Gordian/Lycia Myra/OTD

[gordian_guy]

I don't often post here but this item finally arrived yesterday in the mail (forwarded to White Rock). It is an extremely rare Gordian III from the city of Lycia, Myra. It is the first that I have ever seen for sale and it is far superior to the example listed by von Aulock, (Von Aulock, Münzprägung Lycia), which has a large piece broken from the top of the coin. My example also appears to be from a different pair of dies than the von Aulock example (#169).

Obverse: AYT KAI M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: MYPE - WN; Platform with four crossed bars, in center column with smaller platform; nude(?) figure (Apollo Propylaeus (?)) standing right holding drawn bow; two palm branches to the left and right of column.
Ref: CNG Auction 88, Lot 915 (this coin); cf von Aulock Münzprägung Lycia, 169

c.rhodes

[newbeonecoinobe]

Hey Charlie very nice coin congratulation on a great find and acquistion.

Pete

[Akropolis]

Wonderful!
A real 'keeper."
PeteB

[casata137ec]

Really nice reverse. Very nice coin all around, actually! Enjoy and congrats.

Chris

[slokind]

I can't recall seeing a more significant reverse type.  And it's pretty, too.
Pat L.

[leseullunique]

Congratulation, good finding, I happy to know you won it!

[Randygeki(h2)]

Very nice, that rev. is really neat.

[Pscipio]

Fantastic coin, congratulations!

Lars

[arykanda]

Hi, I wish I had seen this example 10 years ago as I did publish another specimen of the same coin which CNG seems unaware of.

"Arykanda Kazılarında Bulunan Bir Myra Sikkesi
published in "Anatolia in Daylight: Essays in Honour of Cevdet Bayburtluoğlu, pp. 238-243, Homer Kitapevi, Istanbul, 2001"

I will upload a scan of the article at http://anadolu.academia.edu/AhmetTolgaTek/Papers in a few weeks time so that you can look at it.

The reverse type is most probably showing the cult image of "Apollo Surios", of the famous fish oracle at Sura, a village of Myra. Now that excavations are underway at Myra, maybe we will learn more about the oracle site which may "not" be the temple published by George E. Bean...

[gordian_guy]

Arykanda, I apologize for taking so long to reply. I have a hard time finding time these days for my collection. I would very much enjoy reading your paper, well looking at it anyway! Not sure I will understand the language. Anyway, I did visit the site and downloaded this paper to read: The Coins of Gordianus III found at Arykanda. Evidence for an Earthquake Relief Fund in Lycia? Lycian coins are tough to obtain but I have patience and just wait until one comes along and then if I can I try to obtain it. Your are welcome to any information I have my Lycian coins.

Thank you

c.rhodes

[arykanda]

Hi, here is the link for the article. Unfortunately my student scanned it from a xerox copy, thus the quality is absolutely terrible http://anadolu.academia.edu/AhmetTolgaTek/Papers/295465/Arykanda_Kazilarinda_Bulunan_Bir_Myra_Sikkesi