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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Gods, Olympians| ▸ |Athena or Minerva||View Options:   | | | Athena was the virgin goddess of wisdom, crafts, and battle strategy. Her symbols are the olive tree and the owl. She is the daughter of Zeus, according to some traditions by Metis. |
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice, and skill. Her usual attribute is the owl and Nike is her frequent companion.RX114200. Billon tetradrachm, RPC Online X U75951 (27 spec.), Dattari-Savio 5626, Emmett 4030; Geissen 3225, Milne 4811, Curtis 1961, SNG Cop 981, BMC Alexandria 2481, aVF, tight, ragged flan with superficial cracking, weight 7.550 g, maximum diameter 19.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 286 - 28 Aug 287 A.D.; obverse A K Γ OYA ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; reverse Athena standing slightly right, head left, spear in right hand, resting left hand on grounded shield, LΓ (year 3) in left field; ex Priapus Numismatics e-auction 1 (5 Nov 2023), lot 651; scarce; $80.00 (€75.20)
Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D.
Minerva was ancient even to the Romans. She was of Italian or Etruscan origin and directly identified with the Greek Athena. Although a war goddess, she was also the patron of handicrafts and of wisdom. The latter is probably what made her attractive to Claudius who reportedly authored several histories, none of which, unfortunately, have survived.RB110690. Copper as, RIC I 100, Hunter I 62, BMCRE I 149, BnF II 179, Cohen I 84, SRCV I 1861, F, green patina, slightly off center, weight 10.011 g, maximum diameter 27.5 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 41 - 42 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP, bare head left; reverse Minerva striding right, brandishing javelin in right, shield on left arm, S - C (senatus consulto) flanking low across field; $70.00 (€65.80)
Domitian, 13 September 81 - 18 September 96 A.D., Side, Pamphylia
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice, and skill. Her usual attribute is the owl and Nike is her frequent companion.RP112716. Bronze AE 18, RPC II 1528, SNG Pfälzer 625, SNGvA 4811 var. (ethnic divided across field), SNG Cop 415 var. (same), BMC Lycia -, F, dark patina, spots of corrosion, edge crack, weight 4.081 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 0o, Side (near Selimiye, Antalya Province, Turkey) mint, 13 Sep 81 - 18 Sep 96 A.D.; obverse ΔOMITIANOC KAICAP (counterclockwise from upper left), laureate head right; reverse CIΔHT (counterclockwise from upper left), Athena advancing left, wearing crested helmet, long chiton, and peplos, transverse spear and pomegranate in right hand, round shield in left hand, snake right at feet on left; scarce variant; $70.00 (€65.80)
Thyateira, Lydia, c. 218 - 235 A.D.
Thyateira (also Thyatira) is the ancient name of the modern Turkish city of Akhisar ("white castle"). In Revelation, Thyatira is the church that had a false prophetess (Revelation 2:20).
It is uncertain if Athena is holding a spear over her left shoulder on the obverse of our coin. That such a spear-less variety exists is suggested by both BMC Lydia 32 and 31 (whose reverse depicts Athena holding a patera in place of Nike), although neither coin has been seen by this cataloger. Also, contrary to the claim of RPC Online VI (as of 1 Feb. 2024), Dane Kurth did indeed record our type (assuming it has an obverse spear) under GRPC Lydia 82. Spear or no spear, hopefully the reader has understood the point of this commentary.GB113946. Bronze AE 19, cf. RPC Online VI T30620 (obv. spear); GRPC Lydia 82 (same); SNG Hunt 1362-1363 (same; leg. arr.); BMC Lydia p. 297, 32 (no obv. spear?; leg. arr.), F, slightly rough, bare metal surfaces, weight 3.557 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 180o, Thyatira (Akhisar, Turkey) mint, time of Elagablus-Sev. Alexander, 218 - 235 A.D.; obverse draped bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet and aegis partially fringed with snakes, spear(?) over left shoulder; reverse ΘYAT-E-IPHNΩN, Athena standing facing, helmeted head left, Nike in right hand, grounded shield and upright spear supported with her left hand; $70.00 (€65.80)
Herakleia, Lucania, Italy, c. 280 - 150 B.C.
Heraclea, also Heracleia or Herakleia, was an ancient Greek city on the Gulf of Taranto between the rivers Aciris (modern Agri) and Siris (modern Sinni). It was still a place of some importance under the Roman empire. The time and circumstances of its final extinction are wholly unknown, but the site is now desolate. The ruins are in the modern comune of Policoro in the Province of Matera, Basilicata, Italy.GB114018. Bronze AE 15, HN Italy 1448b, HGC 1 1019 (R2), F, dark patina, weight 2.075 g, maximum diameter 15.3 mm, die axis 0o, Lucania (Policoro, Italy) mint, c. 280 - 150 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet; reverse Herakles standing slightly left, head left, nude, patera in right hand, club upwards and lion's skin in left hand and arm, ͰHPAK-ΛEIΩN in two downward lines the first on the right, the second on the left; rare; $70.00 (€65.80)
Pergamon, Mysia, c. 2nd Century B.C.
