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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;AnYangMan, post: 3450591, member: 87271&quot;]As some of you might know, my collection is basically split into two different sections. My primary focus is on archaic Chinese spades &amp; knives, where I collect by variety and inscription. The second part of my collection is far less organized, but basically focusses on everything else that tickles my fancy, for whatever reason that may be. I tend to gravitate to coins that have both relatively high eye-appeal and an interesting historical story to tell, but will include anything if it tickles enough. From Greek to post-medieval, everything is represented. But in plotting all coins on a map, I discovered a significant lack of Classical and Hellenistic Greek coins. And for such an important step in the evolution in coinage, that is obviously not done!</p><p><br /></p><p>So, armed with this excuse to buy more Greek coins, I saw this pop up for auction. Instantly, I knew I had to have it. Put in a bit of roughly thrice the starting price, won it for about half that. Needless to say, I was more than happy <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. The seller’s picture:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]916825[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Megalopolis, Arcadia (under the Achaean league). AR Hemidrachm (triobol), 175-168 BC. Obv: Bust of Zeus left. Rev: Pan seated left on rocks, with his right arm raised and a lagobolon in the left arm, Eagle seated left on lap. No control marks. Agrinion Hoard 236; Dengate, MN 13 (1967) Period III (182-168 BC). 2.39 grams and as the auctioneer stated it, a ‘<i>très belle patine’.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>What really drew me to this coin was the reverse. The beautiful, full-length depiction of Pan holding a Lagobolon, both quite finely executed, really speaks to the imagination. Especially the combination of the dark toning (it really is quite a bit darker in hand), yet colourful patches of toning in the middle, brings out the features charmingly. Look at the details in the face and on those abs! A bit of wear on the eagle and rocks, but I won’t let that spoil the fun <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.</p><p><br /></p><p>Despite being aesthetically pleasing, I also find the depiction itself interesting from a mythological perspective. For I am a big fan of all things Pan and Satyr (perhaps due to reading too much C.S Lewis as a young child), and I am always on the lookout for some neat and interesting depictions of them on coins. And where better to get a coin from depicting Pan than from his rustic and lush homeland of Arcadia!</p><p><br /></p><p>The one thing that puzzles me is the eagle sitting in Pan’s lap. As far as am I aware, Pan is not associated with eagles in any manner. Is it just a ‘random’ depiction, is it connected to the bust of Zeus on the obverse (and in turn with the special connection seen at the temple of Zeus Lykaios in Megalopolis itself), or is there an additional reason I am not aware of? Perhaps someone slightly more well-versed in ancient Greek mythology (maybe [USER=99716]@Jochen[/USER]?) is able to shed some light onto this?</p><p><br /></p><p>So, show me those beautiful Pans, Satyrs, Fauns or coins from Arcadia!</p><p><br /></p><p>Ps. Please, don’t show me any of your cookware <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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