Not an informative thread but me just sharing some lion scalps on coins that I really enjoy. Mostly Samos island is known for it's lion's scalp, but also many cities in Magna Graecia have the same design. Please share your coins with a lion's scalp. Ionia, Samos. AR Drachm Rhodian Plinthophoric standard or Tetrobol Attic Standard. 210 - 185 B.C. Obverse: Facing lion scalp. Reverse: ΣAMIΩN; Forepart of ox charging right; krater, grape bunch, and grain ear below. Reference: HGC 6, 1241; Barron 2. 2.96g; 17mm Ionia, Samos AR Obol. 398 - 365 B.C. Obverse: Facing lion scalp. Reverse: Forepart of bull right; ΣA above. Reference: Barron 213, 5. 0.45g; 7mm Ionia, Samos Æ Bronze. 394 - 365 B.C. Obverse: Head of Hera to left wearing stephane and necklace with pendants. Reverse: Lion’s scalp facing front. Reference: SNG von Aulock 2296; SNG Cop. 1694. 1.70g; 12mm Sicily, Leontini. AR Litra. Circa 476-466 B.C. Obverse: Facing lion's scalp. Reverse: ΛE-ON Barley grain. Reference: Boehringer, Münzgeschichte, 19. HGC 2, 687. SNG ANS 215. 0.79g; 10mm Bruttium, Terina. Bronze. Circa 350-275 B.C. Obverse: Facing lion’s head. Reverse: Laureate head of Apollo left; behind, sword (?). Reference: Holloway & Jenkins 123. Historia Numorum Italy 2648. 9.27g; 22mm Ex CNG sale 139, 2006, 39. Bruttium, Rhegion. AR Litra. Circa 415/0-387 B.C. Obverse: Lion's mask facing. Reverse: PH within olive sprig. Reference: Herzfelder pl. XI, J. HN Italy 2499. 0.73g; 10mm
Here is one I got. Dynasts of Lycia. Trbbenimi. AR Tetrobol. 380-370 BC 17.4mm, 3.6g Obv: Lion's Scalp Rev: Triskeles with legend around
My Samos tetrobol with its gleaming eyes. Ionia, Islands off. Samos. Circa 210-190 BC. AR Tetrobol. Obv. Facing lion’s scalp. Rev. Forepart of bull butting right; amphora, monogram TAT, and barley ear below. Text above: ΣAMIΩN. 16 mm, 3.01 gr. Barron p. 147, type j, cf. nr. 27.
Some real beauties That last litra though...VaVaVoom!!! BRUTTIUM, Rhegion Circa 415/0-387 BCE. Æ 11mm (1.76 gm). Lion's head facing / PHΓIN[...], laureate head of Apollo right. Cf. SNG ANS 702; HN Italy 2524. Good VF, dark green patina. THRACE. Chersonesos Ae (Circa 386-309 BC). Kardia or Agora. Obv: Head of lion left. Rev: XEP / PO. Grain ear; uncertain symbols (piloi) around. SNG Copenhagen 844-5 var. (no symbol on rev.); HGC 3.2, 1439. Condition: Weight: 2.14 g. Diameter: 13 mm. very fine Ex: Savoca
Here's Hercules modeling one on a coin of Alexander the Great: Alexander III 'the Great' AR Tetradrachm. Tarsos, circa 327-323 BC. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left, holding sceptre; plow in left field, Θ below throne. 27 mm. 17.1 g.
I have always loved this type of Samos Samos Ar Tetradrachm 393-388 BC. Obv Lios scalp facing Rv. Forepart of a bull running right head up. Barron134 25.29 grms 23 mm Photo by W. Hansen
LION SCALP Syracuse Sicily Pyrrhus Epirus 278-276 BCE AE Litra 11.4g 23.3mm Herakles Nemaean Lion scalp - Athena Promachos tbolt shield SNG Cop 813, SNG ANS 852 Left LYKIA Dynast Perikles 380-360 BCE AR 1/3 Stater 20x14mm 2.8g Facing lion's scalp Triskeles BMC 157
Thank you! and a nice coin below. Very nice coin Bing, thank you for sharing. Cool coin, the same type as mine. Thank you Ryro! Is that first coin from Rhegion? An Onkia? I want that type Great coin, I saw it a short while ago and it really is a nice example. A very nice life time issue, still need one of those. A lifetime issue Alexander must be in every Greek collection. Wow, I can't stop looking It is absolutely great and I hope to get a tetradrachm from Samos sometime in my collection life. Very nice coins! The last one is great, small but sharp.
Great call my man, Rhegion! Sorry, I meant to go back and fill in the missing IDs (this is why you shouldn't work and CT at the same time). I also updated their identifications above
Great collection of scalps, @Pavlos. I really love your Samos drachm, where the lion appears to be smiling, though I've no idea what it actually has to smile about! LYCIA, Dynasts of. Mithrapata AR Sixth Stater (Diobol). 1.4g, 13.7mm. LYCIA, Uncertain mint, circa 390-370 BC. CNG E-398, lot 291 (otherwise unpublished). O: Lion scalp facing. R: Triskeles; labrys in one section, legend around; all within incuse square.
Don't have any lion scalp coins to share, but these look fantastic. Will have to keep an eye out to purchase one at some point.
If you are keeping an eye out for one of these, this is a good time. An enormously huge hoard of Lycian lion scalps was dispersed over the last three years or so. Therefore, these are still quite easy to find for little money. Dynasts of Lycia, Perikles, AR 1/3 stater, ca. 380–360 BC: Obv: Lion scalp facing. Rev: PERIKLE in Lycian script; triskele. 14mm, 2.76g. Ref: SNG von Aulock 4254–5. Dynasts of Lycia, Mithrapata, AR 1/6 stater, ca. 390–370 BC: Obv: Lion scalp facing. Rev: METRAPA[T]A in Lycian script; triskele; in field, dolphin. 13mm, 1.13g. Ref: SNG Copenhagen Suppl. 476 var. Dynasts of Lycia, Mithrapata, AR 1/6 stater, ca. 390–370 BC: Obv: Lion scalp facing. Rev: [M]ET in Lycian script; triskele. 13mm, 1.18g. Ref: SNG Copenhagen Suppl. 476 var.
