akeady Posted October 12, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted October 12, 2023 Here are a couple of my favourite Athenas. Seated - reverse of a Lysimachos tetradrachm (Thrace, Lysimacheia), HGC 3, part 2, 1493 (this coin illustrated): And a New Type tetradrachm - NSSCA, 66 b pl. 9 which is badly struck but has a decent portrait which could do with a new photo': ATB, Aidan. 8 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Anthos Posted October 13, 2023 · Member Share Posted October 13, 2023 Herakleia, Lucania 281-278 BC AR Drachm (16.5mm, 3.82g) O: Head of Athena, three-quarters facing right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Scylla throwing stone; Φ behind. R: Owl with wings closed, standing right on olive branch; club to right, |-HPAKΛEIΩN above, ΣΩΣI to left. Van Keuren 114; HGC I, 999; HN Italy 1411 Scarce ex NAC The colony of Herakleia was a joint venture between the cities of Taras and Thurii, founded in 432 BC and intended to encourage peace between the two embattled polis’ and show a united front against the indigenous tribes of southern Italy. To this end Herakleia became the center of the newly formed Italiote League, probably around 380. This alliance consisted of emissaries from the Greek cities of Kroton, Metapontum, Velia, Thurii, and most notably Taras. A century later, the period of this coin, Pyrrhus defeated the Roman Consul Laevinius near here, causing the Romans to try a different strategy. A political treaty was struck in 278, granting very favorable terms to the Greek city, and Herakleia became an ally of Rome. As a result the headquarters of the Italiote League was moved to Taras. ~ Peter 8 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted October 15, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted October 15, 2023 On 10/11/2023 at 4:31 PM, expat said: I have 2 coins with a full portrait of Athena. Sadly they are nowhere near the quality of those shown above. Lysimachos, Kingdom of Thrace, AE 20mm, 5.20 gr. Generous flan. Lysimachia mint. 305-281 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΛYΣIMAXOY, above and beneath lion leaping right, spearhead and M on O monogram below. Mueller 74. PERGAMON (Mysia) AE16. Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing helmet decorated with 8 pointed star. Reverse: AΘHNAΣ / NIKHΦOPOY. Owl standing facing on palm frond right, with wings spread. Monograms ΓΑ and ΑΡ either sides of owl in fields. Leipzig 1102-1103. Pergamon mint, ca. 200-133 BC. 2,9 g - 16 mm Great coins @expat! I especially like your owl from Pergamon. Thanks for sharing! On 10/11/2023 at 5:02 PM, Brennos said: Not a portrait either, but a proud Athena Alkidemos (defender of the people) on this Ptolemy I Soter tetradrachm in the name of Alexander. For portrait, Syracuse, once again, gave wonderful specimens. eg this bronze of Agathocles Both of these are great but that Ptolemy I is a real stunner! On 10/11/2023 at 6:19 PM, panzerman said: as promised here are three of my Athenas.... 1/ Cyprus/ Salamis AV Stater ND Salamis Mint circa 313/12BC Nikokreon I King of Salamis/ vassal of Ptolemy I 330-310BC 2/ Thrace AV Stater ND 88-78BC Kallistis Mint Mithridates VI 120-66BC 3/ see data label 4/ New Rottie named her Athena I knew you wouldn’t disappoint Pman! That Salamis Athena is pretty much perfect. That is one of the best of this type I’ve seen. Wonderful stuff my friend. On 10/11/2023 at 9:00 PM, DonnaML said: What a wonderful thread, @Curtisimo! Considering that out of the 447 ancient coins I currently own only 22 are Greek, with the rest Roman -- and that even if I counted Roman Provincials as "Greek," not many of them have a portrait of anyone but the emperor or empress or perhaps a provincial deity like Nilus or Serapis or Tyche -- it shouldn't be a surprise that I'm going to be able to come up with only three of the 12 Greek Olympians, namely Athena, Zeus, and Dionysos. (Although I could probably come up with my own set of Roman Republican portraits of Olympians, something like @Sulla80's fantastic group.) Here's Athena: Corinth AR Stater. Circa 375-345 BC. Obv: Pegasos flying left, Q below / Rev: Helmeted head of Athena left. Control-symbols behind head: Retrograde N and Ares standing left holding shield and spear. Pegasi 376 var. [“N” not retrograde] [Calciati, R., Pegasi Vol. I (Mortara, 1990)]; Ravel 1056 var. [“N” not retrograde] [Ravel, O.E., Les "Poulains" de Corinthe, I - II (Basel, 1936; London, 1948)]; BCD Corinth 121 [Numismatik Lanz, Münzen von Korinth: Sammlung B, Auction 105 (Munich, 26 Nov. 2001)]; SNG Copenhagen 121 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Copenhagen, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Part 15, Corinth (Copenhagen 1944)]. 