I've got my EYE on you!

I have another worn offering for the board today, a tetrobol from 5th century BC Skione in Macedonia with a single eye peering out of the reverse. It was an impulse purchase from a recent auction, which I won at the opening bid. I suppose no one else had their eye on it .

The apotropaic eye has been used since ancient times as a talisman to ward off curses and misfortunes, and given recent events here on the ancients forum, here's to hoping it will do the same for us. I also like to think it symbolic of our benevolent moderators keeping their eye on things and smiting judiciously where necessary. Nice work with that last troll, mods.

So anyway... anyone else have a coin to share with a facial feature or body part as the main device ?


MACEDONIA, Skione
Circa 480-450 BC
AR Tetrobol
2.28g, 13mm
SNG ANS 708-9 var. (ethnic)
O: Head of the hero, Protesilaos, right.
R: Apotropaic eye within incuse square.

 

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If I'd seen that coin before the auction, you would have had some competition .

 

A most imteresting reverse Z. I would love one of these in my collection.

 

Awesome addition, Z-Bro ... I think the reverse looks a bit like a dove (very cool)

 

Not nice enough for the TIF Collection... you want a better one .

 

apotropaic /apətrəˈpā-ik/ adjective

1. supposedly having the power to avert evil influences or bad luck.
   "apotropaic statues"

Bonus points to you for making me Google that one ;-)

 

That is cool! I have nothing similar to share...maybe this one because of the crazy eye going on:

Licinius I, AD 308 - 324
AE, Follis, 3.28g, 20mm; 11h; Heraclea mint AD 321-324
Obv.: IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG; radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev.: IOVI CONS-ERVATORI; Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder holding victor on globe and eagle tipped scepter, eagle with wreath in beak left, captive at feet right, XII Mu to right
In Ex.: SMHΓ

 

We learn all the good words here .

 

Another cool coin 'Z' !!!!

If I saw it I might have 'impulsively' bid as well......especially since I seem to lack any of that 'type'.

 

You may want to qualify that request; like other coins except those with Priapus

 

While the 'evil eye' was a common theme in ancient times representations of them are fairly rare (aside those which were inscribed in stone and still remain in situ on buildings or ruins). I once owned this very rare Roman ring with one:

 

Thats a pretty cool coin!

 

i'm glad someone else didn't know what that meant.

that's a very cool eye. i really don't have anything comparable...does this I reverse count?

 

=> body part .... "HOOF"



... there it is!!

 

I thought about tossing-in this baby as an "eye-ball"




... ehhh ... close enough, eh?

(I guess it could be a nipple as well, but that seemed a bit iffy)

 

Ask and ye shall receive.