Talk about a juxtaposition on my latest (and foxiest) piece of ancient silver! Nymphs: Ahhh, beauty and sexuality. So peaceful. And Gorgons... FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, RUUUUNNNNNN!!! 2 of my favorite creatures from antiquity, both very different and both on my new coin! As you'd guess, in hand the nymph is even more beautiful and the gorgon even more ugly Macedonia, Neapolis, Hemidrachm, 424-350 BC (14 mm, 1,80 gr) Obverse: facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue Reverse: head of the nymph of Neapolis to right, her hair coiled around her head and with a bun at the back, around Ν-Ε / Ο-Π. Purchased from Savoca June 2021 "Neapolis, modern Kavala, was founded by Thasos to take advantage of nearby gold and silver mines. It later became independent and exploited its silver riches by producing an important coinage of staters and fractions, which began in the last quarter of the 6th century BC. The type was a gorgoneion paired with an incuse square. In the late 5th century the reverse changed to a head of the local goddess, Parthenos, the name the people of Neapolis gave to the indigenous Thracian goddess Bendis (commonly identified with Artemis)." I'd love to see your nymphs, gorgons, coins of Neapolis or any really strange juxtapositions on coins!
Those coins from Neapolis really are one of the nicest issues featuring a gorgoneion, a lovely example! A shield coin + gorgon combo: Alexander III the Great Bronze Coin. Two chalkoi (quarter obol). Struck posthumously under Philip III Arrhidaios, Miletos mint, 323-319 B.C. Obverse: Macedonian shield, boss decorated with gorgoneion. Reverse: Macedonian helmet; B-A to left and right; double axe below left; K monogram below right. Reference: Price 2064
Cool writeup, and great capture, @Ryro ! I always thought the juxtaposition of Achelous as the Man-Faced-Bull was kinda funny. Campania Neapolis 320-300 BC AR Didrachm Nomos Nymph Achelous Campania, Neapolis, c. 275-250 BCE; AE (g 4,99; mm 18; h 6); NEOΠOΛITΩN, laureate head of Apollo l.; r., Θ, Rv. Man-faced bull advancing r. crowned by flying Nike, below IΣ. Sambon 663; HNItaly 589; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG ANS 474. Beautiful light green patina PLATE COIN - Listed Potamikon pg 232 Plate 343
Nice combination of crystallized and smooth surfaces on that coin @Ryro ! Who doesn't like nymphs? All mine are from Thessaly. Phalanna, Thessaly. AE dichalkon 17mm. Ex BCD. Obv: Young male head of Ares right / ΦAΛANNAIΩN. Rev: Head of the nymph Phalanna right, A behind neck. BCD Thessaly 579. Larissa, Thessaly. 395-344 BC. AE16 Obv: Head of nymph right. Rev: LARIS-AIWN, horse standing left, about to roll.
Neapolis, Macedon; 411- 348 B.C.; AR Hemidrachm (14mm; 1.78 gm; 9h). Obv: Gorgon's head facing, with tongue protruding. Rev: ΝΕΟΠ; Young female head (Artemis Parthenos?) right. SNG Cop 227.
Thanks for the write up! Here's my example. Macedon, Neapolis AR hemidrachm 424-350 BC Obverse: Facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue. Reverse: Head of nymph right; N-E-O-Π to right. References: Sear 1417; SNG COP 229; SNG ANS 458. 12mm; 1.83g Ex: FSR
This is my only coin from neapolis. Hoping I can find a nicer example one day but I can't afford it now OOPs I see now we are talking about a different neapolis XD
Fun write-up, as always, @Ryro! I got nymphs! Lucius Verus, AD 161-169. Roman Provincial Æ assarion, 4.23 g, 18 mm. Thrace, Augusta Trajana, AD 161-169. Obv: ΑV ΚΑΙ Λ ΑV-ΡΗ ΟVΗΡΟϹ, bare head, right. Rev: ΑV-Γ-ΟV-ϹΤΗϹ | ΤΡΑΙΑΝΗϹ, three nymphs, stolate, standing facing, arms draped on each other's shoulders and holding thymiateria at sides. Refs: RPC IV 10343 (temporary); Schonert-Geiss 89; Varbanov II 909; Moushmov (1912) --; Moushmov Online 2987A; Staal, pl. 2, fig. 12.[1] I got gorgons! Pontus, Amisos, c. 85-65 BC? AE 21.1 mm, 6.24 g, 12 h. Obv: Aegis, with Gorgon's head at center. Rev: Nike advancing right, carrying palm brance with filet, ΑΜΙ-ΣΟΥ across field, Monograms to left and right. Refs: Sear 3642, BMC 13.20, 77-78 (?). I got coins of Neapolis (hey, you didn't say WHICH Neapolis)! Faustina II, too! Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman provincial Æ 26.85 mm, 13.64 g, 12 h. Samaria, Neapolis, AD 159/160. Obv: ΦΑVCΤЄΙΝΑ CЄΒ ЄVCЄ CЄΒΑ ΘVΓ, diademed and draped bust, right. Rev: ΦΛ ΝЄΑCΠΟΛЄѠ CVΡΙΑC ΠΑΛΑΙCΤΙ, Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae; year ЄΤ ΠΗ. Refs: RPC IV.3, 6340 (temporary); Lindgren A2431B; SNG ANS 973; Hendin 880; Rosenberger 20. Notes: The obverse titulature, ΦΑVCΤЄΙΝΑ CЄΒ ЄVCЄ CЄΒΑ ΘVΓ, is translated as "Faustina Augusta, daughter of Pius Augustus" and corresponds to the Latin FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL found on imperial issues for her. Ex George Fisher Collection.
Thanks my man That is a great MSC gorgon! And it had the double axe!!! I also really like the helmet on these with the long flowing bushels Here's mine:
Nymph Histaia x 2 My clipped gorgon - that in the meantime decided, by itself, to break in 3 smaller pieces - long live SuperGlue And of course my Apollonia Pontica, that I suspected to be a fake and bothered all the specialists I knew
Beautiful coin, Ryro - I like the crystallization patterns too. I have one of those, but no photo it seems. I don't think Aurora counts as a nymph, but this denarius of Plautius Plancus (c. 47 BCE) definitely captures the same juxtaposition!
