FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Resources => The Members' Gallery => Topic started by: Enodia on December 21, 2012, 08:29:21 pm

Title: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on December 21, 2012, 08:29:21 pm
i was browsing through the old topic 'A Parliament of Owls' earlier today, and there certainly are some wonderful coins in there.
lions were quite common on ancient coins too, so i had the thought that a similar thread might lure some of these beautiful lions out of the anonymity of their galleries and into open view.

i only have a few myself, but i know many of you out there love the big cats and we'd love to see them!

i'll start with my own 'pride' and joy, a signed piece from Velia in Lucania...

350-310 BC
AR Didrachm (21mm, 7.5g)
~Kleudoros Group~
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with griffin.
R: Lion prowling left; Φ above, engraver's monogram >E (Kleudoros) below, YEΛHTΩN in ex.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-42544
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Lloyd Taylor on December 21, 2012, 08:57:58 pm
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-85464
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-88855
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: benito on December 22, 2012, 10:06:37 am
 AR Head of a lion       https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-83266
 AR Half a lion            https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-85126
 AE Hungry lion           https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-83167
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Steve E on December 22, 2012, 10:28:44 am
Some of mine ;)

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-79027

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-73613

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-83778
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on December 22, 2012, 01:53:29 pm
see? i knew they were out there hiding in the tall grass!

some very cool coins so far. Lloyd's Tarsos is absolutely stunning! Taras, you're diobol is definitely not the typical type and i covet it!  ;)
Benito's 'hungry lion' is an impressive coin, and Steve, that highly stylized lion on your jital is fascinating!

alright then, here is my next humble entry. the image isn't very good, but...
 
Syracuse, Sicily (Reign of Agathokles)
317-289 BC
AE20 (7.13g)
O: Young male head (Herakles?) right, wearing tainia; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN before.
R: Lion prowling right; club above.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-81231

~ Peter

Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on December 22, 2012, 02:10:00 pm
This is my Lion but from Rome  ;)

regards
quadrans
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Jaimelai on December 22, 2012, 03:21:39 pm
A few of mine:

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22729/normal_007_%282%29.JPG)
Phistelia, Campania

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22729/normal_023~0.JPG)
Cherronesos, Thrace

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22729/normal_Capture_00087_%282%29.JPG)
Pantikapaion, Tauric Chersonesos
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on December 22, 2012, 04:59:10 pm
Another one of mine - greek   ;)

regards
quadrans
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on December 22, 2012, 05:04:48 pm
Another Lion from Rome  ;)
but not bad


quadrans
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on December 22, 2012, 05:18:35 pm
i really like your Roman lions quadrans, but that Thracian coin with the bee is beautiful!

and Taras, i had no idea you collected outside of MG. that is quite a group you have there. i've always been fascinated by the seemingly endless varieties of this series, and even considered starting a sub-collection once.
ahhh, so many coins, so little cash!   :(

nice coins Jaimelai! your first one reminded me that i too have a lion from Phisltelia. these weird little coins from an historically obscure city are quite charming imo. and both sides qualify i think, as the facing head obverse is very leontine in appearance, and sometimes reminds me of the Cowardly Lion from 'The Wizard of Oz'.   :)

here's my variation...

Phistelia, Campania
325-275 BC
AR Obol (10mm, 0.55g)
O: Head of Nymph facing slightly left.
R: Lion standing left, right forepaw raised; star above, [serpent] in exergue(?).

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-81082
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Callimachus on December 22, 2012, 08:19:29 pm
One Greek lion, and one Roman lion:

A shekel from Tarsus with a lion attacking a bull.
An antoninianus of Philip II from Antioch with a radiate lion on the reverse.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on December 23, 2012, 06:06:02 pm
a remarkable shekel Callimachus, really quite a coin!
i love the way the engraver has elevated the viewer by putting the lion above the bull, thereby inclining the ground plane and adding a three-dimensional depth to the scene.
man those guys were good! congratulations on a beautiful piece.

i feel almost embarrassed to post mine now, but i will anyway.   ;D  

this is a diobol from Taras, and a fairly common type at that. the obverse is a wreck, but i bought it because of the wonderful detail on the reverse (and the fact that i got it for about $20!).

Taras, Calabria
325-280 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.02g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Athenian helmet decorated with Skylla.
R: Herakles kneeling right, strangling the Nemean lion; club behind.
 
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-89528


the coins you will find listed here...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1804&pos=0&iop=30
... are not actually from The Gallery, but there are some really nice lions in there anyway. check it out!

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Pekka K on December 24, 2012, 03:43:32 am

Here is my old lion:

Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on December 25, 2012, 05:45:17 pm
Hmm this is the another Roman Lion

 ;)

regards
quadrans
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Mark Fox on December 25, 2012, 07:55:19 pm
Dear Board,

There has been a lot of very interesting threads lately, this being one of them.   Being Christmas, I thought I would share a little something also.  I hope cartoon lions are allowed!  

