310, Lot: 296. Estimate $100. Sold for $190. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CILICIA, Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Septimius Severus, with Julia Domna. AD 193-211. Æ (30mm, 12.53 g, 7h). Confronted busts of Septimius Severus right, laureate and draped, and Julia Domna left, draped; c/m: ΔO monogram within triangular incuse / Athena in facing quadriga, holding shield, about to hurl spear at anguipede giant to lower right, himself about to hurl a stone; to lower left, a second fallen giant, neck pierced by spear. SNG France –; SNG Levante Supp. 190 (same dies); for c/m: Howgego 670. Fine, dark brown patina.

From the Kelly J. Krizan, M.D. 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 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.