CILICIA, Tarsus Hadrian Tridrachm Apollo standing vis à vis with Perseus

[okidoki]

Dear coin friends,

A variant on the bust type, happy collector here, provincial Hadrian's have often very nice and special reverse scenes


Best,

Eric

Reference.
RPC III -, cf. 3269-70 (both with differing bust type). Prieur 770 var. (differing bust type).
same bust type as 3267

Obv. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΘΕ ΤΡΑ ΠΑΡ ΥΙ ΘΕ ΝΕΡ ΥΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕ
Laureate head of Hadrian, r. with balteus and drapery on l. shoulder.

Rev. ΤΑΡϹΕΩΝ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΕΩϹ
Apollo, naked and on left, standing right, holding laurel branch in his left hand, left elbow resting on tripod, clasping right hands with Perseus, naked and on right, standing left, holding harpa in his left hand.

10.61 gr
27 mm
12h

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-140743

[Aleph]

Beuatiful coin!  Why is the left figure IDed as Perseus, though?  The harpa is also associated with Mercury (thanks NumisWiki).  The winged boots suggest Mercury I would think.

[okidoki]

Beuatiful coin!  Why is the left figure IDed as Perseus, though?  The harpa is also associated with Mercury (thanks NumisWiki).  The winged boots suggest Mercury I would think.

Thank you,

Mercury used the Harpa (once?) but is seen on coinage with a caduceus
Perseus is seen with a Harpa because he killed the famous Medusa, by cutting of her head

both are naked on coins

[Aleph]

Neat statue.  Nicely shows Perseus with the harpa.  What is the significance of the winged boots?

[esnible]

Why is the left figure IDed as Perseus, though?  The winged boots suggest Mercury I would think.

The boots are the sandals of Hermes used by Perseus.  You are correct that they rarely appear on coins.  The only other coin I have seen that depicts winged feet for Perseus is a bronze of Hierocaesareia in Lydia.

This is a beautiful coin.  I almost placed a large bid myself!

According to Daniel Ogden, "When Lucan's Pharsalia was published in 65 AD Perseus was sufficiently well established as the founder of Tarsus in Cilicia for the poet to attribute the epitaph 'Persean' to it."  Ogden goes on to name the coin types with Perseus at Tarsos.

[okidoki]

Why is the left figure IDed as Perseus, though?  The winged boots suggest Mercury I would think.

The boots are the sandals of Hermes used by Perseus.  You are correct that they rarely appear on coins.  The only other coin I have seen that depicts winged feet for Perseus is a bronze of Hierocaesareia in Lydia.

This is a beautiful coin.  I almost placed a large bid myself!

According to Daniel Ogden, "When Lucan's Pharsalia was published in 65 AD Perseus was sufficiently well established as the founder of Tarsus in Cilicia for the poet to attribute the epitaph 'Persean' to it."  Ogden goes on to name the coin types with Perseus at Tarsos.

Thank you