Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 466 22 Apr 2020
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CILICIA, Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Gallienus. AD 253-268. Æ (29mm, 9.03 g, 6h). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Athena advancing right, brandishing spear and shield at anguipede Giant, who is raising both hands in defense. SNG BN 1064-6; SNG Levante 789. Brown surfaces, light roughness, a few light scratches. Near VF.
Ex Phil Peck Collection.
The reverse of this coin recalls the second major conflict of Zeus' rise to power. After he had defeated the Titans in the Titantomachy and apportioned their former relatives to his fellow Olympians, he was compelled to resolve a conflict with the Giants, offspring of Gaia and Cronus. Known as the Gigantomachy, these chthonic half-man, half-serpent creatures attempted to wrestle power from the Olympians by casting them out of Olympus. To accomplish this, the Giants attempted to reach Olympus by heaping up one mountain range on top of the other. From above, Zeus and the other Olympians, such as Athena, depicted on the reverse of this coin, defended themselves by hurling their weapons. In the end, however, it was the assistance of Hercules that won the day. With the final defeat of the Giants, the rule of Zeus was no longer challenged.
Ex Phil Peck Collection.
The reverse of this coin recalls the second major conflict of Zeus' rise to power. After he had defeated the Titans in the Titantomachy and apportioned their former relatives to his fellow Olympians, he was compelled to resolve a conflict with the Giants, offspring of Gaia and Cronus. Known as the Gigantomachy, these chthonic half-man, half-serpent creatures attempted to wrestle power from the Olympians by casting them out of Olympus. To accomplish this, the Giants attempted to reach Olympus by heaping up one mountain range on top of the other. From above, Zeus and the other Olympians, such as Athena, depicted on the reverse of this coin, defended themselves by hurling their weapons. In the end, however, it was the assistance of Hercules that won the day. With the final defeat of the Giants, the rule of Zeus was no longer challenged.