Oh, oh here she comes. She's a man FREEZER! Or A gorgeously gory gorgonian gallery

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ryro, Jul 25, 2019.

  1. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Medusa. The only immortal of the 3 gorgonian sisters. An innocent rare beauty:kiss: turned victim of a lustful God, turned again into a MONSTER!:vamp:
    With fangs like a wolf and hair made of live poisenous snakes she can freeze a man with a glance.

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    Arnold Böcklin (1827-1901), Medusa, c. 1878.

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    Mysia, Parion.
    Civic issue. Ca. 500-475 B.C. AR drachm (13.69 mm, 3.12 g). Facing Gorgoneion / Complex multiple incuse punch design in roughly cruciform pattern. SNG Cop. 256; Asyut 612. Near VF, lightly toned;

    To the ancients she was, in my limited scope and perception, an allegory to man overcoming the unnatural, spiritual and EVIL:wideyed:

    348433E2-75F9-4D47-964B-564B04F1C223.jpeg

    Caravaggio
    Head of Medusa
    after 1590; Oil on canvas mounted on wood;

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    Macedon, Neapolis
    AR Obol. Circa 500-480 BC. Gorgoneion with protruding tongue / Quadripartite incuse square. Traite II 1, 1742, pl. 55, 17. BMC p. 84, 13; SNG ANS 423. 0.65g, 8mm.
    Extremely Fine. Fine late archaic style.

    Her demise is the ultimate coming of age/love story: Boy hears of girl. Travels far to find her. Boy finds girl. Girl attempts to get boys attention. Boy beheads girl and becomes a man. The ultimate man. Perseus to be exact.

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    Perseus with the head of Medusa, Benvenuto Cellini (1554)

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    (Perseus in 3-D)
    Pontos. Amisos c 85-65 BC.
    Bronze Æ, 30mm., 18,18g.
    Helmeted head of Athena right, helmet decorated with griffin / AMIΣOY Perseus standing holding harpa and head of Medusa, at feet, body of Medusa, monograms to both sides.VF Sea 1166-76 (same).

    And now to moderns she has been reinvented as an icon to man's tyranny over the fairer sex. It's only taken 3,000 years or so but Medusa is sexy again!

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    Though she's always been alluring to me. Early on I thought I would try to collect every type of gorgonian coin... Then reality set in and I realized I needed to collect the ones that sang to me (and within my budget).
    This one did just that a few weeks ago. Fangs, snake hair, tongue sticking out! Talk about a bad @$$ B... Or should I say bad @$$ G?!

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    THRACE, Apollonia Pontica
    After 450 BCE. AR Reduced Drachm (14.38 MM 2.31 gm). Head of Gorgon facing, tongue protruding / Anchor with crayfish. SNG.BM.162. aXF
    Ex: InAsta




    Please show off those undead beastly beauties, stories or whatever you've got Gorgon!

     

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  3. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    I'm always going to be jealous of that fantastic, messily-struck Amisos.

    Pretty Medusa:
    RR - L Cossutius Sabula 1590.jpg
    ROMAN REPUBLIC
    AR Denarius. 3.95g, 18mm. Rome mint, 72 BC. Crawford 395/1; Sydenham 790; Cossutia 1. O: Head of Medusa left, winged and entwined with serpents; SABVLA upwards behind. R: Bellerophon riding pegasos right, hurling spear; control mark X behind, L COSSVTI C F below.

    Scary Medusa:
    RR - Plautius Plancus New.jpg
    ROMAN REPUBLIC
    AR Denarius. 4.03g, 18mm. Rome mint, 47 BC, L. Plautius Plancus, moneyer. Crawford 453/1c; CRI 29a; Sydenham 959b. O: L.PLAVTIVS, facing mask of Medusa with disheveled hair. R: Aurora flying right, holding a palm branch and conducting the four horses of the Sun; PLANCVS below.
     
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  4. Alegandron

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

    Cool write-up and pics @Ryro ! And your coins are fantastic! Nice captures...

    Few of my Medusa / Gorgon / Metus...

