:

https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=2858&category=58667&lot=2391764


PHRYGIA. Dionysopolis. Pseudo-autonomous. Time of Septimius Severus to Caracalla (193-217). Ae.
Obv: Draped bust of Dionysus right, wearing ivy wreath.
Rev: ΔIONVCOΠOΛЄITΩN.
Pan advancing right, holding grape bunch and pedum.
SNG Copenhagen 345.
Very rare
Weight: 3.51 g.
Diameter: 18 mm.

 

That is a fantastic coin!!! I absolutely LOVE that reverse of Pan!!! WOW!!!

But, I have nothing of the type to post

 

Two thumbs up

 

Wow! Fantastic Pan reverse TIF! A nice healing salve for 'the one that got away'.

 

My favorite Pan:

 

Wow thats a beauty. Love the patina and of course the reverse.

 

AWESOME write-up, but all your coins are FANTASTIC @TIF ! Hard to follow your lead as you get the good ones!

(Awesome Pun Mr. @John Anthony ... LOL)

I have a couple Pans...


Thrace Pantikapaion 4th C BC, AE 20 Pan head - Griffin forepart BMC 869
(Seller's photo, and I actually got it for the GRIFFIN)


RR C Vibius CF CN Pansa 48 BCE AR Denarius Pan Jupiter Anxurus Sear 420 Craw 449/1

 

THRACE, PANTIKAPAION
AE18
OBVERSE: Head of Pan left
REVERSE: P-A-N, head & neck of bull three-quarters left.
Struck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC
4.0g, 18mm
SNG BMC Black Sea 890

THRACE, PANTIKAPAION
AE20
OBVERSE: Head of Pan left
REVERSE: Roaring lion's head left; fish below.
Struck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC
5.0g, 20mm
SNG BMC Black Sea 883

C VIBIUS CF CN PANSA CAETRONIANUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS VIBIAAR Denarius
OBVERSE: Mask of Pan right, PANSA below
REVERSE: IOVIS AXVR before, C VIBIVS C F C N behind, Jupiter Axurus seated left
Rome 48 BC
5.6, 18mm
Cr449/1a; Syd 947; Vibia 18

ARCADIA MEGALOPOLIS
Triobol
OBVERSE: Laureate head of Zeus left
REVERSE: Pan seated left, holding lagobolon; eagle on knee, monogram before, D/L behind
Struck at Megalopolis 182-168 BC
2.160g, 14mm
Dengate 13

 

i remember that story, as i recall...there was some disagreement about if it was actually rabbit season or duck season.




that'a a fantastic provincial coin...that pan is SWEET.

 

Holy *frick* TIF, that's an amazing OP-example!!



... ummm, I'm gonna try to be more amazing ...

*FAIL*

 

Cimmerian Bosporus, Pantikapaion Æ20 / Griffin
Date: 4th Century BC
Measure: 20.06 mm
Weight: 6.85 grams
Obverse: Head of Pan right
Reverse: Π-A-N, Forepart of griffin left, sturgeon below

Attribution: MacDonald 69







ARKADIA, Arkadian League. AR Obol
Megalopolis mint
Circa 340-330 BC
Diameter: 10 mm
Weight: 0.74 grams
Obverse: Horned head of Pan left
Reverse: League monogram above syrinx
Reference: BCD Peloponnesos (Megalopolis) 1517-8; HGC 5, 930




... it's all I got ...

 

*emmphh*

 

I really enjoyed reading your cynical write-up, @TIF

 

excellent
EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian Dichalkon 126-27 AD Pan

 

That's a really neat coin Tif