Athena and Perseus w/ head of Medusa 30mm bronze

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by MerlinAurelius, Mar 17, 2017.

  1. MerlinAurelius

    MerlinAurelius Well-Known Member

    Hey I like those parameters. I would say the condition of Medusa's head is more important than Perseus's head but ones with his facial features showing seems to be the most rare.

    What interests you in this coin? The blood? The rarity? or difficulty in finding a pristine specimen?

    I love the myth of Perseus.
     
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  3. IdesOfMarch01

    IdesOfMarch01 Well-Known Member

    Apropos of this thread, I feel compelled to show again a picture from my trip to Italy last Fall. This was photographed in Florence, and is my favorite bronze sculpture of my trip.

    Perseus with the head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini, 1545:

    Perseus with head of Medusa.jpg

    The decapitation resulted in the birth of the winged horse Pegasus from the neck of Medusa.
     
  4. MerlinAurelius

    MerlinAurelius Well-Known Member

    Is that the origin of Pegasus? I did not know that. Thanks for sharing~~~
     
  5. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    [​IMG]
    Pontos Amisos Mithradates VI 109-89 BC AE 28 Athena Perseus Medusa Head Body

    Fortunately, my Medusa body seems there, neck looks like it is spurting blood... but it looks like SHE got Perseus' head too. :)
     
  6. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Since this came up, I'll share another favorite of mine.

    Even as these beheaded Medusa coins that Mithridates issued were circulating in his kingdom, his great enemy the Roman Republic had a moneyer who struck denarii with the bust of Medusa on the obverse and the hero Bellerophon riding Pegasus on the reverse. Bring it on, Perseus!

    [​IMG]
    ROMAN REPUBLIC
    C. Cossutius C.f. Sabula

    AR Denarius
    3.86g, 18.6mm
    Rome mint, 72 BC
    Babelon Cossutia 1; Sydenham 790; Crawford 395/1.
    O: SABVLA, Head of Medusa left.
    R: Bellerophon on Pegasus right, brandishing spear in right hand; below, L COSSVTI C F; behind, IIII.
     
  7. MerlinAurelius

    MerlinAurelius Well-Known Member

    Awesome. Absolutely awesome. Thanks!!
     
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