    METUS
    [​IMG]
    Etruria Populonia 3rd C BCE AR 20 As 8.1g Metus Blank HN152


    This is MEDUSA's REVENGE... The HEADLESS PERSEUS!
    [​IMG]
    Pontos Amisos Mithradates VI 109-89 BC AE 28 Athena Perseus Medusa Head Body


    With Snake Heads
    [​IMG]
    Ionia Klazomenai 480-400 BC AR Drachm Pentobol 3.5g 13mm Forepart winged boar r gorgoneion incuse sq Cf SNG Copenhagen 12 Rare
     
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  5. Nicholas Molinari

    Nicholas Molinari Well-Known Member

    My gorgon:
    normal_IMG_3421.jpeg
    LESBOS, Mytilene. Circa 521-478 BC. EL Hekte – Sixth Stater (11mm, 2.51 g, 11h). Gorgoneion / Incuse head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress; rectangular punch to left. Bodenstedt Em. 19.1; HGC 6, 944. VF, lightly toned.

    I wish I had more gorgons, it is a really great type to show off to non-collectors especially.
     
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  6. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

  7. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    Nicholas, Your Gorgon really looked enraged :nailbiting:! The incuse head of Herakles on the reverse is a nice addition. Great coin ;).
     
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  8. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Thanks @zumbly! That lovely Medusa is to die for...or KILL for! All my gorgons are of the hideous type. One more for my must have list right there.
    @Alegandron, Medusa's revenge!!!
    [​IMG]
    LOVE it!
    And your Metus reminds me of Sloth from the goonies for some reason...
    [​IMG]

    Man O man @Nicholas Molinari, that beauty just leaves me speechless. A true show stopper right there. And the incuse Herakles, get outa here! BEAuuuutiful
    And thanks for the excellent additions @Sallent. I forgot to add my Syracusan gorgon! Here she is with some friends:

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    SICILY KAMARINA


    ONKIA GORGONEION OWL LIZARD EULE LIZARD BRONZE 17 MM 2.6 gr

    AE°SXD1990

    Former: lorddeibi6


    71B95FF2-E2DA-43FA-92FE-E596EF9AB5CF.png 13CEBB05-E4E0-45CF-AF0E-B0F14F094B6D.png


    PONTOS, Amisos
    85-65 BCE AE 21
    Aegis with Gorgon's head /
    Nike standing holding palm.
    SNG.BM.1177. VF+, green
    patina


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    SICILY KAMARINA
    ONKIA GORGONEION OWL LIZARD EULE LIZARD BRONZE 17 MM 2.6 gr
    AE°SXD1990
     
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  9. Alegandron

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

    LOL, laughing my Roman As off!!!

    I used to do the Sloth Laugh for my kids when they were wee lasses, as they loved the Goonies! We actually lived near Astoria, OR when the movie was being produced.

    GORGON
    [​IMG]
    MAKEDON Philip III Arrhidaios 323-317 BCE Æ 1-2 Unit 17mm 4.2g Miletos mint Makedonwn shield Gorgoneion - Helmet bipennis K Price 2064
     
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  10. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

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    Plautius Plancus, 47 BCE

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    Amisos (under Mithridates VI), after 88 BCE

    Screen Shot 2019-07-26 at 5.17.24 PM.jpg
    Seleukos I (306-281 BCE), Sardes mint (not clear the obverse head is Medusa, but it might be)

    Screen Shot 2019-07-26 at 5.17.17 PM.jpg
    Apollonia Pontica (450-400 BCE)
     
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  11. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Great Medusa additions @Ryro . Here is my Medusa head.
    Pontos_Amisos_85-65_BC_CSH.jpg
    PONTOS, Amisos.
    Time of Mithradates VI Eupator. Circa 85-65 BC. Æ 21
    Dia.: 21 mm
    Wt.: 7.3 g
    Obv.: Aegis.
    Rev.: Nike advancing right, holding palm; monograms flanking.
    Ref.: RG 44; cf. Callataÿ pl. XLIX, D; SNG BM Black Sea 1177-1179.
    Ex Arnoldoe Collection


    I got to see the Caravaggio Medusa last year when I visited the Ufizzi Gallery and the Perseus while in Florence. It was really neat.
    5234204F-9078-4D79-9523-63B5F3B96AE3.jpeg
     
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