This handsome sardonyx cameo from the Cleveland Museum of Art, circa AD 200, depicts Septimius Severus & Julia Domna with a Gorgoneion.
Here's a tet from Laodicea ad Mare of Septimius Severus sporting a Gorgoneion on his breastplate, AD 207-208, 14.37 gm, Prieur 1141.
MORE GORGON: MAKEDON Philip III Arrhidaios 323-317 BCE Æ 1-2 Unit 17mm 4.2g Miletos mint Makedonwn shield Gorgoneion - Helmet bipennis K Price 2064 Indo-Greek Baktria Menander I Soter BC 155-130 AR Tet 26mm 9.6g Diad - Athena Alkidemos tbolt Gorgon shield SNG ANS 764-767 SICILY Kamarina Æ Onkia 13mm 1.5g 420-405 BC-OLDEST Gorgon tongue - KAMA owl r lizard in claw pellet in ex SNG Münch 411
My only gorgon so far: Alexander III the Great Bronze Coin (320 B.C.) two chalkoi (quarter obol). Obverse: Macedonian shield, boss decorated with gorgoneion. Reverse: Macedonian helmet; B-A to left and right; double axe below left; K monogram below right. Mint: Miletus, Ionia. 320 B.C. Reference: Price 2064.
Mysia, Parion, 2nd - 1st century BC AE 22, 6.21g, 0° obv. Head of Gorgo with snakes and wings, facing c/m monogram in circular incus rev. ΠA - PI - ANΩN Eagle with spread wings, stg. r. monogram before, all within laurel wreath ref. BMC 69; SNG von Aulock 1330; SNG Paris 1404 rare, about VF/F+ This coin is alive by the exceptional portait on the obv. Here the transition from the primordial grimacing and abhorrent Gorgo to the melancholic tantalized being of the late Hellenistic times is almost completed.
I showed this in a previous thread, but nice medusa depiction: Gordian III. 238-244 AD. MOESIA INFERIOR, Nicopolis ad Istrum. Æ (27mm, 12.52 gm, 7h). Obv: Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, wearing a sharp depiction of head of medusa and aegis. Rev: Zeus seated left, holding patera and scepter; eagle before. Varbanov 4133. HrHJ (2018) 8.36.1.1 (same dies).
Sicily, Himera (a city on the middle of the north coast) "430-420 BC" (very early for copper). 21 mm. 12.99 grams. (Remarkably thick at 5 mm) Gorgon head facing with tongue stuck out (but, otherwise almost a smile) Three dots (for the value) Sear Greek 1107. Hoover Sicily 467. Struck "430-420 BC"
That's the thousand penny question. I thought I had a pretty decent ID on the guy a while ago but am trying to track that down...
I have recorded gorgoneion countermarks on bronze for Seleukid coins (Seleukos II and Antiochos II), Mithradates the Great's Pontic kingdom, Troas/Illion, Pamphylia/Side, and Cilicia/Rhosus. Wasn't sure if yours was one of those or not.
A good thread to resurrect. Here are a couple of my favourite gorgons: Unusual to be able to see the face on these:
Thank you so much for the tip! I will have to cross check acsearch to see if I can figure what I'm seeing. I reshot the coin. The obverse certainly appears to be a male facing right. I think the first time I had the reverse upside down. It looks like someone sitting with Greek letters running along the left side.
This is one of the few coins I regret not holding onto when I sold my Imperial collection a few years back. Phil Davis
The archaic and early classical Gorgoneion are some of my favorite design motifs, particularly for the superstitious belief that they would protect the bearer from evil while being carried. Thrace, Apollonia AR Drachm c. mid-5th c. BC Another, slightly later Mysia, Parion AR Hemidrachm, 4th century BC
Here are some where it is tougher to make out the Gorgon Hadrian A.D. 125- 128 AR Denarius 18mm 3.3gm HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS; bare head right; slight drapery on left shoulder. COS III; Minerva standing l., feet together, holding spear pointed downwards and round shield with gorgon[?]. RIC II Rome 154 Marcus Aurelius A.D. 171-173 Ӕ Sestertius M ANTONINVS AVG TR P XXVI; laureate head right. IMP VI COS III S-C; Roma seated left, holding Victory and spear, behind her shield with Medusa. RIC III Rome 1083 and on this coin is not clear, but I believe it is a Gorgon on the shield and maybe a thunderbolt on the cuirass Carus A.D. 282- 283 Ӕ Antoninianus 21x22mm 4.3gm VIRTVS CARI AVG; Radiate helmet and cuirassed bust left, spear over right and shield with gorgon (?) on left. PAX AVGG; Pax stg. left, holding olive branch and sceptre; B in left field. RIC Vii Lugdunum 14
Finn235, Three great coins ! The 1st one with a crayfish is special, the 2nd one is truly frightening , & the 3rd one is rather amusing .