Celtic, Unknown tribe of southern Gaul(?).  Circa 2nd century BC.  AR Drachm (16mm, 4.42 g.).  Imitating Massalia.  
Obverse:  Wreathed head of nymph right; her pendant earring having possibly been reinterpreted as hair(!).  
Reverse:  ΜΑΣΣΑ, lion walking left; diamond-shaped symbol below.
References: Cf. Triton IX, lot 666, for likely prototype.
Comments:  Found in Whitfield, in Kent, England, probably in early or mid January of 2011.  A very heavy, early imitation that is superior to the average work of the Insubres and/or Salluvi.  Cut in antiquity for possible recycling.  The bright silvery interior indicates the coin is silver through and through.        


Best regards,

Mark Fox
Michigan

  
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Nemonater on December 25, 2012, 10:46:32 pm
Great thread Enodia, and a beautiful Athena / lion Didrachm.  Here's my Athena / Lion from the D. Alighieri Collection.

Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. Æ 19mm, 5.34 g.  Helmeted head of Athena right / Lion leaping right; branch, monogram, and spear-head below. Earthen deposits.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on December 26, 2012, 06:01:23 am
Very nice Lions

Mark your lion are remarkable  :o

Nemonater lion are also nice  :) +++

I post my next Roman Lion Probus from Sisscia  ;)

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-91076

regards

quadrans
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on December 28, 2012, 05:51:06 pm
Any way this is the MACEDON Lion

Koinon-of-Macedonia_AE-27_
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ-head-of-Alexander-III-as-Herakled-in-lionskin-r._
ΚΟΙΝΟΝ-ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΩΝ-Β-ΝΕΩΚ-Lion walking-r.-club-above_
26-27mm_
9,14g

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-77867

regards
quadrans

Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on January 02, 2013, 06:03:29 pm
Do not forget the lion from Viminacium

regards
quadrans
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on January 12, 2013, 06:44:04 am
Another "nice lion"

from

Lydia, Thyateira, AE-15, Pseudo Autonomous, 193-235 A.D.,

regards
quadrans

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-91461
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on January 12, 2013, 03:52:03 pm
quadrans, do you need a special license from the state to keep so many wild animals? a great collection you have there.

so many wonderful coins in this thread, Nemonater and Mark's additions included.
thanks for sharing everyone!   8)

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: taurisker on January 12, 2013, 05:12:14 pm
Great thread  8) here is one of my cats:

16.1mm 2.61g
SNG Cop. 786

Regards
Herfried
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on January 12, 2013, 06:02:37 pm
great lion taurisker, but i really have to say what a remarkable Artemis that is. terrific coin!

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Bud Stewart on January 12, 2013, 07:07:43 pm
Fun thread, I want to join in.

ROMAN REPUBLIC M. Volteius M.f. 78 BC. AR Denarius
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-68505
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on January 13, 2013, 02:06:42 pm
nice one Bud! i like these 'biga drawn by ...' types, with elephants and hippocamps and snakes, etc, and your lion's are really cool. i think i need a ride like that!  ;) 

here's one more from my collection, a very early little silver piece from Kyzikos (forgive the poor scan)...

Kyzikos, Mysia 
480-450 BC
AR Hemiobol (9mm, 0.34g)
O: Forepart of running boar left; tunny fish upwards behind.
R: Head of roaring lion left, star above, all within incuse square.

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: taurisker on January 13, 2013, 02:50:58 pm
Here in Austria it´s snowing now, dogs and ... cats:

Kassandros 316-297 BC Macedonia
Obverse: Herakles with lionskin right
Reverse: lion to left, below monogram, BAΣIΛEΩΣ KAΣΣANΔPOY
16.2mm 3.14g
SNG Cop. 1154 AMNG 176,5 (var.)
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on January 13, 2013, 04:02:15 pm
Quote from: taurisker on January 13, 2013, 02:50:58 pm
Here in Austria it´s snowing now, dogs and ... cats:

lol!
it's really cold here in Oregon, but no snow yet.

there is a cockiness to this lion, almost as if he's saying to the viewer "What the hell are you looking at?"
lol.

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on January 13, 2013, 05:01:51 pm
Hmm

Do not forget the:

Dea Caelestis riding lion right over flowing water, holding thunderbolt and scepter.
 ;) +++

regards
quadrans
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on January 15, 2013, 01:40:44 pm
Very pretty coins Taras  :)

This is mine Pantikapaion lion

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-91374

regards
quadrans
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: benito on January 15, 2013, 01:59:12 pm
RIP for a lion.
AE 34. Antioquia (Pisidia) 238-244 AD. 21,57 grs. Laureate,draped and cuirassed bust right seen from behind. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS
AVG / Gordian right on horseback, hurling spear at speared lion below, advancing left. CAES ANTIOCH COL. SR to left.
SNG France 1234.
 