21mm, 8.46 g., 6h. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd. Auction IX, 22 March 2015, Lot 168. Even though he's right next to Athena, I suppose Ares doesn't count! Thank you Donna. That coin is certainly a worthy choice for a smaller Greek sub-collection. The Pegasi are iconic! I have a Corinth drachm but I’ve been waiting to try and snag a transitional Pegasus stater and those don’t seem to come around too often. I would count this as an Ares for sure! Also, I probably should have been more clear in my OP. I’m very happy for folks to post their Roman equivalent and full figure examples. In fact if nobody posts those category of coins I expect my threads on Hermes and Hephaestus will be met with the sound of crickets! 🙂 On 10/12/2023 at 1:18 AM, Severus Alexander said: That's a truly beautiful portrait of Athena, @Curtisimo, and what a fascinating writeup! I'm particularly interested in the early history of the Olympians even though it's hard to conclude much with any certainty. (Maybe that's why I find the subject so fascinating!) I think my two favourite portraits of Athena are on this diobol from Thurium: and on this Leukas stater (which I don't have in hand yet): I like these facing portraits issued by Antiochos I too: (@Ryro, let's see that awesome animation again!!) For full-length depictions, maybe I'd pick this Bactrian drachm: or this Gigantomachy depiction on a big provincial of Gordian III from Seleukeia ad Kalykadnon: Great coins all! That exact Leukas stater was on my list as well. I’m glad it went to you. It is a fantastic example with a superior portrait! 🙂 Wow to that Gigantomachy! You never disappoint my friend. On 10/12/2023 at 5:29 AM, Ryro said: Animation? I fear it's something much more sinister than that. Here she is before she woke up: And her she is after I read the ancient cantations: This animation cracks me up. On a serious note though, that is some incredibly impressive effects! On 10/12/2023 at 7:47 AM, Qcumbor said: Another excellent writeup from our own @Curtisimo well illustrated with an astounding coin and great pictures My preferred Athena is the one my dear wife gifted me with a few years ago on the occasion of my birthday. The second one is featured an a Syracuse bronze ATTICA, Athens. Circa 454-404 BC. AR Tetradrachm Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent behind, all within incuse square. ΑΘΕ in the right field 24mm, 17.08 g, 8h Ref : Kroll # 8; HGC # 4,1597 Sicily, Syracuse - Bronze litra, circa 375-344 BCE, [ΣYPA] Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet with neck guard, Hippocamp left 15mm., 6.13g Ref : Calciati # 34, Sear # 1193 Q Your wife is an owl gifting angel Q. 🙂 That’s a great Athena. I remember you showing that to me back when you got it. I think you even played it in the tournament one year. Thanks for the kind words as well my friend. On 10/12/2023 at 8:36 AM, Edessa said: North Arabia, Lihyan(?) Æ Tetradrachm (19mm, 8.77g, 10h). Circa 2nd-1st centuries BC. Imitating Athens. Obv: Schematic head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet. Rev: Stylised owl standing to right, head facing; olive sprig to left, [A]ΘE downwards to right. Ref: Huth 40 = Huth, Athenian, fig. 5, e. Near Very Fine. Ex Roma e111 (24 Aug 2023), Lot 489. Wow this coin is cool @Edessa! I love the reverse with the recognizable owl. This reminds me of how the Sassanid fire altar coins morphed into the impressionistic coins of India in the Middle Ages. On 10/12/2023 at 3:41 PM, Di Nomos said: Bit late to the party. Love coins with Athena and have enjoyed looking at and reading about them in this thread. My favourite in my collection is my archaic tetradrachm from Athens c.500 - 490 BC. You may have arrived late but you showed up in style! This is a great example of an archaic owl. Athena is even full crest! Wonderful. Thanks for posting it. 