Sphinx / Amphora Ionia Islands

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by TJC, Jun 23, 2018.

  1. TJC

    TJC Well-Known Member

    I have few Greek coins as i have focused on Romans but came across this Ionia Chios with a Sphinx / Amphora and could not resist:) This is my first sphinx. I think I have an attribution that is close but not an exact match with rudder.

    Share your sphinx coins:))

    SphinxIoniaAe339O.jpg SphinxIoniaAe339R.jpg

    Ionia, Chios AE 18, 3.31 grams
    O: Sphinx seated right
    Rx: Amphora, CIOS and rudder left, SOSTP(?) right
    sear 4613, bcc 14335.60,55
     
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  3. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Very attractive!

    I have a couple of Alexandrian sphinxes in the post of the Great Sphinx.

    [​IMG]
    EGYPT, Alexandria. Marcus Aurelius as Caesar
    AE obol, 20.5 mm, 6.0 gm. Alexandria.
    Year 15 (CE 151/2)
    Obv: MAVPHΛICKAICAP; bust right, bare head
    Rev: Sphinx crouched right in the pose of the Great Sphinx of Giza; LIE (date) above in left field
    Ref: Emmett 1919.15, R5; Dattari 3221; RPC IV online 15684

    APiSphinxObol-E1782-20-UnlistedYear-RT.jpg
    EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
    year 20, CE 156/7
    AE obol, 18 mm, 4.36 gm
    Obv: laureate head right
    Rev: sphinx crouched/reclining left; L K above
    Ref: Emmett 1782.20; unlisted reverse for year; unlisted in Geissen and Dattari
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2018
  4. Alegandron

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

    Very nice @TJC ! Sphinges (yeah, that is the plural, LOL), are not abundant on Ancient coins. That is a great example!

    There seems to be no name for a "group" of Sphinges, such as a Crash of Rhinos, or a Shrewdness of Apes... How about a RIDDLE of Sphinxes?

    By the time this thread flows, you will definitely have a Riddle of Sphinxes!

    @TIF , yeah, you being the Egyptian Queen, I expect your super examples!

    I only have one Sphinx coin from the OTHER side of the Med:

    Iberia Castulo Late 2nd C BC AE As 25mm Bust Nose Hand Sphinx.jpg
    Iberia Castulo Late 2nd C BC AE As 25mm Bust Nose Hand Sphinx


    But, I DO have an Egyptian Sphinx on one of my Scarabae:

    Egypt SCARAB Middle Kingdom 2065-1650 BCE Scarabaeus Sphinx.jpg
    Egypt SCARAB Middle Kingdom 2065-1650 BCE Scarabaeus Sphinx
     
  5. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Very nice coin, TJC.
     
  6. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Oh! You're right! Should have known that... like syringes is the plural of syrinx :)

    I love that scarab.
     
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  7. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Yes! :D
     
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  8. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    https://www.treehugger.com/culture/a-shrewdness-of-apes-and-other-odd-group-names.html
    I was always of the opinion that the list of group names was as artificial as the fashionistas in The Emperor's New Clothes. The link above suggests I was not far from right. It is a human characteristic to make yourself seem better or higher class than the competition. Language has always been a prime player in such oneupsmanship. You are guilty of that if you corrected my spelling of that last word.

    How about a RIDDLE of SphinGes? :shame: Seems so obvious there is no reason to doubt that Juliana would have put it in her list had she only know what she was doing. Need we have more? How about a Burial of Emperors? A Glitter of Aurei? A Spool of CT threads?
     
    dlhill132, chrsmat71, TJC and 2 others like this.
  9. gsimonel

    gsimonel Well-Known Member

    This is a situation up with I shall not put.
     
  10. doucet

    doucet Well-Known Member

    Another Greek Sphinx from Perge

    Sphinx Greek.JPG
    PAMPHYLIA, Perge. Circa 260-230 BC. Æ 17mm , 3.27g. Sphinx seated left / Artemis standing left, holding wreath and scepter
     
  11. TJC

    TJC Well-Known Member

    Cool sphinx coins all!:)
    The scarab is cool too!!

    Here is a Sphinx fresco from Pompeii:
    SphinxPompei1.jpg
     
  12. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Great coin @TIF !
     
    TIF likes this.
  13. doucet

    doucet Well-Known Member

    A double struck Iberian Sphynx from Ursone
    Ursone 3-tile.jpg

    URSONE
    Second half of the 2nd. century BC
    AE. As. 32mm.,18.3g.
    Obv: Male head right, wearing laurel crown with infulae. Outer legend VERSONE on line before.
    Rev: Sphynx right on line, L.AP.DEC.Q
    ACIP 2325, R3.
     
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