You already know of the Victory/Nike carrying godess. The one with the fanciful Corinthian helmet, spear and shield with the head of the gorgon Medusa on it: Athena, godess of wisdom and warfare. Whom gave Athens its name and whom, to get revenge on her sister, Aphrodite, helped lead the Achaeans to victory in Homer's Illiad. Here we see our action heroine at rest: Lysimachos Pella,305-281 BC. Tetradrachm AR 27mm., 15,95g. Head of the deified Alexander the Great to right, wearing diadem with fluttering ends and with the horn of Ammon around his ear / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, Athena, wearing robes and helmet, seated to left on throne, holding Nike on her right hand and resting her left elbow on large round shield adorned with a gorgoneion; to left monogram. very fine. Thompson 253; Müller 471. From The Illiad' "Athena flung her richly embroidered vesture, made with her own hands… donned the shirt of Jove, arming herself for battle... She threw her tasseled aegis about her shoulders… On her head she set her helmet of gold, with four plumes, and coming to a peak both in front and behind - decked with the emblems of a hundred cities; then she stepped into her flaming chariot and grasped the spear…'' Yeah, she was a bad B! Even if the die cutters hammer wasn't always steady, Athena's spear was! My archaic Athena: Mysia. Lampsakos circa 500-450 BC. Obol AR 7mm., 0,77g. Female janiform head / Helmeted head of Athena left within incuse square very fine. SNG BnF 1128-31. But does everyone remember how she was born? As you may recall, unlike that big bootied thirsty for Ares' war wand (much to Hephaestus chagrin in the odyssey when he catches them in flagrante delicto), sister of hers, Aphrodite, Athena was the warrior to be pierced by nigh a man's spear and so was a virgin. But she was not to be any virgin. She was THE virgin that wasn't even born from a woman (at least she didn't enter the world from a woman)! For her daddy, Zeus, was told that, just like he had done, one day HIS son would take his throne and power. To avoid this Zeus, after having hurled his mighty massive thunderbolt (she says it was more like a light shower) at Metis in bed, turned her into a fly and ate her (I recommend doing the eating before hand) This way she could never give birth to the son who would sow his destruction. While pregnant and trapped inside Zeus, Metis forged Athena's helmet and robe. Zeus being in constant agony from that infernal/internal racket, either had Hephaestus clove open his head with axe or hit it with a hammer. Thus releasing a fully grown warrior. Who, thanks to mom, was already dressed and ready for battle! (It's a girl!) Despite the massive headache she gave him, Athena was always known as Zeus's favorite daughter (My wife says this is how all girls are brought into the world. Thankfully she gave me three boys. So we named them strike one, strike two and strike three!) She has so many coin types Here are some more of mine... Winner of ugliest Athena tet award goes to (purchased before the flood)... ATTICA, Athens. After 393 BC. AR Tetradrachm (19 MM 16.67 gm). Helmeted head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / AQE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind; all in an incuse square. SNG Copenhagen 63; BMC Attica pg. 13, 129; Svoronos, Athenes pl. 20, 1. Previous: Savoca Coins My haunted Athena is always fun to chat with... until she drinks up all my absinthe: Antiochos I Soter Seleukid Kingdom (281-261 BC). AE (15mm, 2.49g). Smyrna or Sardes. Helmeted head of Athena facing / BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ. Nike standing left, holding wreath and palm frond, Monogram to outer left. SC 315a; HGC 9, 167. Former: Kairos My classical Lampsakos Athena. A very different style then my above archaic): Mysia, Lampsakos circa 390-330 BC. AR Diobol (11mm, 1.22g). Janiform female head, with circular earring / ΛΑΜ, helmeted head of Athena right . very fine SNG von Aulock 1295; Gaebler, "Die Silberprägung von Lampsakos", Nomisma XII, 52; SNG France 5, 1193. Former Kairos Numismatik Don't you worry. She even graces Macedonian(ish) shield coins Pamphylia, Aspendos or Pisidia Selge Ae (2nd-1st century BC). Obv: Round shield with monogram ΠΘ or ΠO. Rev: Athena wearing crested Athenian helmet Condition: Very fine. Weight: 1.89 g. Diameter: 14 mm. Ref: BM Lycia p. 262 no. 55 and Numismata Graeca #850 Ex Savoca And lastly, a coin that could've been used to clove open Zeus's head! ROMAN REPUBLIC. Anonymous. AE Aes Grave Triens (92.37 gms), Rome Mint, ca. 225-217 B.C. VERY FINE. Cr-35/3a; TV-53. Obverse: Helmeted head of Minerva left; four pellets (mark of value) below; all set upon raised disk; Reverse: Prow right; four pellets (mark of value) below; all set upon raised disk. A pleasing specimen despite its crudeness, with charming green surfaces. A test cut across Minerva's face is noted for completeness. Ex Stacks & Bowers I believe Athena is on more ancient coin types then any other man, woman, God or Godess. Thoughts? And please post and pile on those coins of hers to help prove me right!
