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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Gods, Olympians||View Options:  |  |  |   

The Twelve Olympians on Ancient Coins

The Twelve Olympians, the principal gods of the Greek pantheon, residing atop Mount Olympus, included the following gods:

Greek

Roman

Zeus

Jupiter

Hera

Juno

Poseidon

Neptune

Demeter

Ceres

Ares

Mars

Hermes

Mercury

Hephaestus

Vulcan

Aphrodite

Venus

Athena

Minerva

Apollo

Apollo

Artemis

Diana

Hestia

Vesta

Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.

|Severus| |Alexander|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.||denarius|
This coin was dedicated to Jupiter, the defender, probably to ask for protection the emperor in his war against the Persians. As Jupiter was the king of the gods, he took more interest in kings and emperors than the common man.
SL114187. Silver denarius, RIC IV 238, RSC III 83, BMCRE VI 824, Hunter III 71, SRCV II 7871, NGC CH MS*, strike 5/5, surface 5/5 (2406773-001), weight 2.74 g, maximum diameter 21 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 231 - 235 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, with a short neatly trimmed beard, seen from the front; reverse IOVI PROPVGNATORI (Jupiter the Defender), Jupiter standing slightly left in fighting attitude, head right, nude but for cloak flying behind, hurling thunderbolt with right, eagle in extended left hand; from the Craig Chambers Collection, NGC| Lookup; $900.00 (€846.00)


Macedonian Kingdom, Demetrios I Poliorketes, 306 - 283 B.C., In the Name and Types of Alexander the Great

|Alexander| |the| |Great|, |Macedonian| |Kingdom,| |Demetrios| |I| |Poliorketes,| |306| |-| |283| |B.C.,| |In| |the| |Name| |and| |Types| |of| |Alexander| |the| |Great
||tetradrachm|
Struck by Demetrius I Poliorketes (The Besieger). Demetrius I, the son of Antigonus I Monophthalmus, was given the title king by his father in 306 B.C. after he defeated Ptolemy I at the Battle of Salamis. In 294 he seized the throne of Macedonia by murdering Alexander V. The combined forces of Pyrrhus, Ptolemy and Lysimachus, forced him out of Macedonia in 288. Abandoned by his troops on the field of battle he surrendered to Seleucus in 286 and died in captivity in 283 B.C.
SL113486. Silver tetradrachm, Price 675, SNG Cop 734, Müller Alexander 1348, Noe Sicyon 22, HGC 4 1902 (R1), NGC EF (Greek 336-323 BC, 4DR, Alexander the Great, Money of the Bible, 3009039-073), weight c. 16.8 g, maximum diameter 25.5 mm, die axis 45o, Corinth mint, c. 304 - 290 B.C.; obverse head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck; reverse Zeus Aëtophoros seated left on throne, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, right leg drawn back, feet on footstool, eagle in extended right hand, long lotus tipped scepter vertical behind in left hand, AΛEΞANΔPOY downward on right, Nike flying right raising wreath and holding palm frond (control) lower left, Δo monogram (control) under throne above top strut; from a Virginia Collector, ex Eastern Numismatics Inc. (Garden City, NY, 5 Aug 2010, $625); NGC| Lookup; rare; $800.00 (€752.00)


Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C.

|Greek| |Domination|, |Ptolemaic| |Kingdom| |of| |Egypt,| |Ptolemy| |II| |Philadelphos,| |285| |-| |246| |B.C.||diobol|
Ptolemais is today Acre, Israel. It was at Ptolemais that the Jews met Petronius, sent to set up statues of the emperor in the Temple, and persuaded him to turn back. St. Paul spent a day in Ptolemais (Acts 21:7). -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akko
GP113579. Bronze diobol, Lorber CPE B338; Svoronos 790 (5 spec.); Rosenberger I p.20, 16; Sofaer pl. 3, 36; Weiser 42; SNG Cop -; Noeske –, Choice VF, green patina, earthen deposits, areas of weaker strike, marks, obv. edge beveled, weight 19.353 g, maximum diameter 31.7 mm, die axis 0o, Galilee, Ake Ptolemais (Acre, Israel) mint, 261 - 246 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Zeus Ammon right; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing half left atop fulmen (thunderbolt), head left, wings closed, double cornucopia bound with diadem over shoulder, Pi-Tau ligate inside Omicron (PTO - Ptolemais mintmark) in field; scarce; $800.00 (€752.00)


