Nomos AG
obolos 22 6 Mar 2022
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TROAS. Abydos. Circa 480-450 BC. Obol (Silver, 8 mm, 0.86 g, 11 h). ABY Eagle standing left with wings closed. Rev. Facing gorgoneion within incuse square. SNG Arikantürk 3-4. Very fine.
From the collection of a scholar.
The gorgoneion was an apotropaic artistic device used throughout the Greek world that was thought to ward off evil. Thus it is often found in mosaics near the front door of houses, on the exteriors of buildings, on amulets and weapons, and especially on coins were it served as a protector of the city issuing the coin. In fact, one of the earliest representations of a gorgoneion comes from an electrum stater discovered during excavations at Parion (see A. A. Potts, The World's Eye, 1982, pp. 26-8). Gorgoneia became so ubiquitous on coinage that they appear as the principal type on coins from no less than thirty-seven cities across the Greek world, from Etruria to the Black Sea region and beyond.
From the collection of a scholar.
The gorgoneion was an apotropaic artistic device used throughout the Greek world that was thought to ward off evil. Thus it is often found in mosaics near the front door of houses, on the exteriors of buildings, on amulets and weapons, and especially on coins were it served as a protector of the city issuing the coin. In fact, one of the earliest representations of a gorgoneion comes from an electrum stater discovered during excavations at Parion (see A. A. Potts, The World's Eye, 1982, pp. 26-8). Gorgoneia became so ubiquitous on coinage that they appear as the principal type on coins from no less than thirty-seven cities across the Greek world, from Etruria to the Black Sea region and beyond.