Just received my winnings from the last Obolos, and the most interesting, in my opinion, is a coin depicting quite unusual mythological scene. Some of the details are not very well struck, but overall one can see Zeus passing the infant Dionysus born from his thigh to the nymph Nysa. The coin is from Nysa-Scythopolis which was named, according to the local legends, after this nymph. Post your coins with rare mythological scenes! SYRIA, DECAPOLIS. Nysa-Scythopolis. Gordian III, 238-244. (Bronze, 24 mm, 14.02 g, 12 h), year 304 = 240-241. ΑΥΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC CΕ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III to right. Rev. NYC CKYΘΟ ΙΕΡ ΑCΥ / Δ-Τ On the right, Zeus wearing himation, standing facing, holding scepter in his right hand, his right leg bend and the infant Dionysos emerging from his thigh; on the left, Tyche as Nysa, wearing peplos and turreted crown, standing facing, holding scepter in right hand and the infant Dionysos in left. Barkay 93. Meshorer, City-Coins 114. Rosenberger 63. RPC VII.2 Online unassigned ID 2393. SNG ANS 1059. Spijkerman 57. Dark brown patina. Flatly struck. Very fine. From the Vineyard Collection, ex Sternberg 34, 22 October 1998, 276b.
Wonderful rarity with an excellent mythological depiction! Coingrats and thanks for sharing. Here is my most recent Dionysos: Antoninus Pius Phrygia. Laodiceia ad Lycum. AE 19, 4.79g. Phrygia, Laodiceia ad Lycum, Under Antoninus Pius, magistrate P. Ailios Dionysios Sabinianos. Obv: ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕΩΝ Draped bust of Dionysus right, with ivy-wreath. Rx: ΑΙΛ - ΔΙΟΝV - CΙΟC Mask of Silenus with ivy-wreath lying on cista mystica, around which a serpent twines, with both tail and crested and bearded head right; at left, pedum over which a pair of cymbals hangs. BM 96, pl. 35,6 (same obverse die). SNG Copenhagen 532. Delightful reverse type, fine style. VF. Purchased from Savoca Sept 2021
Interesting perspective on this coin which presumably alludes to some kind of mythology. COMMAGENE, Zeugma. Philip I the Arab or Philip II. 247-249 AD. Æ31, 19.2g; 6h Obv.: AYTOK K M IOYΛI ФIΛIΠΠOC CЄB; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev.: ZЄYGM-ATЄΩN; Peribolos containing grove of trees, seen in perspective; tetrastyle temple in distance, draped figure within (Zeus?); in exergue, capricorn to right. Reference: Butcher 31c; BMC 35.
Very cool @Factor . Here is a coin showing the myth of Europa’s abduction by Zeus as a bull. (See my write up here) Here is a photo I took of a 1634 painting by Claude Lorrain showing Europa on the bull just before he takes off into the sea.