Great post Ryro, my favorite Athena. Hadrian, Cilicia Aegaea, circa 117 AD. AR Tridrachm 9.6 gm, GIC 1218. Toned.
@Ryro......Nice coins but that Soter scares the hell out of me! Athena was my first ever Greek coin and here she is... Mysia, Pergamon . Circa 2nd Century BC. AE 18mm (5.31 gm). Obv.: Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian Egret helmet. Rev.: ΑΘΗΝΑΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ (Athénas Nicéphore), trophy, consisting of crested helmet and cuirass with arms below; monogram to the right. SNG von Aulock 1374; SNG France 1884. VF.
Great write-up @Ryro I have to say, as far as Goddesses go, Athena is pretty awesome. HOWEVER, I only have 1 coin with her represented in the FF collection. Compared to 20ish Victory's who is truly the best (fight me) Here the only Athena we have Elaea, Aeolis Circa 350-300 BC AE 10mm Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena left Reverse: Barley-corn in olive wreath
Nice write-up. I think you will not have a shortage of takers in your quest for Athena related coins. She was a popular lady! So popular, that in fact I have 4 coins with her on them even though my collection is still very small. First, my Lysimachus like your example above... Then, my corinth one that shows her helmet in all its glory: And of course my Athens tet: And I was going to originally post these three, until I remembered that I have another one! My double victoriatus! Thanks to your thread I realised that 1/3 of the coins in my collection has Athena on them. I need to diversify...
Fun post, @Ryro . Athena, wow. We could fill a hundred pages here. I think this Corinth stater was my first Athena, back when I thought I'd stop with just one nice ancient coin. CORINTHIA, Corinth 345-307 BCE AR stater, 8.65 gm Obv Pegasus flying left, qoppa below Rev: helmeted head of Athena left wearing necklace; mask of Silenus behind Ref: Ravel 1046. Calciati 408. Scarce variety. from Heritage Auctions, June 2013 A sampling of other Athenas: CORINTHIA, Corinth circa 375-300 BCE AR stater, 22 mm, 8.55 g, 1h Obv: Pegasus flying left; qoppa below Rev: helmeted head of Athena left; A-P flanking neck truncation; to right, chimaera rampant left Ref: Ravel 1010; Pegasi 428; BCD Corinth 102; HGC 4, 1848 ex CNG Inventory 828126 (November, 2008) ex Gorny & Mosch 170 (13 October 2008), lot 1381 ex Giessener Münzhandlung 21 (22 March 1982), lot 37 EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter AR tetradrachm, 27 mm, 17.0 gm (Attic standard) Alexandreia mint, struck 313/12 BCE Obv: Head of the deified Alexander III to right, wearing mitra of Dionysos and elephant skin headdress, with aegis around his neck, and with horn of Ammon on his forehead Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ; Athena Alkidemos advancing right, hurling spear with her right hand and with shield over her extended left arm; to right, eagle with closed wings standing on thunderbolt to right with ΔΙ below Ref: Svoronos 33; Zervos series D, issue XIII; SNG Copenhagen 14; BMC 7 CILICIA, Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Gordian III 238-244 CE Æ 27 mm, 11 gm Obv: ...ΓOPΔIANO radiate and draped bust right; C/M dot within triangle (Howgego 670?) Rev: CEΛEVKEΩN; Athena advancing right, holding her shield with her extended left arm & preparing to hurl a spear at an anguipede giant (Enceladus?) who is throwing stones at her. Ref: c.f. SNG Levante 763 https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-gigantomachy.283117/ KINGS OF MACEDON, Antigonos II Gonatas 277/6-239 BCE, struck after 270 BCE, Amphipolis mint AR tetradrachm, 31mm, 17.06 g Obv: head of Pan in center of Macedonian shield, lagobolon over shoulder; shield decorated with stars within crescents Rev: BASILEWS ANTIGONOU, Athena Alkidemos walking left, brandishing thunderbolt and shield; helmet left, EMP monogram right Ref: SNGCop 1200v, EMP (maybe); R. Martin, "A Third-Century B.C. Hoard from Thessaly at the ANS," ANSMN 26, 536 (same obv. die). ex Demetrios Armounta Collection ATTICA, Athens c. 454-404 BCE AR tetradrachm; 17.21 gm, ~25 mm Obv: head of Athena right, with frontal eye Rev: owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent to left; AΘE downward in right field; all within incuse square Removed from an NGC slab; AU 5/5 strike, 