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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Collecting Nut, post: 2630584, member: 74863&quot;]I&#039;ve since purchased a large number of coins but these were the first of the year. They will make sweet additions to my new and growing Ancient Collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]578809[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin fascinates me. It reminds mind of a face of the North Wind blowing. Apollonia (modern-day <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sozopol" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sozopol" rel="nofollow">Sozòpol</a>, Bulgaria) was an important Black Sea port and center of maritime trade throughout antiquity. The symbol of the city was an anchor, and archaeologists continue to discover many ancient anchors in the city’s bay. In ancient Greek religion, the Gorgoneion, or representation of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgon" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorgon" rel="nofollow">Gorgon’s</a> head, was considered an apotropaic amulet - that is, it warded off evil forces. These ancient drachms of Apollonia combine the aspects of charms and currency. Their whimsical character certainly continues to charm collectors today.</p><p><br /></p><p>1.&nbsp; Thrace, Apollonia Pontica </p><p>AR Drachm, 18x13mm, 2.5g, 7h; 4th Century BC. </p><p>Obv.: Gorgoneion.</p><p>Rev.: Anchor, A to l., crayfish to r.</p><p>Reference: SNG BM Black Sea 157; SNG Copenhagen 452</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]578810[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>This Seleucid bronze demonstrates the syncretism between ancient Greek and Egyptian religion. Winged <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eros" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eros" rel="nofollow">Eros</a> is of course the god of love that needs no explanation. The cult of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis" rel="nofollow">Isis</a> had an enormous following throughout the Greek and Roman worlds, particularly in the Levant. She was the ideal wife and mother, the personification of the sexual and creative feminine energies, and the patroness of nature and magic. The message of this coin is quite clear: it is the expression of man’s longing for the love of the perfect woman!</p><p><br /></p><p>Antiochos VII Euergetes, 138-129 BC</p><p>Æ19, 6.4g, 12h; Antioch mint, 138-137 BC.</p><p>Obv.: Winged bust of Eros right.</p><p>Rev.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EYEPΓETOY; Headdress of Isis; EOP below, monogram to right. </p><p>Reference: SNG Spaer 1941</p><p><br /></p><p>All pictures and information were used by permission, for which I am grateful, as I have no idea what I just said. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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