The Cyclades, Seriphos “Seriphian Frog” AR Stater 530-500 BC Ancient Greek Silver Coin Museum Reproduction CSGDS0040

Seriphos, between Kythnos and Sifnos, was the home of Perseus and his mother Danae. All the numismatic types of the island are inspired by the legend of this hero. The ancient city has not been located and nothing is known of the history of the island. In the Persian Wars it took the side of the other Greeks and fought in the battle of Salamis. It was also a member of the Delian Confederacy.
The choice of the frog, depicted realistically on the Archaic staters of Seriphos (ca 530 BC) was based on the pun “Seriphian frog”, an expression applied in ancient times to those who refused to speak. Ancient Seriphos was renowned for its frogs, which were associated with the local – and according to Pausanias, “great” – cult of Perseus. The other issues of Seriphos are in bronze and depict the head of the hero wearing a winged helmet on the obverse and a harpy or head of Medusa on the reverse.

Very little is known from the written sources concerning Seriphos in the archaic period. It was traditionally thought to have been colonised by Aiolians from Thessaly, and later resettled by Ionians from Athens. Seriphos is known to have sent a pentekonter to join the Greek allied fleet at Salamis in 480 BC and contributed two talents to the Delian League in 451/0. In myth, Perseus and his mother Danaë had taken refuge from Argos at Seriphos, and at the request of the king of Seriphos, Polydektes, Perseus killed the Gorgon. Aelian records that on his return to the island with the head of Medusa, Perseus was so exhausted and in need of sleep that Zeus silenced the frogs that kept him awake.
DESIGN:
Obverse side
Frog seen from above
Legend:
ΣΕ-ΡΙ

Reverse side
Incuse square, divided in five segments
Legend:
Anepigraphic

A perfect choice for Numismatists, Historians, Military Veterans, Collectors.