Here is a large silver tridrachm of Hadrian with an unusual god and his unusual representation: Hadrian, 25-24 mm. 10.30 grams. (Some call it a tetradrachm, but not RPC.) Struck at Tarsos, Cilicia (northeast coast of the Mediterranean Sea). AVT KAI ΘE TRA ΠAP YI ΘE NER YI TRAI ΔAPIANOC CE (mentioning three emperors, Nerva, Trajan, and Hadrian) Laureate head of Hadrian right (scratches before) TAPCEΩN MHTPOΠOΛEΩC The god Sandan striding right on back of a horned lion, the god wears a towered crown with flame on his back, and holds a quiver, scepter, sword, double-axe, and diadem. SNG France 2, 1407-9, SNG Levante 996 Prier 767 RPC II 3266 (16 pieces known to them). CNG says (my coin is the same type, but not from CNG) "The cult of Sandan, or Sandas, is a remnant of the 17th century BC Hittite occupation of Cilicia. In his Luwian form he was Teshub, the god of mountain storms. Within the Hittite sanctuary at Yazilikaya he is depicted as a bearded god with conical headdress, holding a club and plant, probably related to the Mesopotamian Tree of Life. Like the rest of the Hittite High Gods, Teshub's feet never touch earth; he either rides the back of mythological beasts, is borne on the shoulders of lesser gods, or strides above the mountain tops. The mountain tops recall the lofty Hittite homeland, as does the high-peaked cap, and the pyramidal shape of Sandan's altar. While Sandan's cult in Tarsos became assimilated with that of Herakles, in his origins as a nature god he is more closely attuned to the Greek king of the gods, Zeus. This depiction of Sandan appears some 2000 years after his first appearance in mythology, yet the similarities to the Hittite original are striking." Show us a tridrachm from Tarsos or another old god.
Not a tridrachm, but an earlier numismatic presentation of Sandan: Seleukid Kings of Syria. Antiochos VII AR Drachm (18mm, 4.1 gm,12h). Tarsos mint, circa 138-129 BC. Obv: Diademed bust right. Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY on right, EYEΡΓETOY on left, Sandan standing atop winged lion; monograms ΛY, with ME below, to outer left. SNG Spaer -; SC 2058.1a; SNG Lockett 3163. 4.13g, 18mm, 12h.
LOVE the new coin with an old God! I wish I had a Sandan to share. Though, a while back I stumbled across this type and needed a Bes, BAD; CILICIA, Mint Uncertain 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 Another fun off the beaten path God is Baaltars: Lycaonia. Laranda 324-323 BC. Obol AR 10mm., 0,67g.Baaltars seated left, holding grain ear, grape bunch, and sceptre / Forepart of wolf right; inverted crescent above; all within circular border of pellets.nearly very fine Göktürk 82; SNG BN 443 (Cilicia); SNG Levante 223 (Cilicia). Ex Savoca London
I've got a couple of AEs with the "Pyre of Sandan" from Tarsos - one countermarked, one not: Cilicia, Tarsos Æ21 (c. 164-37 B.C.) Bust of Tyche veiled & turreted right / [TAPΣEΩN] right, Sandan on horned and winged animal within a pyramidal pyre surmounted by eagle, IΣO left. SGCV II 5672; BMC Lycaonia p. 180, 106 ff. var. (monogram); SNG Cop 333-341 var. (same) Cilicia, Tarsos Æ20 (c. 164-27 B.C.) Bust of Tyche veiled & turreted right / TAPΣEΩN right, pyre of Sandan center, KA / M Γ /AP monograms left. SNG BN 1336-7; SNG Levante 933-57 var. Countermark: head of Helios right in 8mm circle. (6.31 grams / 20 mm)
That is an extremely cool coin, @Valentinian ! Really interesting for me! GODDESS DALI Kolchis 5th-4th C BCE BI hemidrachm 1 1.5mm 1.8g Archaic female head Georgian goddess Dali - Bull head border SNG Cop 98 Similar Goddess to Artemis and/or Diana... Goddess Dali, from Kolchis (remember the Golden Fleece ?) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dali_(goddess) -------------------------------------------------- MITHRA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithra This coin is from around where Mithra as a religion started. Well before if was even thought of to be the Religion of the Roman Legions. Bithynia Kios 250 BCE AE11 1.06g Laureate hd Mithra r Kantharos 2 grape bunches hanging K-I below within a wreath SNG Cop 382
(oops, sorry, not from Tarsos) 1-1/2 Shekels or a TriDrachm Carthage mint 2nd Punic War 203-201 BCE BI 1½ Shekels / TriDrachmae 24mm 9.4 g Wreathed Headd Tanit - Horse stndng R hd L, raised foreleg Pellet between back legs SNG COP 394 Ex: Praefectus
A CT friend corrected me, and properly so, that it is a horned lion, not a winged lion. Thanks friend!!! Sorry folks.
My favourite countermarked coin is of this type. Tyche & Helios's eyes coincide perfectly! I just wish the Sandan was in better shape. Maybe I will have to get one of those neat tridrachms! It seems maybe a group hit the market this year?