PHRYGIA. Sebaste. Caracalla, 198-217. Pentassarion (Bronze, 36 mm, 21.78 g, 6 h), Lucilius Antonius, archon. ΑΥΤ•ΚΑΙ•Μ•ΑΥ ΑΝΤΩΝЄΙΝΟϹ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, seen from behind. Rev. ЄΠΙ ΛΟΥΚЄΙΛΛΙΟΥ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΟΥ ΑΡΧ / ϹЄΒΑϹΤΗ/ΝΩΝ Perseus standing right, head turned back to left, decapitating Medusa with a harpa, who kneels to right before him; on the left, Athena standing right, holding spear in her right hand and shield in her left. BMC 34. RPC V.2 online ID 187. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG von Aulock -. Very rare and with a wonderful reverse composition. Minor pitting and with very light doubling on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.



The reverse of this beautiful pentassarion from Sebaste illustrates a scene from the myth of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa. The son of Zeus and Danaë, Perseus was tasked by King Polydektes with bringing him the head of Medusa, whose gaze turned every mortal to stone. With divine assistance - above all from Athena and Hermes - he succeeded in approaching the sleeping Gorgon and beheading her with his harpa, using Athena’s polished shield to avoid looking directly at her; it is precisely this moment that is depicted on our coin. From Medusa’s blood sprang the twins Pegasos and Chrysaor. The scene is among the most famous in Greek myth and symbolizes the triumph of divinely guided intelligence and courage over the monstrous.