Probably my last coin of the year- a new variety from Tarsus featuring Herakles-Sandan above Acheloios as a winged MFB. I wrote a bit about these special dies in Potamikon, but I've discovered much more since then. I read a Celator article from way back that mentioned Dio Chrysostom- apparently he visited Tarsus and spoke about the pyre built for Herakles, which mimics the story of his deification on Mt. Oeta. The best part is, that story, from Sophocles' Trachiniae, is all about Acheloios too- the fight is mentioned twice, Herakles has just ravaged the land of the "goodbull" (Euboea), Kypris plays an essential role, and water (read Acheloios, as Sophocles equates the two in framgment 4) activates the cloak that tortures Herakles! There's much more too that I'm including in an essay about the play and this coin type. Clearly, the original artist knew the tradition well! My new coin (different monogram): Close-up of riginal from Potamikon: Related Forvm thread: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=102743.msg669109#msg669109
Cool coin, Nicholas ... oh, and thanks for the thread effort This is the only example I have of this type of coin ... => pretty humble coin, but sweet counter-mark
Very interesting coin, Nicholas, although the links don't seem to be relevant. Where and when will your "essay about the play and this coin type" appear. I am very interested in Greek tragedy and I quoted from the Trachiniae in this thread: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/river-gods-on-greek-coins-part-1.279751/
I will have to do some research on the story. Sadly, my education is lacking regarding Ancient Greece. That's a lovly coin.
Yours is an early variety but I am not sure if it is a man-faced bull (which were the earliest IMO). Im stockpiling images of these for a potential die study so if I figure it out I'll let you know!
Maybe in a journal or maybe Potamikon III. The link just gives a little background on the initial discovery and the other variety.