Nero (or Otho or Galba?), 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Mallus, Cilicia

|Nero|, |Nero| |(or| |Otho| |or| |Galba?),| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Mallus,| |Cilicia||AE| |25|
In "An intriguing new coin from Mallus, Cilicia" (2008), Jyrki Muona, based on a high grade specimen with an excellent portrait, identified the head on this type as Otho. He noted the portrait is influenced by the style of the Antioch mint. Indeed the portrait on that specimen looks very much like the portraits of Otho from Antioch. RPC I attributes the type to Nero but notes, "The portrait does not look much like Nero, but the date seems clear. Could it possibly be a coin of Galba?" We are following RPC I, listing it as Nero, but noting the other possibilities.
RP112383. Bronze AE 25, RPC Online I 4024 (3 spec.), SNG Levante 1269, aVF, dark green patina with traces of red, cleaning scratches, minor flan flaws on rev. edge, weight 9.678 g, maximum diameter 25.4 mm, die axis 0o, Mallus (near Karatas, Turkey) mint, 67 - 68 A.D.; obverse ...CEBACTOC..., laureate head right; reverse MAΛΛΩTΩN, Athena Magarsis standing facing, spear vertical in right hand, star above each arm, EΛP (year 135) outer left; ex CNG e-auction 538 (10 May 2023), lot 413; very rare; $580.00 (€545.20)


Seleukid Kingdom, Alexander II Zabinas, 128 - 122 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Alexander| |II| |Zabinas,| |128| |-| |122| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
Zabinas claimed to be an adoptive son of Antiochus VII, but may have been the son of an Egyptian merchant. He was used as a pawn by the Egyptian king Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (Physcon). Zabinas managed to defeat Demetrius II and thereafter ruled parts of Syria, but soon ran out of Egyptian support and was defeated by Demetrius' son Antiochus VIII Grypus. As a last resort, Zabinas plundered the temples of Antioch. He is said to have joked about melting down a statuette of the goddess of victory, Nike, which was held in the hand of a Zeus statue, saying "Zeus has given me Victory." Enraged by his impiety, the Antiochenes expelled Zabinas, who was captured and executed soon after. "Zabinas" is a derogatory name meaning "the bought one," implying he was Ptolemy's slave.
SH113424. Silver tetradrachm, Houghton-Lorber II 2219(3)c, SNG Spaer 2288, Newell SMA 333, HGC 9 1149d, VF, well centered, toned, scratches and bumps, edge cracks, weight 16.766 g, maximum diameter 31.2 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 128 - 127 B.C.; obverse diademed head right, fillet border; reverse Zeus seated left on throne, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, Nike in right hand, long lotus tipped scepter vertical behind in left hand, BAΣIΛEΩΣ (king) downward on right, AΛEΞANΔPOY (Alexander) downward on left, monogram left, Σ under throne; from the PS Collection, ex Aegean Numismatics (Mentor, OH); $500.00 (€470.00)


