Two of ten coins I am waiting for arrived today. I don´t have many Greek coins and these are wonderful to hold and look at. SELEUCIS & PIERIA. Antioch. Ae Tetrachalkon (63-28 BC). Uncertain date. Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right. Rev: ANTIOXEΩN THΣ MHTPOΠOΛEΩΣ. Zeus seated left on throne, holding crowning Nike and sceptre; 7,64 g - 19,21 mm PHRYGIA. Apameia. Ae (Circa 88-40 BC). Magistrate Attalos, son of Bianor, eglogistes. Obv: Turreted head of Artemis-Tyche right, with bow and quiver over shoulder. Rev: AΠAMEΩN / ATTAΛOY BIANOPOΣ. Marsyas advancing right, playing aulos; menander pattern below. BMC 62; HGC 7, 674. 5,49 g - 18,77 mm In Greek mythology, the satyr Marsyas is a central figure in two stories involving music: in one, he picked up the double oboe that had been abandoned by Athena and played it; in the other, he challenged Apollo to a contest of music and lost his hide and life. Post your Marsyas or other Satyres
L CENSORINUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS MARCIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Laureate head of Apollo right REVERSE: L CENSOR, the satyr, Marsyas, standing left with wineskin over shoulder; behind him, column surmounted by draped figure (Minerva?) Rome 82 BC 3.66g, 17mm Cr363/1d, Marcia 24
Nice additions. The date is hard to read from the photo (in the exergue below the seated Zeus), but I think it's possible you could work it out by comparing to these: https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/search/browse?q=antioch+syria+zeus+laureate+seated+nike The symbol is visible l. of Zeus' feet: a cornucopia. It was used in a few years, most commonly Caesarean Year 19 (31/30 BCE) [I think McAlee believed it was Pompeian Year 19 (48/47 BCE): RPC I 4235 (And ACSearch examples.) Two other (less common) possibilities: The cornucopia was used in Caesarian Year 22 (28/27 BCE) & CY 25 (should be 25/24 BCE) for RPC I 4238A & 4238B, but usually with a dot above. Yours doesn't seem to have a dot above the cornucopia, but there is one matching cited specimen: 4238B, ex.4 (McAlee Supplement 70C), which was CY 25 (25/24 BCE). Here's one of mine of that type (date unknown): Antioch (Seleukis & Pieria) AE Tetrachalkon (20mm, 8.0g, 2h). Pseudo-autonomous issue, Pompeian Era (?), 1st century BCE. Obv: Bust of Zeus facing right, beaded border Rev: ANTIOΧΕΩN THΣ MHTΡOΠOΛEΩΣ. Zeus Nikephoros (holding Nike & scepter) seated right. References: Cf. RPC I 4216, 4231 type; HGC 9, 1366-1372; McAlee 43. And a favorite of mine, another Antioch, Syria with the same obverse. Michael Molnar's original "Star of Bethlehem" coin, which inspired his popular book (The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi) and was published many times in The Celator, the New York Times, and other publications: Syria, Seleucis and Pieria. Antiochia ad Orontem Æ Trichalkon (21.5mm, 8.29 g, 12h), temp. Augustus, naming Q. Caecilius Metellus Creticus Silanus, legatus Augusti pro praetore, struck 13/14 CE (Year 44 of Actian era). Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right. Rev: EΠI ΣIΛANOY ANTIOXEΩN / ΔM (date). Ram leaping right, head turned to look back at star above. (Aries and the Star of Bethlehem?) Ref: McAlee 99; RPC 4269 (for type); Molnar p. 52, Fig 9 (this coin). Prov: Ex Dr. Michael Molnar (1945-2023) Collection, acq. for $50 at a NY coin show (before 1991). CNG e-Auction 543 (1 Aug 2023), Lot 319. Publication History: The Celator, vol. 5, n. 8 (December 8, 1991). “An explanation of the Christmas star determined from Roman coins of Antioch,” by Michael Molnar. Pp. 8-12 (half-page illustration on p. 8); New York Times (December 21, 1999), “Coin May Link Star of Bethlehem to King of Planets,” H/ Fountain, Section F (Science), p. 5ff. (rev. of this coin illustrated in detail & as a book plate being held up by Molnar); Molnar, Michael (1999 & later eds), The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi. Rutgers University Press. (P. 52, fig. 9, this rev. illustrated.) Great looking Satyr on the second one! Those always remind me of Atia's line in HBO's Rome: "I've always found something perversely erotic about goaty little men"! (Meaning Timon.) Also reminds me of the design on the Antigonos Gonatas bronze, which showed Pan (another Satyr) in a similar posture, with similar goat-like features: Kings of Macedon, Antigonos II Gonatas. AE Unit (21mm). Amphipolis or Pella Mint, circa 271-239 BCE. Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right. Rev: B-A to left and right across fields, Pan erecting trophy right, AI monogram below, Macedonian helmet in left field. Prov: VAuctions 286 (2012), 195 (part, unsold) & VAuctions 295 (2013), 229 (part).
@Curtis thank you very much for the links and text you have provided for me to study the coin further. It should prove an interesting time
