ccg Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 What is the colossus? It is not an action hero, or chain of cinemas, nor is it a burger, a pizza, or an ale. Neither is it an amusement ride. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Located at Rhodes, it was a giant statue of Helios, the sun god, overlooking the harbour. Completed in 280 BC, it stood about 30m tall and commemorated their victory of 305 BC over an attacking army from Cyprus. It was felled by an earthquake in 226 BC. This silver hemidrachm dates from about a century later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Beautiful coin and great piece of historical info. When did you get this little beauty? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constanius Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Very nice, the Sun is always welcome & I like the rosebud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldeCollector Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Fantastic representation. What are the measurements of this coin? Is it colossus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccg Posted October 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Thanks everyone! Far from being colossal in size, this little guy measures 13mm. Got it at a local show and brought it out today since it's raining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldeCollector Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Far from being colossal in size, this little guy measures 13mm. Got it at a local show and brought it out today since it's raining. I'm glad that that's the only reason you saved it for a rainy day as it's a coin that would be a pleasure to keep. Nice piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constanius Posted October 21, 2011 Report Share Posted October 21, 2011 Comparing Alexander with Helios I wonder if they intended Helios to ressemble Alexander, try to image Helios without the damaged nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted October 22, 2011 Report Share Posted October 22, 2011 Comparing Alexander with Helios I wonder if they intended Helios to ressemble Alexander, try to image Helios without the damaged nose. The portrayal of Alex the Big Yin has a remarkable similarity to that nice wee hemi drachm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccg Posted October 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 The portrayal of Alex the Big Yin has a remarkable similarity to that nice wee hemi drachm. But was not the coinage of Alexander himself sometimes made to style him as Zeus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constanius Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 But was not the coinage of Alexander himself sometimes made to style him as Zeus? Alex's coinage had him as Herakles, his father Philip II was Zeus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 But was not the coinage of Alexander himself sometimes made to style him as Zeus? Much of the coinage of Alexander's father had more or less the same portraiture as appears on Alex's coinage, so it can be very reasonably argued that Alex's coinage merely continued the precedent already set by his father, whichever god or godling it was supposed to be. Helios on the other hand shouldn't look like any other god (or mortal). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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