Seleukid Kingdom, Philip I Philadelphos, c. 94 - 83 or 75 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Philip| |I| |Philadelphos,| |c.| |94| |-| |83| |or| |75| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
Philip I Philadelphus was the fourth son of Antiochus VIII Grypus. He took the diadem in 94 B.C. together with his twin brother Antiochus XI Epiphanes, after the eldest son Seleucus VI Epiphanes was killed by their cousin Antiochus X Eusebes. The next year Antiochus X killed Antiochus XI. Antiochus X was probably killed in 88 B.C. Philip's younger brother Demetrius III turned on Philip I and took the capital, but the Philip I prevailed and took Antioch. Their youngest brother Antiochus XII took Damascus. Philip I tried to take Damascus, after which he disappears from the historical record, which does not tell us how or when he died. His death is traditionally dated 83 B.C. but Numismatic evidence and clues in ancient literature indicate that Philip I might have died in 75 B.C. His coins remained in circulation when the Romans conquered Syria in 64 B.C. Roman authorities in Syria continued to issue coins modeled on Philip I's coins, including his portrait, until 13 B.C.
GY113434. Silver tetradrachm, Houghton-Lorber II 2463(2)i, SNG Spaer 2803, Newell SMA 441, HGC 9 1319, BMC Seleucid -, gVF, toned, light encrustations, obv. off center, weight 15.904 g, maximum diameter 25.2 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. 88/7 - 83/75 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Philip I Philadelphos right, bulging eye, pouting lips, pronounced aquiline nose, fillet border; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΦIΛIΠΠOY EΠIΦANOYΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, Zeus seated left on high-backed throne, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, Nike presenting wreath in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left, .I.(Φ)/A outer left, N inner left, (frozen control monogram) below throne, all within laurel wreath; ex Leu Numismatik auction 26 (13 July 2023), lot 6961 (part of); $350.00 (€329.00)


Persian Empire, Gaza, Philistia, c. 353 - 331 B.C., Imitative of Athens Pi-Style

|Persian| |Rule|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Gaza,| |Philistia,| |c.| |353| |-| |331| |B.C.,| |Imitative| |of| |Athens| |Pi-Style||quarter| |shekel|
The Aramaic letter Mem is the symbol of Marnas, deity of Gaza. This type and other similar silver types struck under Persian rule are often described as drachms but we follow Hendin who refers to the local coinage of Philistia, Samaria and Yehud with the names that might have been used at the time they circulated. This type can be dated to about a 20 year period. It imitates the "Pi-Style" tetradrachms first struck at Athens in 353 B.C. and would not have been struck after Alexander the Great's conquest of Gaza in 331 B.C.
GS114667. Silver quarter shekel, cf. Gitler & Tal V.25D, Hendin 6010 (RR), HGC 10 542 (R2), VF, toned, well centered, marks, encrustation, porous, weight 3.900 g, maximum diameter 14.7 mm, die axis 225o, Gaza mint, c. 353 - 331 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye, olive leaves and pi-style floral ornament on crested helmet, large round earring, mem on cheek; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive spray and crescent upper left, AΘE downward on right, all within incuse square; ex CNG mail bid auction 84 (5 May 2010), lot 737 (part of); ex Dr. Patrick H.C. Tan Collection; very rare; $350.00 (€329.00)


Ephesos, Ionia (or perhaps Bargylia, Caria or Amyntas, King of Galatia), c. 2nd - 1st Century B.C.

|Ephesos|, |Ephesos,| |Ionia| |(or| |perhaps| |Bargylia,| |Caria| |or| |Amyntas,| |King| |of| |Galatia),| |c.| |2nd| |-| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||trihemiobol|
The type is most often attributed to Ephesos, but the style and denomination/weight do not strongly support any link to that city. NGC tags for the type note the origin may be Bargylia, Caria. The style certainly fits Bargylia better than Ephesos. The consignor of this coin, a professional numismatist, believes it was struck under Amyntas, King of Galatia, 37 - 25 B.C. Amyntas also issued Artemis and stag types.
GS98643. Silver trihemiobol, cf. SNG Davis 270, SNG Cop -, SNG Kayhan -, SNGvA -, BMC Galatia -, aVF, toned, light marks and scratches, weight 1.337 g, maximum diameter 12.3 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selçuk, Turkey) mint, c. 2nd - 1st Century B.C.; obverse draped bust of Artemis right, quiver at shoulder; reverse forepart of stag right, head turned back left; extremely rare; $310.00 (€291.40)