Pergamon, Mysia was located to the northwest of the modern city of Bergama, Turkey, 16 miles (26 km) from the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of the Caicus (Bakircay) River. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon under the Attalid dynasty, 281-133 B.C. Pergamon is cited in the book of Revelation as one of the seven churches of Asia.GB112986. Bronze AE 20, SNG BnF 1875; SNGvA 1374; SNG Cop 396; BMC Mysia p. 131, 172, VF, nice green patina, old scrapes, die damage, weight 8.689 g, maximum diameter 20.0 mm, die axis 0o, Pergamon (Bergama, Turkey) mint, c. 2nd century B.C.; obverse head of Athena right wearing crested Corinthian helmet; reverse trophy of captured arms, NIKHΦOPOY (Victorious) downward on left, AΘHNAΣ (Athena) downward on right, Pergamon monogram lower right; $65.00 (€61.10)
Phaselis, Lycia, c. 190 - 167 B.C.
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. She was believed to lead soldiers into battle as the war goddess Athena Promachos. The Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis was dedicated to her, along with numerous other temples and monuments across Europe, West Asia, and North Africa. Her usual attribute is the owl and Nike is her frequent companion.GB111741. Bronze AE 21, Heipp-Tamer B55; SNG Cop 126; SNGvA 4439; BMC Lycia p. 82, 18; Mionnet III p. 443, 69, aF, Light earthen deposits, weight 4.059 g, maximum diameter 20.6 mm, die axis 330o, Phaselis (near Tekirova, Turkey) mint, c. 190 - 167 B.C.; obverse prow of war galley right, Nike flying right above crowning acrostolium with wreath; reverse Athena standing right, wearing long chiton and helmet, aegis on left arm, wielding thunderbolt in right hand, Φ - A flanking across field below center; $60.00 (€56.40)
Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus I Soter, 280 - 261 B.C.
Antiochos' reign was marred by struggle against internal and external enemies, including the betrayal and revolt of his co-regent in the east, his eldest son, whom he was forced to execute. He earned the title savior (soter) of Asia by defeated roving bands of Galatians that had terrorized the cities for years. However, not long after, he lost southern and western Asia Minor to Ptolemy.GY114635. Bronze AE 14, Houghton-Lorber 315a; Newell WSM 1369; BMC Seleucid p. 13, 58; SNG Spaer 233; SNG Cop 77; SGCV II 6883; HGC 9 167 (R2), aVF, green patina, scratches, areas of light corrosion, weight 2.032 g, maximum diameter 14.4 mm, die axis 0o, Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, 280 - 261 B.C.; obverse bust of Athena facing, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet; reverse Nike walking left, raising wreath in right hand, long palm frond over left shoulder in left hand, BAΣIΛEΩΣ downward on right, ANTIOXOY downward on right, monogram in circle over line outer left (control); $60.00 (€56.40)
Thessalian League, Thessaly, Greece, 146 - 27 B.C.
The Thessalian League was a loose confederacy of city-states and tribes in the Thessalian valley in N. Greece. Philip II of Macedon took control of Thessaly in 344 B.C and it remained under Macedonia until the Roman victory in 197 B.C. The league was reestablished in 196 B.C. but had little autonomy after Thessaly became part of the province of Macedonia in 146 B.C.GB114917. Bronze dichalkon, cf. BMC Thessaly p. 5, 62 ff. (various magistrates on obv); SNG Cop 324 ff. (same); BCD Thessaly II 904 ff. (same), gF, tight flan cutting off inscriptions, areas of light corrosion, weight 4.559 g, maximum diameter 16.8 mm, die axis 0o, Larissa(?) mint, pseudo-autonomous, 196 - 27 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, magistrate's name around (obscure); reverse ΘEΣ-Σ/A-ΛΩ-N, horse trotting right; ex Aphrodite auction XV (28 Oct 2023), lot 161; $60.00 (€56.40)
Persian Empire, Philistia (Gaza or Samaria), c. 375 - 333 B.C., Imitative of Athens
A Persian Period imitation of Athenian types from the Holy Land. In the past these coins were all attributed to Gaza, however, recent hoard finds indicate a mint at Ashkelon probably also struck this type. It is likely that at least several small mints struck these imitative types.JD97053. Silver obol, cf. Samaria Hoard pls. 45 - 50, SH269 ff.; Gitler-Tal 4.4.IX-X; SNG ANS 15 ff., aF, toned, squared flan (normal for the type), weight 0.738 g, maximum diameter 8.7 mm, die axis 90o, Gaza(?) mint, c. 375 - 333 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl, hair in parallel bands, eye in profile; reverse owl standing right, wings closed, head facing, olive spray with one olive between two leaves and a crescent behind, AΘE downward on right, all in incuse square, no Aramaic inscription; $50.00 (€47.00)
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