Medusa of the Gorgons

I decided to review my Seleucid coins after seeing David@PCC ’s interesting post about his recently acquired unpublished coins. These are some that I purchased about two years ago but only last night realized that the profile on the obverse side is Medusa.

Feel free to post your ancients that contain elements or imagery that you only discovered much later.

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Thanks for the depictions of Medusa @Deacon Ray. I'll throw in the Medusa - Perseus fight from Clash of the Titans (1981).

 

I think that’s from the first Percy Jackson movie, one of the favorite book/movie series of my daughter.



For years, I thought this was Janus on obverse. While cataloging my coins last year, I discovered that it is (considered to be) the janiform head of the Discouri. I tend to forget that again, it’s funny when you have to adjust your memory and perception. Or, as Jean Piaget called it, create a new schema.

 

Thanks, @lordmarcovan and yes it’s Uma Thurman in “Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief.”

 

Athens New Style Tetradrachm c 95/4 BC
Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
28.5mm 16.76 gm Thompson issue (New) 66
Thompson catalogue: 937a ? (not in plates)
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
on which month mark Γ control MH below
3 magistrates : NIKETES DIONYSIOS MENE
RF symbol : Gorgon Head
All surrounded by an olive wreath

Believed to be a reference to Mithridates ancestry.

 

That's an angry looking Medusa Deacon Ray. Here is an obscure one Mallus.

Antiochus IV
Mint: Mallus
Denomination D
175 to 164 BC
Obvs: Winged Medusa right, fillet border.
Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ on right ANTIOXOY on left, Nike standing left holding wreath. Fillet border.
AE 15mm, 1.85g
Ref: SC 1384; HGC 9, 716(R2-3)

 

Lovely examples and display DR
Some also attribute the type as Alexander the great wearing a winged cap. Though it is probably wishful thinking and more likely Medusa.


When it comes to recent revelations, I gotta admit I'd always just gotten off with the coins description of another creeper, the running/ kneeling satyr.
Then recently @TIF had pointed out what my eyes should have picked up on, the bent elbow of the satyr does indeed appear to indicate the dirty dude is VERY pleased with himself! A horses ears, tail and hair on his palms

 

Surely, my little gorgon feels right at home in this thread!

 

Great poster Ray , I like it. Yeah, thats what I think Ryro. Looks like an Alexander young portrait.
Looks like Seleukos was honering his former chief in command.
but what do I know.

 

Here’s my Medusa (in center of aegis)
Rufus 46 BC

 

L Plautius Plancus Ar Denarius 47 BC Obv Facing head of Medusa Rv,Aurora flying right head facing left holding the reins of the four horses of the Sun. Crawford 453/1a CRI 29 3.87 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen I think this is one of the most interesting and complicated designs in the whole Republican series and one that is very difficult to acquire with the reverse more or less all there. Though this one's reverse is somewhat OC all the horses are visible and reasonably well struck up. Usually when I discuss a coin I often refer to "the money side" That usually indicates that in my mind one side is much more interesting than the other. This coin is one of those that both sides are interesting making it even more difficult to find a decent one.

 

Awesome coin! I have a few of the Pontic Greek Aegis coins. I'll have to add this coin type to my wishlist

 

Thanks for your comments and interesting thoughts about the profile on the obverse side. I’m beginning to have second thoughts about the Medusa description given in some of the acsearch listings. Alexander or Hercules sound like good possibilities.

 

I agree 100% but have to add there are a few other considerations here. The style on the Medusa varies a lot on these with some dies being gorgeous while others make her look like she had a bad night on the town. Others are just poorly executed in amateur style. There are two variations - with and without snakes flanking the face of Medusa. Perfect centering can be a problem if the flan is small and that loses the legends at the bottom of each side. Neither of my coins is overall good but, like 90% of these, each has something that made me want it.
Reasonable style with the snake clear on one side, centered reverse loses all the legend, worn:


No snakes, good style if you like eyes with a slightly drunken look, full legend, flat reverse top missing top horse head, uneven strike

I doubt I will ever find a complete replacement for these two but I can see them being joined by coins with different faults.

 

Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Plautius Plancus. 47 BC.
AR Denarius
20.5mm, 3.90 g, 7h
Rome mint. Facing mask of Medusa with disheveled hair; coiled serpents flanking / Aurora flying right, conducting four horses of the sun and holding palm frond. Cf. Crawford 453/1a-b, d-e; CRI 29; cf. Sydenham 959, 959a; cf. Plautia 15, 15a-c;cf. RBW 1583-4. Lustrous, marks and scratches, large flan/metal flaw on reverse, weakly struck in areas. Good VF.


The coin below gets an honourable mention just for the resemblance.. we all know it is Athena facing but that’s some snakey looking hair if you ask me


CILICIA, Tarsos. Balakros. Satrap of Cilicia, 333-323 BC. AR Stater . Baaltars seated left, holding lotus-tipped scepter; grain ear and grape bunch to left, ivy leaf to right, T below seat / Draped bust of Athena facing slightly left, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, single-pendant earring, and necklace. SNG France 367–9 var

 

Here’s another example, note how the reverse has problems unlike Terence’s beauty above

 

..now yer talkin'...i got this lil beauty in the year of 2020, 1st hole and all...it would have made an excellent jewel ornament to be worn in battle, or any time ..

 

..i may have to watch that again~ good movie and the featured works of the master of stop motion, Ray Harryhausen...