🙂 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted October 15, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted October 15, 2023 On 10/12/2023 at 4:42 PM, akeady said: Here are a couple of my favourite Athenas. Seated - reverse of a Lysimachos tetradrachm (Thrace, Lysimacheia), HGC 3, part 2, 1493 (this coin illustrated): And a New Type tetradrachm - NSSCA, 66 b pl. 9 which is badly struck but has a decent portrait which could do with a new photo': ATB, Aidan. I love the Athena on the Lysimachus tets. Great example. It’s also cool that it is a plate coin. I like your Nee Style also. Thanks for sharing Aidan. On 10/13/2023 at 5:07 PM, Phil Anthos said: Herakleia, Lucania 281-278 BC AR Drachm (16.5mm, 3.82g) O: Head of Athena, three-quarters facing right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Scylla throwing stone; Φ behind. R: Owl with wings closed, standing right on olive branch; club to right, |-HPAKΛEIΩN above, ΣΩΣI to left. Van Keuren 114; HGC I, 999; HN Italy 1411 Scarce ex NAC The colony of Herakleia was a joint venture between the cities of Taras and Thurii, founded in 432 BC and intended to encourage peace between the two embattled polis’ and show a united front against the indigenous tribes of southern Italy. To this end Herakleia became the center of the newly formed Italiote League, probably around 380. This alliance consisted of emissaries from the Greek cities of Kroton, Metapontum, Velia, Thurii, and most notably Taras. A century later, the period of this coin, Pyrrhus defeated the Roman Consul Laevinius near here, causing the Romans to try a different strategy. A political treaty was struck in 278, granting very favorable terms to the Greek city, and Herakleia became an ally of Rome. As a result the headquarters of the Italiote League was moved to Taras. ~ Peter This is a great coin Phil. You don’t see facing Athena portraits very often. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordmarcovan Posted October 19, 2023 · Member Share Posted October 19, 2023 Athena is awesome! 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsyas Mike Posted October 19, 2023 · Member Share Posted October 19, 2023 There are some lovely coins (and other images) in this post. I don't have an Athens Athena/Owl tetradrachm, thought I hope to some day (thanks to the numbers for sale these days). Here is a Roman Provincial I got last year that has Athena brandishing her spear and shield: Marcus Aurelius Æ Diassarion Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly (160-180 A. D.) AVT M AVP A NTωNЄINOC, laureate head right / KOINON ΘЄCCAΛωN, Athena Itonia advancing right brandishing spear and holding shield. RPC IV.1, 4565 (temporary); (see notes) (8.70 grams / 24 x 23 mm) eBay Feb. 2022 Dad lot $12.50 Additional Attribution: SNG Copenhagen 345; Rogers 95a; BMC 79 and 80α; BCD Thessaly II 960.3 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Anthos Posted October 19, 2023 · Member Share Posted October 19, 2023 Taras, Calabria 302-228 BC AR Diobol (12mm, 1.05g, 10h) O: Head of Athena facing slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet decorated with Skylla. R: Herakles standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; club above amphora to left, ΕΥP between legs. D'Andrea Diobols G, 318; Vlasto 1438; Cote 597; SNG Cop 1004; HN Italy 1062 Very Scarce From the Frank James collection. ex Spinks; ex Walter Holt; ex Roma Numismatics ~ Peter 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curtisimo Posted October 19, 2023 · Supporter Author Share Posted October 19, 2023 13 hours ago, lordmarcovan said: Athena is awesome! Beautiful coins @lordmarcovan. Your Electrum has a great portrait. 9 hours ago, Marsyas Mike said: There are some lovely coins (and other images) in this post. I don't have an Athens Athena/Owl tetradrachm, thought I hope to some day (thanks to the numbers for sale these days). Here is a Roman Provincial I got last year that has Athena brandishing her spear and shield: Marcus Aurelius Æ Diassarion Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly (160-180 A. D.) AVT M AVP A NTωNЄINOC, laureate head right / KOINON ΘЄCCAΛωN, Athena Itonia advancing right brandishing spear and holding shield. RPC IV.1, 4565 (temporary); (see notes) (8.70 grams / 24 x 23 mm) eBay Feb. 2022 Dad lot $12.50 Additional Attribution: SNG Copenhagen 345; Rogers 95a; BMC 79 and 80α; BCD Thessaly II 960.3 Nice coin and a big score for only 12.50! Congrats! 6 hours ago, Phil Anthos said: Taras, Calabria 302-228 BC AR Diobol (12mm, 1.05g, 10h) O: Head of Athena facing slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet decorated with Skylla. R: Herakles standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; club above amphora to left, ΕΥP between legs. D'Andrea Diobols G, 318; Vlasto 1438; Cote 597; SNG Cop 1004; HN Italy 1062 Very Scarce From the Frank James collection. ex Spinks; ex Walter Holt; ex Roma Numismatics ~ Peter Another winner Phil ……………………………… I suppose I’ll add my full figure Athena to the thread. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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