Hi all, This Perseus coin is among my favorite Ancient coins. Reminds me of an ancient mercury Dime. Please share any Perseus Coins, would enjoy seeing them.
I like the type very much! I have multiples of the Pontos "Perseus immediately after slaying Medusa" coins. The type is quite popular among CT members My first one, selected for the excellent "gushing blood" from the body of Medusa: The second, because it was an unexpected find at a jewelry store on St. John USVI, and it was cheap: (the above coin before cleaning) And somewhat accidental bidding acquisition : PONTOS, Amisos 85-65 BCE, time of Mithradates VI Eupator AE, (each is 27-29 mm) Obv: helmeted head of Athena right; helmet decorated with griffin Rev: AMIΣOY; Perseus standing facing, holding harpa and head of Medusa, Medusa's body at his feet, blood gushing from the neck; monogram in left field
The hero Perseus grew up on the island of Seriphos. The little island honored him on its coinage. Cyclades, Seriphos. 2nd-1st century BC? 2.95g. AE14 Helmeted head of Perseus right CΕΡΕΙ-ΦΙWΝ; Harpa Auctiones AG, auction 29, June 2003, lot 357 (J. P. Righetti collection)
My only Perseus coin, a tiny bronze: Perseus, 179-168 BC. Greek AE 14.8 mm; 2.77 g Macedonia. Obv: Macedonian shield; wheel-ornament in center. Rev: ΒΑ-ΠΕ above and below harpe, star below. Refs: Sear Greek 6809; SNG Cop 1281; Lindren II (Europe) 1339; Gaebler 12.5.36. Why is a harpe on the reverse of this coin? The harpē (ἅρπη) was a type of sword with a sickle protrusion along one edge near the tip of the blade. According to legend, Perseus use a harpe to cut off the head of Medusa. "Perseus holding Medusa's head" depicts Perseus armed with a harpe sword when he beheaded Medusa. Marble sculpture by Antonio Canova (Vatican Museum). Note Perseus' winged helmet in this sculpture, just as depicted on @old49er 's coin in the OP.
You have a very nice AE @old49er ! Would enjoy having that in my collection also. I guess it is always perspective, but I personally feel Ancient to me is BCE or 1,900 YEARS before the Mercury Dime. I have a couple coins depicting Perseus: PONTOS Amisos 85-65 BCE Æ24 12.2g Obv: Mithradates VI as Perseus r Phrygian helmet Rev: Pegasos grazing l Malloy 33b HGC 7 239 Fair play - it looks like Perseus had HIS head removed also! Pontos Amisos Mithradates VI 109-89 BC AE 28 Athena Perseus Medusa Head Body
SINOPE, PAPHLAGONIA AE16 OBVERSE: Winged head of young Perseus REVERSE: SINW-PHS, cornucopiae between two pilei of the Dioskouroi, each surmounted by a star Struck at Sinope, 120-100 BC 4.09g, 16mm SNG Cop 306, SNGvA 231, Sear 3713 Ex JAZ Numismatics
Perseus was the last king of Macedon that wasn't under Roman rule, if i remember my history reading correctly..
We have the mythic Perseus who slayed the Gorgon medusa... (And, no, you aren't seeing triple from the day drinking that you are doing being that it's Saturday. That's a triple strike!) Pontos. Amisos c 85-65 BC. Bronze Æ, 30mm., 18,18g. Helmeted head of Athena right, helmet decorated with griffin / AMIOY Perseus standing holding harpa and head of Medusa, at feet, body of Medusa, monograms to both sides.VF Sea 1166-76 (same). And then there is Perseus son of Philip V Philip V and Perseus.Ca. 221-168 B.C.E Macedonian Kingdom. AE unit (17.1 mm, 6.07 g, 12 h). Uncertain Macedonian mint. Macedonian shield, star with spiral arms/swastika in center boss / M-K, ΔONΩN, Macedonian helmet with cheek guards, BA monogram below. SNG Alpha Bank -; SNG Cop -; McClean 3666. VF. Rare.
Beautiful coin! I can see why it's your fav (and it looks a LOT like a merc dime...but much cooler being ancient). Do we know where it's from or what the symbols on the reverse mean?
It's from Macedonia, where Perseus was king. The BA stands for Basileus, meaning "king." The ΠΕ stands for Perseus.
A snippet of Perseus info. "On his return journey, Perseus saw a naked girl chained to a rock on the sea coast near Joppa. He flew down, and was just in time to prevent her from being devoured by a sea monster: he turned it to stone by uncovering the head of Medusa." Now that's the end of the story, for now. So sleep well, all my little darlings !"
..when i think or look at this coin, i think of you Ryro...it's one of those required for the Alex/Greek collection ..Edited: oops, you've got a coin of him already..just not this type..my bad! 9_9...
Does anyone have coinage depicting Andromeda? Only a few cities illustrated this part of the myth. Here is where I prove I am not collector type 3 "The Aesthete" nor 4 "The Perfectionist". Thrace, Deultum. Tranquillina (241-244AD) AE22 6.64g Obv: SAB TRANQVILLINA AVG; Draped bust right, wearing stephane Rev: [COL FL] PAC DEVLT Perseus and Andromeda standing facing one another; Andromeda on left with left hand raised, Perseus on right, holding harpa and gorgon’s head, releasing Andromeda from her chains; sea-monster turned to stone below. Ref: Youroukova, Deultum 411; SNG Bulgaria 1518-20; Varbanov 2945. Mionnet Suppl. II #574
Ed Snible and others interested in Greek Mythology. Maybe someone here can show photos of coins with Andromeda. Otherwise, why not google, requesting "Andromeda on Coins"- you will get results. Such as Photos of such coins and text, for instance - "1689 White Metal. William & Mary Coronation Medal. Persius delivering Andromeda from a sea monster. By George Bower. 37 mm, 14.71 grams. Medallic Illustration 663/26." Also, many books of Greek Mythology will include relevant stories.
I think Ed's was interested in seeing if any CT members own coins depicting Andromeda He showed one such coin.
