A new coin of an ancient God, celebrated all the way from old kingdom Egypt, well into the Roman era. Often Ithyphallic though mine isn't. And that made it all the way from deep into the Persian empire to the fringes of the Celtic world with their God Karetepe, But make no mistake, though God of sexuality, humor, fertility and war, this guy was most known as protector God of pregnant woman and children. (Standing over and protecting pregnant woman) Also, keeping in mind that until within the last few decades the consensus was that he was a Nubian, Somalian or middle Eastern import, as his height of popularity in Egypt wasn't until around and past the time of Tutankhamun, until more recent evidence of him clearly as an old kingdom deity was evidently corroborated. Ummm, yes please! I was like, "Sign me up yesterday." And then Nomos says, "Sorry. We won't be shipping coins won in the December 15th auction until January 7th So, with much patience and much longing of the heart... It arrived today! My last coin of 2019, and the primary reason that I never put together a Best 10 list, finally arrived in 2020... And boy was she worth the weight!!! Originally up for sale in from Leu in Juno of 2018: Leu's pics And went back up on da block when I nabbed her up from Nomos (same coin pic from Nomos) CILICIA. Uncertain. Circa 400-350 BC. Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.58 g, 1 h). Female head facing, turned slightly to left, wearing earrings, necklace and flowing hair (Arethusa?). Rev. Facing head of Bes. Göktürk 44. SNG Levante 233. SNG France 486. Fine metal and attractive on both sides. Very fine. Ex: Leu auction 4 Ex: Nomos Obolos 14 No offense to either auction house, but I prefer my pics to be far superior But what can I say, I'm a perfectionister Anywhoob, post anything you got with Bes, his wife Beset, that came late (that's what she said) in the year Or that makes you smile PS, almost forgot that he even made it to Spain! My first Bes: Spain, Ebusus 3rd-2nd cen. BCE; AE Bes standing facing, Rv. Same type of obverse. SNG Copenahgen 88-91. Countermarked,
Well the coin is amazing - thank you my friend for posting! Unfortunately I have nothing to add other than my pure admiration. "Protector God of pregnant woman and children" Can there be any better god? I don't think so!!!! I suggest that you add the following to your tag line: "Sign me up yesterday.".. it gave me a chuckle and I won't let it go.... The coin may not be appropriate but the background may fit....let me know...
Cool baby Bes! If you think about it, it’s o my natural that the chief deity of partying down made his way to Ebusus (Ibiza). IBERIA, Islands off, Ebusus AE Quarter Unit. 3.33g, 17.3mm. Circa 2nd century BC. ACIP 719; SNG BM Spain 318-21. O: Squatting Kabeiros (Bes) holding club and serpent. R: Bull butting left. Ex stevex6 Collection
Great coin of a beloved figure for pregnant women. That's why there is a Bes shrine at the temple of Hathor in Denderah Egypt.
Thanks for the comments. I know it's not a deity that we see that often nor a type that I can recall seeing before on CT. That said, your comment @TIF, is very appreciated as it has just increased the value of my coin and I bet Raised the demand and bidding for the next lots of them at auction (Actual pic of people trying to get Bes coin after TIF's post#TIFskindofabigdeal) Always happy to hear me some Randy Newman @green18! Weird how certain things find there way into the background of our pics, eh @Clavdivs? And the great thing about that excellent Trajan you've posted is that he has such a sour face you won't even need the salt nor a lime! Man, @zumbly, always brings his A game. Love that ex@steve6 with the beer bellied Bes. And a fantastic bull on the reverse to boot! BEAuuuutiful Thanks @ancient coin hunter. I had to look it up and it's a beauty. Would LOVE to see this, sadly apparently castrated, piece of ancient art in person:
