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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Animals| ▸ |Snake||View Options:  |  |  |   

Snakes on Ancient Coins

The Greeks and Romans did not view snakes as evil creatures but rather as symbols and tools for healing and fertility. Asclepius, the son of Apollo and Koronis, learned the secrets of keeping death at bay after observing one serpent bringing another healing herbs. Woman seeking fertility, the sick, and the injured slept in his temples in chambers where non-poisonous snakes were left to crawl on the floor and provide healing.

Some ancient dignitaries were rumored to have been fathered by a god in serpent form. A serpent, said to have been Zeus, was found beside the sleeping Olympias, mother of Alexander the Great. Her husband, Philip of Macedon, is reputed never to have coupled with the 'Bride of the Serpent' again. Augustus was said to have been fathered by a snake, and his mother never afterwards lost the marks of its embrace.

Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D., Nicaea, Bithynia

|Bithynia|, |Antoninus| |Pius,| |August| |138| |-| |7| |March| |161| |A.D.,| |Nicaea,| |Bithynia||AE| |17|
Nicaea remained an important town throughout the imperial period. Although only 70 km (43 miles) from Constantinople, Nicaea did not lose its importance when Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern Empire. The city suffered from earthquakes in 358, 362 and 368; after the last of which, it was restored by Valens. During the Middle Ages, it was a long time bulwark of the Byzantine emperors against the Turks.
RP113281. Bronze AE 17, apparently unpublished variant; RIC IV.1 T5889 var. (obv. leg.); SNG Cop 474 (same); Rec Gén 95.2, pl. LXIX.2 (rev. only) (same), VF, rev. off centered, porosity, light marks, clay-rich sediments, weight 3.752 g, maximum diameter 19.5 mm, Nicaea (Iznik, Turkey) mint, 138 - 161 A.D.; obverse AVT KAIC ANTΩNINO-C, Bare head right; reverse NEIKA-IEΩN, Hygieia standing right, feeding serpent in her arms from patera in right hand; extremely rare; $110.00 (€103.40)
 


Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Side, Pamphylia

|Side|, |Nero,| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Side,| |Pamphylia||AE| |19|
Side was founded by Greeks from Cyme, Aeolis, most likely in the 7th century B.C. The settlers started using the local language and over time forgot their native Greek. Excavations have revealed inscriptions written in this language, still undeciphered, dating from as late as the 2nd century B.C. The name Side is from this indigenous Anatolian language and means pomegranate.
RP113732. Bronze AE 19, RPC Online I 3404 (4 spec.), BMC Lycia p. 53, 75; SNGvA 4810; cf. SNG Cop 414 (younger portrait), aVF, dark patina, highlighting earthen deposits, scratch behind eye, weight 4.576 g, maximum diameter 19.1 mm, die axis 45o, Side (near Selimiye, Antalya Province, Turkey) mint, c. 65 A.D.; obverse NEPΩN KAICAP, draped, bare-headed bust right; reverse CIΔ-HT, Athena advancing left, spear and pomegranate in right, shield in left, snake before at feet; scarce; $110.00 (€103.40)
 


Valerian I, October 253 - c. June 260 A.D., Cotiaeum, Phrygia

|Other| |Phrygia|, |Valerian| |I,| |October| |253| |-| |c.| |June| |260| |A.D.,| |Cotiaeum,| |Phrygia||tetrassarion|
Asklepios is the Greek god of medicine. Hygieia is the goddess of health and Asklepios' daughter. Telesphoros is Asklepios' assistant. Asklepios learned the secrets of keeping death at bay after observing one snake bringing another snake healing herbs. Woman seeking fertility, the sick, and the injured slept in his temples in chambers where non-poisonous snakes were left to crawl on the floor and provide healing.
RP110209. Bronze tetrassarion, SNG Hunt 2048; SNG Mu 333 var. (rev. leg.); SNG Cop 337 var. (same) BMC Phrygia p. 177, 94 var. (bust); SNGvA 3791 var. (Telesphoros in center), VF, dark near black patina, light deposits, near centered, die wear, small rev. die crack/breaks, weight 7.089 g, maximum diameter 25.1 mm, die axis 195o, Cotiaeum (Kutahya, Turkey) mint, Oct 253 - c. Jun 260 A.D.; obverse AVT K Π ΛIK OVAΛEPIANON, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse EΠ Π AIΛ ΔHMHETPIANOY IΠ (P. Ailios Demetrios hipparchos, HM ligate), Hygieia, on left, standing right, feeding serpent in right hand from patera in left hand; Asklepios, on right, standing facing, head left, leaning with right hand on serpent-entwined staff; AP/X (archon) in two lines above center, KOTIAEΩN (ΩN ligate) in exergue; $100.00 (€94.00)
 


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Nicopolis ad Istrum, Moesia Inferior

|Nikopolis|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Nicopolis| |ad| |Istrum,| |Moesia| |Inferior||assarion|
Nicopolis ad Istrum was founded by Trajan around 101 - 106, at the junction of the Iatrus (Yantra) and the Rositsa rivers, in memory of his victory over the Dacians. Its ruins are located at the village of Nikyup, 20 km north of Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria. The town reached its peak during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian, the Antonines and the Severan dynasty.
RP113338. Bronze assarion, H-H-J Nikopolis 8.18.47.19 (R3), AMNG I/I 1506, Varbanov I 3002 (R4) var. (obv. leg.), VF, dark patina, broad flan with full legends, edge ragged, weight 3.188 g, maximum diameter 18.1 mm, die axis 45o, Nicopolis ad Istrum (Nikyup, Bulgaria) mint, as caesar, 196 - 198 A.D.; obverse M AV KAI ANTONINOC, bare head right; reverse NIKOΠOΛ ΠPOC IC, tall narrow vase (or torch?) entwined by snake, fluted and ringed, stalks of grain hanging down on each side; ex Barry Murphy (Sep 2007); zero sales of this type recorded on Coin Archives in the last two decades; $90.00 (€84.60)
 


Valerian I, October 253 - c. June 260 A.D., Isinda, Pisidia

|Pisidia|, |Valerian| |I,| |October| |253| |-| |c.| |June| |260| |A.D.,| |Isinda,| |Pisidia||assarion|
Isinda stood in a strategic position at the western end of the pass leading from Pamphylia by Termessus to Pisidia. The coinage of Isinda indicates the city considered itself an Ionian colony.
RP97734. Bronze assarion, SNG BnF 1622; SNG Pfalz 234; BMC Lycia p. 227, 21; SNG Hunterian -; SNGvA -; SNG Cop -, aVF, dark brown patina, weight 8.444 g, maximum diameter 24.3 mm, die axis 180o, Isinda (Kisla, Turkey) mint, Oct 253 - c. Jun 260 A.D.; obverse AK ΠΛ OVAΛEPIANON CEB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse ICIN-Δ-EΩN, mother goddess seated right on a high backed throne, holding swaddled infant on her lap, coiled serpent rising up before her; ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 100 (29 May 2017), lot 1320; $80.00 (€75.20)
 


Septimius Severus, 9 April 193 - 4 February 211 A.D., Akrasos, Lydia

|Other| |Lydia|, |Septimius| |Severus,| |9| |April| |193| |-| |4| |February| |211| |A.D.,| |Akrasos,| |Lydia||AE| |19|
Akrasos was probably located on the upper course of the Caicus River. The site remains unknown. Even which river was once called the Caicus is uncertain. It is believed to be the modern Bakircay River in Turkey. Nothing is known of the city beyond its coinage.
RP110214. Bronze AE 19, GRPC Lydia 60 (same dies), SNG Mün 22, Winterthur 3678, SNG Tire 320, Lindgren I 709 corr. (obv. leg.), BMC Lydia -, SNG Cop -, SNGvA -, Choice VF, well centered, dark patina with attractive highlighting earthen deposits, weight 3.240 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 180o, Acrasus mint, 9 Apr 193 - 4 Feb 211 A.D.; obverse AV K Λ CEP CEOVHPO-C, laureate head right; reverse AKPACIΩTΩN, Asklepios standing facing, head left, wearing himation, right hand on serpent-entwined staff; $80.00 (€75.20)
 


Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D., Kyzikos, Mysia

|Cyzicus|, |Severus| |Alexander,| |13| |March| |222| |-| |March| |235| |A.D.,| |Kyzikos,| |Mysia||AE| |28|
Colossal foundations of the Temple of Hadrian, sometimes ranked among the Seven Wonders of the World, are still visible at Cyzicus. The columns were 21.35 meters high (about 70 feet), the highest known in the Roman Empire. Those at Baalbek in Syria, the next highest, are only 19.35 meters (about 63 feet). Columns from both structures were recycled under Justinian I for the Hagia Sophia.
RP112741. Bronze AE 28, RPC Online VI T3777 (6 spec.), SNG BnF 818, SNG Tüb 2285 , F, well centered, dark patina, scratches, small edge chips, center dimple on rev., weight 13.074 g, maximum diameter 28.0 mm, die axis 105o, Cyzicus (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, 13 Mar 222 - Mar 235 A.D.; obverse AY KAI MAY CEBH AΛEXANΔPOC AYΓ, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse KYZIKH-N-ΩN NEΩ/KOPΩ (last four letters in exergue), two burning torches, serpent coiled around each, flaming altar between; first example of this type handled by Forum; rare; $80.00 (€75.20)
 


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Anchialos, Thrace

|Anchialus|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Anchialos,| |Thrace||AE| |27|
Anchialus (Pomorie, Bulgaria today) was 15 km north of Apollonia on the opposite coast of the Gulf of Burgas. Ovid wrote of the fortified walls of Anchialus in 9 A.D. enroute to Tomis. Anchialos thrived in the 2nd and 3rd centuries serving as the most important import and export station of Thrace and acquired the appearance of a Roman city under the Severan Dynasty.
RP113306. Bronze AE 27, RPC Online VII.2 1166.3; McClean 4429; Tachev Anchialos 302; AMNG II 666.9; SNG Evelpidis 903; Varbanov II 711, F, near full legends, dark brown tone, porosity, central depressions, edge spits, weight 14.383 g, maximum diameter 26.9 mm, die axis 0o, Anchialos (Pomorie, Bulgaria) mint, May 241 - 25 Feb 244 A.D.; obverse AYT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVΓ CEB, TPANKYΛ/ΛEINA (her name in two lines below), confronted busts of Gordian on left, laureate, draped, and cuirassed, and Tranquillina on right, draped and wearing stephane; reverse OYΛΠIANΩN AΓXIAΛEΩN, Hygieia standing slightly right, head right, feeding snake in right hand from patera in left hand; $80.00 (€75.20)
 


Valerian I, October 253 - c. June 260 A.D., Isinda, Pisidia

|Pisidia|, |Valerian| |I,| |October| |253| |-| |c.| |June| |260| |A.D.,| |Isinda,| |Pisidia||assarion|
Isinda stood in a strategic position at the western end of the pass leading from Pamphylia by Termessus to Pisidia. The coinage of Isinda indicates the city considered itself an Ionian colony.
RP110212. Bronze assarion, SNG BnF 1622; VA Pisidiens 940; SNG Pfalz 234; BMC Lycia p. 227, 21; SNG Hunterian -; SNGvA -; SNG Cop -, Choice aVF, well centered, green patina, light earthen deposits, reverse struck a little flat, weight 10.475 g, maximum diameter 25.8 mm, die axis 180o, Isinda (Kisla, Turkey) mint, Oct 253 - c. Jun 260 A.D.; obverse AK ΠΛ OVAΛEPIANON - CEB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse ICIN-Δ-EΩN, mother goddess seated right on a high backed throne, holding swaddled infant on her lap, coiled serpent rising up before her; $70.00 (€65.80)
 


Etenna, Pisidia, 1st Century B.C.

|Pisidia|, |Etenna,| |Pisidia,| |1st| |Century| |B.C.||AE| |14|
This coin depicts the city's foundation myth. A young girl, going to fetch water, was attacked by a snake. She was rescued by two young men but they could not kill the snake because it was a god. The people of Etenna descended from the union of the snake and the girl.
GB112700. Bronze AE 14, vA Pisidiens II 425 ff., SNG Cop 149, SNGvA 5017, SNG BnF 1532, F, green patina, rev. off center, scratches, weight 1.804 g, maximum diameter 13.7 mm, die axis 0o, Etenna (Sirt, Antalya Province, Turkey) mint, 1st century B.C.; obverse two young men running left, naked except for chlamys on backs, armed with sickles; reverse girl standing right in long robe, head left, shielding herself from coiled snake on right with head erect for attack, kantharos on side right behind in lower left field, ET-EN across field at center; $70.00 (€65.80)
 




  



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