Asia Minor Coins - Photo Gallery

Ancient Greek and Roman coins from Asia Minor


Coin ID #14069

Kyzikos (BC 450-330) EL Hekte

ca 450-330 BC. EL Hekte (2.66g, 10mm). Perseus kneeling right, head reverted, wearing a winged hood, cloak over shoulders fastened with circular brooch on breast, head of Medusa in left hand, sickle (harpa) in right; below, tunny fish right / Quadripartite incuse square. Unusually well centered, gVF. Carr coll.

The ‘Perseus’ emissions are known for denominations of stater through 1/96th. Most examples do not capture the whole ‘scene’ - commonly either the head of Perseus or Medusa being off the flan. This coin is possibly the second best published example capturing the major features [For an example that is even sharper in its detail, see Gemini IX (1/2012) lot 105].

File information
Filename:Carr_Medusa.jpg
City/Mint name:Kyzikos EL
Keywords:electrum / classical
References:Greenwell 74; Traite II 2, pl. 174, 19; von Fritze 162; SNG France 312; Boston MFA 1549 = Warren 1491.
Valuation:CNG Auc. 411 (12/2017), lot 110 ($1,150 + comm)
Photo courtesy of:Classical Numismatic Group Inc - www.cngcoins.com
Filesize:222 KiB
Date added:Dec 14, 2017
Dimensions:800 x 423 pixels
Displayed:570 times
URL:http://www.asiaminorcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=14069
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Adrian   [Jan 13, 2018 at 07:56 PM]
Polydektes lured a young Perseus into agreeing to obtaining the head of Medusa, the only mortal Gorgon, whose look could turn any living creature into stone. The gods equipped Perseus with an unbreakable sickle, a winged hood of invisibility, winged sandals, a polished shield and a knapsack. By looking at Medusa's reflection in the polished shield, Perseus managed to avoid her direct and lethal stare; he cut off her head with the sickle, put it into the knapsack, and eluded the other Gorgons by putting on the hood of invisibility. Even after decapitating Medusa, he had to avoid looking at her head, which had retained its deadly power. Perseus rescued the Phoenician princess Andromeda by using Medusa's head as a weapon against the sea-monster that was threatening her. Perseus married the princess and in Greek myth became the ancestor of the Persians [see Buxton, R. (2016). The Complete World of Greek Mythology, Thames and Hudson, pp. 104-105]. The symbolism on this coin and the connection with the Persians are of historical significance.

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