Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet, decorated with Pegasus and the foreparts of four horses.

Reverse: Perseus standing facing, wearing pointed helmet and himation, holding harpa in right hand and head of Medusa in left, whose decapitated body lies at his feet, monogram to left and right.

Sear: 3637. B.M.C. 13. 16, 32-3. [Pontos, Amisos 85-65 BC].

Diameter: 29 mm. Weight: 19.6 g.

This reverse of this large bronze coin depicts the famous episode from Greek mythology when the hero Perseus slays Medusa, the snake-haired Gorgon, who turned all who looked on her to stone. Aided by the deities Athena and Hermes, Perseus used his highly-polished shield to avoid Medusa’s gaze, and swiftly beheaded her. Suddenly, from the bloody stump of her neck sprang two offspring: Pegasus, the winged horse, and Chrysaor, the winged boar. Later, Perseus used Medusa’s head as a weapon on many occasions, until he gave the head to Athena to place it on her shield.