3/5 surfaces, "Parliament Collection" CILICIA, Tarsos. Valerian I 253-260 CE AE 32 mm, 19.06 gm Obv: AVKΛΙΠOVΛΙOVAΛЄPIANOCCЄ; Π - Π; radiate, draped, and cuirassed (?) bust right. Rev: TAPCOVMH TP OΠOΛЄΩC; A/M/K - Γ/Γ in fields; KOINOBOVΛION ЄΛЄVΘЄ__ in exergue; Athena seated left on throne, holding cornucopia and dropping a voting pebble into amphora to left; shield below. Ref: SNG Levante 1193; SNG BN 1821-2 (I do not have these reference books; references taken from similar ex CNG coin) ex Doug Smith SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysius I (400-345 BC) Æ 20 mm, 8.23 gm Struck c. 390 BCE Obv: head of Athena left, wearing wreathed Corinthian helmet pushed back on head Rev: hippocamp left Ref: Calciati 35. SNG ANS 426 Formerly slabbed LUCANIA, Velia 305-290 BCE AR didrachm, 17.5 mm, 7.3 gm Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet, decorated with griffin; at left, A Rev: YEΛHTΩN; lion standing/walking right on exergual line; above dolphin between I and Φ Ref: SNG ANS 1375-6 SICILY, Kamarina. 420-405 BCE. AE tetras, 3.34 gm. Large head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet with wings. Owl standing left, with lizard in talon; KAMA (retrograde) upward in right field; three dots in exergue. Westermark / Jenkins 198 (see FIG. Pl. 35 / 198.24), SNG ANS 1230 Calciati III no. 28/4 (dotted-border type) SICILY, Kamarina. 420-405 BCE. AE tetras, 3.11 gm. Head of Athena right, wearing winged Phrygian helmet; dotted border. KAMA (legend from top to bottom), with owl standing left, lizard in talons; three dots in exergue. Westermark / Jenkins 202, SNG ANS -., Calciati III No. 39.
Great coin! These trophy ones were some of my earliest Athenas (maybe my first as well) Check out the dazzling tripod counter mark!
Some of my favorite Athenas: Mysia, Pergamon, 200-133 BC. Bronze Æ 15.7 mm, 3.55 g, 12 h. Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet ornamented with star. Rev: AΘΗ-ΝΑΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ, owl standing facing on palm, with wings spread,TK monogram left and ΠΛ right. Refs: SNG Copenhagen 388 (same); c.f. SNG von Aulock 1375-6, BMC 197-199, SNG France 1920-2, SNG BN 1913-6 (various monograms). Phrygia, Apameia, ca. 88-40 BC. Greek Æ 23 mm, 7.71 g. Magistrate Philokratos son of Aristos. Obv: Bust of Athena to right, wearing aegis and crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin. Rev: AΠAMEΩN / ΦIΛOKPATOY APIΣΤΕOY, Eagle alighting right above Maeander pattern; to l. and r., eight-pointed star above piloi of the Dioskouroi. Refs: BMC 25.87, 105-108; SNG Cop 168-69. Macrinus and Diadumenian, AD 217-218. Roman provincial Æ Pentassarion, 12.06 g, 26.5 mm, 6 h. Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, Legate Pontius Furius Pontianus, June/Aug 217-Nov/Dec 217. Obv: ΑΝΤ Κ ΟΠΕΛ CΕV ΜΑΚΡΕΙΝΟC Κ Μ ΟΠΕ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC, Confronted heads of Macrinus right, laureate, and Diadumenian left, bare. Rev: VΠ ΠΟΝΤΙΑΝΟV ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, Athena wearing helmet and aegis, standing left, holding owl and inverted spear; E in right field. Refs: AMNG I 734v.; Hristova & Jekov 6.24.4.7; Varbanov 1170a; BMC 30v.; Moushmov 537; Wiczay 2148v. Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman provincial triassarion, 7.19 g, 21.7 mm, 7 h. Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175. Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝΑ-CΕΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, right; double band of pearls around head. Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC ΠΑV-ΤΑΛΙΑC, Athena seated, l., holding owl and spear; resting foot on footrest; leaning against seat, shield. Refs: RPC IV 10035, Ruzicka 108. Notes: Double die match to RPC IV 10035(1) = Ruzicka 108(2) = Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 957 (ex 779). Gordian III, AD 238-244, with Tranquillina. Roman provincial AE pentassarion, 11.34 gm, 29.7 mm. Anchialos, Thrace, AD 241-244. Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC ΑVΓ CΕΒ ΤΡΑΝ-ΚVΛΛΙΝΑ, confronted busts. Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑΝWΝ ΑΡΧΙΑΛΕ-WΝ, Athena seated left, holding patera and inverted spear; shield at base of throne. Refs: AMNG II (Strack) 662; Moushmov 2937; Varbanov 752.
