And now...more holding head coins...

Ummm, did somebody mention head-coins?!!

Pontos, Amisos, AE30
109-65 BC
Diameter: 29 mm
Weight: 19.1 grams
Obverse: Head of Athena Parthenos right, wearing crested helmet decorated with griffin
Reverse: AMISOY. Perseus standing facing, holding harpa in right hand, Medusa's head in left, Medusa's body at his feet; monogram to left and right
Reference: SNG Cop 137; SNG Stancomb 684






PONTOS, Amisos, Æ28
Circa 109-65 BC
Diameter: 28 mm
Weight: 19.36 grams
Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with griffin
Reverse: Perseus standing facing, holding harpa and head of Medusa; at feet, body of Medusa; monograms to left and right
Reference: SNG BM Black Sea 1173; SNG Stancomb 683 var. (monograms); RG 17; HGC 7, 238




PAPHLAGONIA, SINOPE, Æ28
CA. 109-65 BC
Diameter: 28 mm
Weight: 19.0 grams
Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena right
Reverse: Perseus standing facing, head left, holding harpa and head of Medusa; at feet, body of Medusa
Reference: RG 62; SNG BMC Black Sea 1531



Pontos, Amisos AE30
109-65 B.C.
Diameter: 29.7 mm
Weight: 19.1 grams
Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena
Reverse: Perseus, holding harpa in right hand,
Medusa’s head in left, Medusa’s body at his feet




yup ... good ol' Perseus and the head of Medusa (always a winner, eh?)

 

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stevex6, can you give us the attribution? Love the headless body on the ground (No, I am not a sick, demented person )...

 

Oh, we're posting the Perseus-slaying-Medusas? Okay


PONTOS, Amisos
85-65 BCE, time of Mithradates VI Eupator
AE29, 19.5 gm
Obv: helmeted head of Athena right; gryphon on helmet
Rev: AMI-ΣOY; Perseus standing facing, holding harpa & Medusa's head; Medusa's body at his feet, blood gushing from neck; monograms in both fields
Ref: SNG BM Black Sea 1166; Stancomb 684; SNG Copenhagen 137 (best guess)
purchased from a local jewelry store May 2014
This coin had various copper oxides all over it and while the colors were pretty, it covered up details. I wasn't even sure it had details until I cleaned it and it turned out to be my best cleaning job by far. I usually don't clean coins because I'm not good at it. The before picture is here.


PONTOS, Amisos
85-65 BC
AE28, 18.5 gm
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right.
Rev: AMIΣOY; Perseus standing facing, holding harpa and head of Medusa, Medusa's body at his feet, blood gushing from neck; monograms in both fields
Ref: SNG Stancomb 683 var. (no monogram to right). [I cannot verify this reference and suspect it may not be correct because there are monograms both left and right. Looks like Sear 3637 fits though]

In today's Pecunem auction I fully intended to win a fantastic example of this type from Sinope. The pre-bidding wasn't as vigorous as expected and I was lulled into thinking it might go relatively cheaply. I submitted a bid of 240 when it hit the block (it had stood at 150 for a while). For Pecunem's auctions, when the coin hits the block you have 15 seconds to bid. I submitted and confirmed the bid and as I did so a text from my mom flashed on the screen and distracted me for a few precious seconds. My bid was topped and I scrambled to bump it up but ran out of time. Probably for the best... I bought too many things today anyway.

Here's that Sinope:

 

Gorgeous (I always love seeing your severed heads)



Too bad you missed-out on that Sinope (it is gorgeous ... congrats to whomever scored that baby!!)

 

Similar mine( uncleaned) is attributed as BMC 1167 and SNG Cop 137. Dimension is 31 mm. Watch please. I always owe coin-sister TIF to have let me buy this coin, even coincidentally.