Hemidrachm: Gorgoneion (obverse); Bull (Cleveland Museum of Art 1917.991)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 400 BCE
Like the coins of several other ancient cities, those of Parion feature the gorgoneion, or frontal face of Medusa, surrounded by serpents. On the reverse, a bull looks back across its body, with the letters Ρ Ι between its legs.
More centrally struck examples preserve two more letters above—Π Α, to give ΠΑΡΙ (PARI), identifying the mint of Parion. The name recalls that of the Cycladic island Paros, one of Parion’s colonizers (with Miletos and Erythrae). Cleveland Museum of Art object 1917.991: Hemidrachm: Gorgoneion (obverse); Bull (reverse), c. 400 BCE. Greek, minted at Parion (Mysia). Silver; diameter: 1.3 cm (1/2 in.). Inscribed: [ΠΑ]ΡΙ (PARI, indicates that this coin is from Parion).
Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 3
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Ancient Parion (Latin Parium) lay in the region of Mysia, now northwest Turkey, on the Hellespont.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- silver
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 1.3 cm (1/2 in.)
- Measurements
- Diameter: 1.3 cm (1/2 in.)
- Material and technique
- silver
Design
- Inscription
- [ΠΑ]ΡΙ (PARI, indicates that this coin is from Parion)
Identification
- Date recorded
- c. 400 BCE
- Culture period
- Greek, minted at Parion (Mysia)
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1917.991
- Published references
- "Accessions." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 4, no. 4 (1917): 64-67. Mentioned: p. 64
- Museum classification
- Coins
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm the wider coin type and standard catalogue references (e.g. SNG, RPC, RIC) against numismatic literature.