Athena is my favorite character in the Greek mythology. Here are 2 in my collection. Attica. Early Transition Type, 455-440 BC. Claudius As.
A stately seated Athena: KINGS of PERGAMON, Eumenes I 263-241 BCE AR tetradrachm 29 mm, 16.94 gm Obv: head of Philetairos right, wearing laurel wreath Rev: ΦIΛETAIPOY; Athena enthroned left, right hand resting on shield set at her feet, gorgon on shield; left elbow resting on small sphinx seated right; transverse spear in background, ivy leaf above knee, monogram on throne, bow to right Ref: BMC Greek (Mysia) 31, p.115; SNG France 1606–9 Formerly slabbed, NGC Ch AU 5/5 3/5, Fine Style Ex Dr. Spencer Paterson Collection of Ancient coins, Great Collections 15 Sept 2019
If you are ever in need of a left arm, I'll gladly trade you mine for that King of Macedonian shields (and dairy airs) of yours! Though, your Soter'pop is just as attractive a coin... and celebration of the female form, I'm both a shield and butt guy. And don't even get me started on those Corinthian beauties (he wrote, wiping the sweat from his brow)... I've got a pretty fun promachos with her step mom on the obverse: I had to use electrolysis many times to uncover this off centered beauty with just a glimpse of that thigh and booty:
I posted this before, but it is fun to see the dichotomy between Sparta and Athens, with the City of Sparta having Athena as their Patron Goddess. I am reading “The Spartans” by Paul Cartledge. He states that Taras was Sparta’s only colony (Italia - Magna Graeca, Tarantum). AND, that Athena was a very important Goddess to the Spartans. Sparta highly revered her, and she was the “Patron Goddess of Sparta”... page 56 and 58. Ergo, this is WHY Athena / Owl is on a SPARTA colony! Calabria Tarentum / Taras AR Drachm 18mm 3.1g 3rd C BCE Athena Corinthian Scylla OWL olive TAP ZOP HN Italy 975 Vlasto 1052 Temple of Athena Chalkioikos, Acropolis of Sparta Temple of Athena Chalkioikos The temple of Athena Chalkioikos was designed by the architect Vathyklis from Magnesia. It is located to the top of the Spartan Acropolis and the north side of the theater. Interiors of the temple were adorned with copper sheets (from 6th B.C.) from which the temple derives its name (Copper = Chalkioikos). The Temple of Athena Chalkiikos had a bronze statuette of Athena, statue of Leonidas, statuette of a trumpeter, and a cult statue created and erected by a local man called Gitiadas. Source: Archaeology of Myth: Sparta http://www.academicmentoronline.com/2017/05/archeology-myth-sparta/#:~:text=The temple of Athena Chalkioikos was designed by,cult statue created and erected by a I always liked this "S"-Eating Grin on this life-size statue, possibly / thought to be King Leonidas, or a Hoplite. Excavated from the Acropolis area of Sparta in CE 1925. What a figure at Thermopylae.
RASENNA (ETRURIA) Goddess MENRVA (forerunner of Rome's Minerva) Rasenna, Fufluna, , Etruria Populonia AR 2-1/2 As 3rd C BCE Radiate Fem Hd (probly MENRVA ) CII Blank EC 104 HN Italy 179 RARE 2 exist
Athens. Athena/Athena Antiochia ad Maeandrum Laodicea ad Mare Thessaly, Koinon of Aspendos AE14 Phokis
Great writeup, @Ryro... the mother of all Athena threads! This really is the best when-your-coin-comes-life graphic ever. Some of my favorite Athenas...
Of course and immediately it's obvious that your stone cold Lysimachos has caused my lower lip to perspire. These portraits truly are underrated masterpieces of ancient die cutters (we get it @Alegandron they weren't Celators! #thankshomie) You all clearly humble me with your Athens tets and Corinthians But that double vic Get out town!!! Here's another daddy's girl coin (pretty sweet if you think about it)