Lot 3420

Description

Macedon, Uranopolis, (c.300 B.C.),AE 15, (3.402 grams), obv. a star of eight rays with central dot, rev. Aphrodite Urania seated half-left on globe, holding sceptre, to right and left OYPANI**DWN POLEWS*, (S.1475, SNG Cop. 455. SNG ANS 914. SNG Evelpidis 1363, BMC 2). Very fine, brown patina, rare.

The name of this city and types depicted on this coin refer to Uranos, the divine personification of the sky. From Hesiod (Theogony 126ff.) we know he was produced by Gaia, became her consort, but, hating her children he caused them to remain confined within her. Gaia in revenge instigated his castration of their son Cronos and cast his severed genitals into the sea which engendered Aphrodite. Uranos is very rarely named on coinage.