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CILICIA, Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Gordian III. AD 238-244. Æ (30mm, 13.79 g, 6h). MAP ANTΩN ΓOPΔIANOC, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Athena advancing right, brandishing spear and shield, attacking anguipede giant throwing stones. RPC VII.2 2917 corr. (obv. legend). Earthen brown surfaces, porosity, reverse flan flaws. Near VF. Very rare with this shortened reverse legend, only three recorded in RPC.
From the Kelly Ramage 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.
Closing Date and Time: 16 July 2025 at 12:21:40 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
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