The 12 Olympians And Others...zeus

Hi everyone....and may I say WELCOME to all the folks who are new on the ancient forum since I last posted!.... Welcome.

And hats off to our moderator, Mr. echizento. Ski I hope you can forgive my poor attribution skills. I just don't seem to find the time to get it all together. Hopefully there is enough info for someone to find the coins correct attribution if need be.

I haven't been around for a while, or collecting too much, but here is what I have been doing.

I have been collecting portraits coins of the twelve Greek gods that resided on Mt.Olympus (actually thirteen if you include Hestia) as well as other ancient gods and heroes, all in bronze coins.

Silver coins would be easier for some gods and goddesses, but I just like bronze coins.

Here are three Zeus portrait coins I have so far.

Please do feel free to post any and all of your Zeus coins. I would love to see them.

I will post the other Olympians and other Greek characters in future threads.



Syria, Antioch, AE 19 under Roman rule, year 12, 38/37 BC.
Head of Zeus
Tripod, with faces on Lebes(bowl), Greek inscription.

I have looked, but interestingly as of yet, I have been unable to find another instance of faces on a Greek lebes anywhere in Greek art, other than another Syrian coin similar to this one with Tyche on obv.






Cilicia, Aigeai Æ21. 47-29 BC.
Laureate head of Zeus
Athena Nikephoros standing l., holding Nike and resting hand on shield; spear to r.

This coin is rather dirty, but has a nice portrait of Zeus . I've soaked it in distilled water for a while , but the dirt is very stubborn. I do like it as is and as I'm not much for cleaning coins I'll just leave it for someone to properly clean it after I'm gone.






Ptolemy XII, Auletes (flute player) 80-51 BC
Zeus Ammon, Headdress of Isis
Egypt, 13mm, 2.1g Svoronos 1845

I love this portrait. The way the engraver used a single crescent line to form the mouth, cheek and beard on the coin is pure genius IMO and would rival any abstract artist of today.

On the rev. I wish I knew what the symbols below the headdress are. I think the headdress of Isis could be a study all on it's own.




Here is a partial set of my 12 Olympians with my favorites so far. I'm still missing three (or four).

I've been working with a pretty small budget, but nice examples of these last four will be hard to get in bronze without spending a bit.

Again please post your Zeus coins and thanks for looking at this post.

doucet