[ancients] Pontos, Amisos. Off with her head!

I've been on the lookout for ones of these for many months. They are somewhat plentiful but all have their issues, rather like the Nemausus COL-NEMs. Recently there was one with a superb obverse but off-center reverse. It's obverse was so nice that I almost bid. In the end though what I wanted most from this coin was a clear reverse, with the full body of both Perseus and Medusa, gushing blood, head clearly identifiable in Perseus's hand.

This one is from the last Pecunem auction. At the end, bidding went higher than I had hoped but sometimes that's how it goes. The obverse is not well struck but the reverse had the requisite clarity, with only the end of the harpa off the flan.



PONTOS, Amisos
85-65 BC
AE28, 18.5 gm
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right.
Rev: AMIΣOY; Perseus standing facing, holding harpa and head of Medusa, Medusa's body at his feet.
Ref: SNG Stancomb 683 var. (no monogram to right). [I cannot verify this reference and suspect it may not be correct because there are monograms both left and right. Looks like Sear 3637 fits though]

 

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Lovely coin, I dont see these too often.

 

Beautiful Perseus & Medusa coin!!

=> wow, you and Eng are having a pose-down

 

Bad timing... didn't mean to steal attention from Eng's post.

 

Wow TIF that's what i'm talking about, awesome coin, i haven't seen one better...Wow..

 

Have you seen Steve's? He's got four, all very nice but one of them is a showstopper. Check out the fourth one in his post on this thread:
http://www.cointalk.com/threads/anc...purdy-green-babies.240874/page-4#post-1843827

 

Nice! I still wana find one of these sometime.

 

i know he has 4, that's why i needed to buy one before they were all gone, still think yours is better it has a little better details, his is very very nice, well done...

 

An exquisite example of the type! The detail and centering are superb.

 

I've tried many times to take a great picture of this coin but am still not happy. The obverse shot in particular could be better. Need to play with the lighting.

Here's Pecunem's photo:

 

=> I'm totally onboard with Eng's assessment!! ... your example is absolutely gorgeous!! (congrats, coin-Queen)

Ummm however, I am certainly game for showing-off my stable of Pontos coins!! (this gaggle loves getting-out and hob-knobbing with the other Medusa-coins!!)

 

Steve you still have the best harem of head of headless women i know...

 

Now I've totally got to get me one of these,if, for no other reason, than to join the club. Nice coin TIF!

 

Argh, and there I thought the competition would lessen once TIF got hers.
That reverse is a real winner.

 

The OP was the nicest gushing body I have seen. I was glad that the head was weak thinking that I might get it that way but you outbid me.

I notice all of you are posting Amisos coins. Does anyone else have a Sinope?

 

I don't have a Sinope but was looking for one also. An either/or thing (for now).

Dang, Doug... were the two coins I won the two you also wanted? Sorry about that. On the bright side, I will be out of your way for a while

 

=> not unlike your right-facing "Eagle & Dolphin", I'm a lways quite jealous of your Sinope (last year, I was outbid on a beauty at one of the CNG auctions ... I've yet to find one at the right time since then)

 

wait....is that curved thing between the head and the body gushing blood!?

 

Hey TIF => here is another fairly cool coin from Pontos (Pontos has some very cool coins)

Pontos, Amisos AE17
85-65 B.C.
Diameter: 17.6 mm
Weight: 4.2 grams
Obverse: Draped bust of Perseus, winged
Reverse: Cornucopiae between pilei
Reference: BMC Pontus pg. 19, 65-67

 

Heres another one from pontos