In Greek mythology, Pan was the god of the wild, nature and pasture lands. His Roman counter part was Faunus. He's often seen playing the flute, or with a goat. The following coin was struck at Panias in Syria. This port city ( Banias) now includes a cave or grotto which is visited by tourists and was attributed to Pan. Obverse has Marcus Aurelius. Pan is on reverse, standing and naked. He's leaning on a tree trunk and playing flute. The coin weighs 7.73 g. Please post your coins of Pan.
Septimius Severus. 193-211 AD. Hadrianopolis, Thrace; Æ 28. Obv: His laureate and draped bust, r. Rev: To right, Pan, with goat legs, holding lagobolon and facing Hermaphroditos on the left. Note that Hermaphroditos depicts both male and female attributes. The legend of this mythological figure stems apparently from a single ancient source: Ovid, in his play Metamorphosis. He was said to have been the son of the messenger god Hermes and Aphrodite, the goddess of love. He was born a male and nursed by Naiads in the caves of Mount Ida in Asia Minor. At the age of 15 he wandered through the lands of Lycia and Caria. In his travels, he came upon a beautiful pool of clear water, in which lived the Naiad Salmacis, who was gathering flowers nearby. He decided to refresh himself by bathing in the pool. Salmacis, struck by his handsomeness, slipped into the pool with him and sang to him of her love. However, the youth rejected her advances. Salmacis embraced him and tried to win him over, and prayed to the gods that they be joined together as one, forever. The gods granted her prayers and the two were joined, displaying both male and female attributes of the two; hence, the name Hermaphroditos (Hermaphrodite). This is an exceedingly rare coin; the second example of which I have seen in 40 years! It is not listed in the British Museum catalog, SNG Copenhagen, or in Jurukova's corpus on Hadrianopolis, though its obv. die is her V114. See Varbanov II (English), 3392 for a second example, incorrectly identified as Apollo, in my opinion. The referenced source as "WW" is also incorrect
I have a 3D picture of this one. You will need red-blue 3D glasses. THRACE, PANTIKAPAION AE Tetrachalk, 21mm, circa 314-310 BC. Obv: Head of old Pan right. Rev: PAN; Legend around forepart of griffin left, sturgeon below. Anokhin Bosporus 111. I did the 3D image in 2013 after taking a class by Gerald Marks.
He's got the ears, but can Pan do this? Seriously, though...nice write-up! It's so nice to read about the ancient coins. Thanks!
Nice, succinct write-up and great coin, @7Calbrey ! Thank you. How 'bout a hard one to find, and has little pointy ears... Makedon King Amyntas II 395-393 BCE Æ12 2.0g Aigai or Pella mint Head of Pan - Forepart wolf chewing bone SNG Alpha Bank 179-80 R
Nice one, Charles! @PeteB, that's one of my favorite coins on your website. I've looked at it dozens of times. My best Pan, with clearly drawn hoofs, hocks, and horns, carrying his trademark lagobolon and syrinx. THRACE, Hadrianopolis. Gordian III AE 22 mm, 5.18 gm Obv: AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC; radiate head right Rev: AΔPIANOΠOΛЄITΩN; Pan advancing left, holding syrinx and lagobolon Ref: Varbanov 3945 corr. (cantharus in place of syrinx). Very rare. A youthful Pan: ARKADIA, Arkadian League 340-330 BC, Megalopolis mint AR Obol, 11 mm, 0.77 g Obv: head of Pan left Rev: large Arkadian League monogram; syrinx below Ref: BCD Peloponnesos (Megalopolis) 1517-8; HGC 5, 930 ex BCD Collection. Ex Vinchon (11-13 April 1988), lot 463.
Thanks, Pete . I am thrilled with it after having lost a different and spectacular Pan coin. I wonder who won it... apparently not someone who posts on CT: https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=2858&category=58667&lot=2391764 PHRYGIA. Dionysopolis. Pseudo-autonomous. Time of Septimius Severus to Caracalla (193-217). Ae. Obv: Draped bust of Dionysus right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev: ΔIONVCOΠOΛЄITΩN. Pan advancing right, holding grape bunch and pedum. SNG Copenhagen 345. Very rare Weight: 3.51 g. Diameter: 18 mm. ... Dibs on the next one!
We may have pandemonium here but do not panic during this pandemic. Here is my Pan Coin: Kings of Macedon Antigonus II Gonatas AR Tetradrachm B.C. 277-239 (struck 271/0) 17.00 gms, 30.8 - 31.4 mm Obv: Horned head of Pan left, lagobolon (pedum) over shoulder, in the center of a Macedonian shield decorated with seven 6-pointed stars within crescents. Rev: BAΣIΛΕΩΣ ANTIΓΟNOY Athena Alkidemos advancing left brandishing thunderbolt and holding shield. Helmet symbol below left and monogram below r. Grade: aVF very well centered coin of good silver w/ nice convex shape. Other: Alpha Bank 987, Sear 6783. From Harlan J. Berk 9/2015 lot 400988327311.
Antigonas ll Gonatas Tetradrachm c 270 / 239 BC Obv: Head of horned Pan left, wearing goat skin, lagobolon over shoulder, within double solid circle on Macedonian shield decorated with 7 stars with 8 rays within double crescents. Rev: Ins: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΟΥ Athena Alkidemos advancing left, holding shield with Gorgoneion head and hurling thunderbolt. Helmet inner left, Rare MTY monogram inner right Amphipolis Mint 17.10gm 30.5 mm
Amazing examples shown... Some of these can be had very inexpensively - still with nice detail. This one was around $30..
@TIF, I have the much uglier sibling of your Gordian Pan coin. The obverse is pretty bad but the reverse has some detail. I had noticed yours at the time and couldn't say no to this snack for $15!