Macedonian Kingdom, Kassander, Regent 317 - 305 B.C., King 305 - 298 B.C., In the Name and Types of Alexander III

|Macedonian| |Kingdom|, |Macedonian| |Kingdom,| |Kassander,| |Regent| |317| |-| |305| |B.C.,| |King| |305| |-| |298| |B.C.,| |In| |the| |Name| |and| |Types| |of| |Alexander| |III||tetradrachm|
When Antipater transferred the regency of Macedon to Polyperchon, Kassander rejected his father's decision, obtained support from Antigonus, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus, defeated Polyperchon, and in 317 B.C. declared himself Regent. After Olympias had Philip III assassinated later that year, Kassander besieged her in Pydna. The city fell two years later, Olympias was killed, and Alexander IV and Roxanne were imprisoned. To associate himself with the Argead dynasty Kassander married Alexander's half-sister, Thessalonica. About 310 B.C. he had Alexander IV and Roxanne poisoned. Kassander proclaimed himself King in 305 B.C. After Antigonus was killed at the Battle of Ipsus in 301 B.C., Kassander held undisputed rule of Macedonia. He had little time to savor the fact, dying of dropsy in 297 B.C.
GS114298. Silver tetradrachm, Price 475, Müller Alexander 72, SNG Alpha Bank 540, SNG Munchen 323, SNG Saroglos -, SNG Cop -, gF, scratches, areas of mild porosity, rev. a little off center, weight 16.921 g, maximum diameter 26.2 mm, die axis 180o, Macedonia, Amphipolis mint, 307 - 297 B.C.; obverse head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck; reverse Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, eagle in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, right leg drawn back, AΛEΞANΔPOY downward on right, Λ over torch left, star on cone under throne; $300.00 (€282.00)


Marcus Aurelius, 7 March 161 - 17 March 180 A.D., Mostene, Lydia

|Other| |Lydia|, |Marcus| |Aurelius,| |7| |March| |161| |-| |17| |March| |180| |A.D.,| |Mostene,| |Lydia||AE| |35|
Mostene, in ancient Lydia, prospered in Roman and Byzantine eras. There is debate, based on a line in Tacitus, over whether Mostene was a Macedonian colony or a native Lydian city. In 17 A.D. the city was hit by an earthquake and was assisted by relief from Tiberius.
RP113182. Bronze AE 35, Apparently unpublished; GRPC Lydia -, RPC Online IV -, F, dark green patina, earthen deposits, marks, pit lower right, weight 21.592 g, maximum diameter 35.3 mm, die axis 180o, Mostene (Kepecik, Turkey) mint, c. 161 - 162 A.D.; obverse AVT K M AVPH ANTΩNEINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse EΠI AΛEΞANΔPOY APX ΛYΔ MOCTHNΩN (authority of Alexandros, archon, Mostene), Demeter, holding grain and torch?; from the Michael Arslan Collection, ex Solidus auction 123 (25 Jul 2023), lot 359 (part of); the only known specimen; extremely rare; $250.00 (€235.00)




  



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The first ancient reference of religious ceremonies for the 12 Olympians is found in the Homeric Hymn to Hermes.

There was a great deal of fluidity when it came to who was counted among their number in antiquity. Around 400 B.C. Herodorus included in his Dodekatheon the following deities: Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Athena, Hermes, Apollo, Alpheus, Cronus, Rhea and the Charites. Herodotus includes Heracles as one of the Twelve.

Lucian also includes Heracles, and also includes Asklepios, as members of the Twelve, without explaining which two had to give way for them. At Kos, Heracles and Dionysus are added to the Twelve, and Ares and Hephaestus are left behind. However, Pindar, Apollodorus, and Herodorus disagree with this. For them Heracles is not one of the Twelve Gods, but the one who established their cult.

Plato connected the Twelve Olympians with the twelve months, and proposed that the final month be devoted to rites in honor of Pluto and the spirits of the dead, implying that he considered Hades, one of the basic chthonic deities, to be one of the Twelve. Hades is phased out in later groupings due to his chthonic associations. In Phaedrus Plato aligns the Twelve with the Zodiac and would exclude Hestia from their rank.

Hestia is sometimes displaced by Dionysus. Hebe, Helios and Persephone are other important gods, goddesses, which are sometimes included in a group of twelve.

The Twelve Olympians gained their supremacy in the world of gods after Zeus led his siblings to victory in war with the Titans. Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades were siblings. Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, the Charites, Heracles, Dionysus, Hebe, and Persephone were children of Zeus. Although some versions of the myth state that Hephaestus was born of Hera alone.


Catalog current as of Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
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