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Tarsos AE34 SNGFr 1758 of Trajan Decius

Trajan Decius AE34 of Tarsos, Cilicia. AV KAI G MEC KVIN DEKIOC TPAIANOC P-P, radiate draped & cuirassed bust right / TAPCOV MHTROPOLEWC AMK GB, Perseus standing left holding head of Medusa, facing fisherman Dictys standing right with fishing pole from which hang a fish and a basket.

Lot No.3115. gFine, rare, same dies but better condition than in SNG France. 20g.

$ 750.

Sorry, this lot has been sold.

In Roman times, Perseus was considered to be the founder of the city of Tarsos.

Perseus was the son of Zeus, and was cast adrift with his mother Danae by his grandfather King Acrisius of Argos, who was foretold that he would be killed by his grandson. The fisherman Dictys rescued them from the sea and took care of them for many years as Perseus grew to adulthood.

Perseus went on to kill the gorgon Medusa, and rescue Andromeda from the sea monster, and finally returned to the island where where he'd grown up. There he found his mother and old Dictys hiding from the evil king Polydectes who had designs upon Danae. Perseus used Medusa's head to turn Polydectes and his henchmen to stone, and set up the fisherman as the new king of the island.

Click here for very nice website with more Tales of Perseus.

Trajan Decius was a general under Philip the Arab who was acclaimed emperor in 249 AD. It wasn't long after his defeat of Philip that he was in turn defeated by the forces of Trebonianus Gallus in 251 AD.