 
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: taurisker on January 15, 2013, 02:38:45 pm
One more Panti ...  ;D

20.1mm 6.87g
SNG Cop. 35 SNG BlackSea 883ff
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on January 15, 2013, 02:46:53 pm
nice.
i think this is probably a Forvm first... the first time anyone has posted a pair of Pantis!   8)

Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Warren on January 20, 2013, 06:20:49 pm
Most of your lions are fearsome. Here is one in repose, just watching the world go by:
It is an AE19, from Thrace, Lysimacheia. SNG Danish II, plate 18.911, c. 309-220 BC.
Turreted female head right/lion, seated on haunches right, cornucopiae in upper left field.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: taurisker on January 23, 2013, 02:28:45 pm
No more lions left?
Sure, here is another "huge cat":

Lysimachos, AE uncertain mint 323-281 BC
Obverse: helmeted head of Athena right
Reverse: Lion running right, spear head below ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ
20mm 5.86g
SNG Copenhagen 1149 Müller 61
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on January 29, 2013, 02:03:16 am
Hi all thisis the nice Lion on the Roman Lead Seal   ;)

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-92121



regards
quadrans


Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Auer on February 04, 2013, 08:06:12 pm
My two humble additions to the ancient zoo. Both are staters from Velia.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on February 07, 2013, 04:48:50 pm
Hmm ...
Another small but nice greek lion...

regards

 quadrans
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: benito on February 07, 2013, 05:24:52 pm
I love lions.
1. Miletos lion.
AR trihemiobol. Miletos (Ionia) late 6th-early 5th century BC. 1,18 grs. Forepart of lion left, head right / Stellate floral design within square incuse.
Klein 426.
2.A lion et al.mix.
AR Hemidrachm. Sikyon ( Peloponessos ). c. 330-320 BC. 2,86 grs. 8h. Chimaera advancing left, right paw raised. ΣI below / Dove flying left.
BMC 119.
3. Hercules and his lion. From Lyon.
Antoninianus. 287-289 AD. Lugdunum. 3 off. 5 ems. Radiate, helmeted, and cuirassed bust right . IMP MAXIMIANVS AVG. / Hercules standing right, strangling lion; club thrown behind him at feet. VIRTVTI AVGG. RIC V 456 .Lyon 227.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Reid Goldsborough on February 24, 2013, 04:28:00 pm
This is a fun thread, and some attractive coins. I've focused on seven (good luck <g>) different Greek-era lion types, Lydian Lion, Kroisos Lion and Bull, Miletos Lion, Cherronesos Lion, Baal and Lion, Alexander Lion Skin, and Lysimachos Lion. Pics and background on these types, and forgeries, here:

http://oldestcoins.reidgold.com/lions.html (http://oldestcoins.reidgold.com/lions.html)
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on February 24, 2013, 05:43:03 pm
Nice site  +++

regards
 quadrans
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Salaethus on April 23, 2013, 03:17:54 pm
Bump for this thread!  Here is my hungry lion
Lucania, Velia. AR didrachm. 334-300 BC.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Molinari on April 24, 2013, 09:38:20 am
The reverse of mine is similar to the one Taras posted above:

IONIA, Miletus, Apollo right/ Unclear inscription, Lion, head reverted, star above. BMC 78, Lind. I, 514.

Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Molinari on April 24, 2013, 09:39:50 am
Here is my only other coin with a lion.  Unfortunately, the lion's been partially scratched off!

IONIA, Miletos. Circa 313-290 BC. Æ 15. Laureate head of Apollo right / Lion standing right, head reverted; star above, magistrate APIΣTOΓOPAΣ below. Similar to Deppert-Lippitz 401-404; SNG Copenhagen 977; BMC Ionia pg. 193, 102 var. (magistrate); SNG von Aulock 2088 var.; but larger than the 11mm listed.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: gallienus1 on April 24, 2013, 09:54:41 am
Great thread this, I love all the depictions of lions!

I think the lions shown on ancient Greek and Roman coins represent the European lion. To quote from Herodotus-

These places (northern Greece) abound with lions and wild bulls, the large horns of which are carried into Greece. On the one side of the Nestos, which flows through Abdera, and the other the Achelous passing through Acarnania are the limits beyond which no lions are found. In the intermediate region between these two places lions are produced, but no one has ever seen them in Europe beyond the Nestos in the east or the Achelous in the west.

The European lion was almost certainly used by the Romans in gladiator combat up until the late first century at which point I believe it was driven to extinction, and replaced in the arena by lions from North Africa. It is generally thought that the European Lion probably descended from the same ancestor as the Asiatic Lion. Compared to the fuller maned African lion, the male Asiatic lion has a relatively short, sparse mane and so I believe that the European lion also had a smaller mane.

The lion sculpture from the 4th century BC, in Koropi, Greece clearly shows a smaller mane, as does the lion on my silver didrachm from Lucania, Velia. They are certainly European lions.

So as I’ve mentioned before images of extinct species on coins, sculptures and other ancient artifacts are a kind of fossil. What I like to think of as techno-fossils because the images are created by human technology.

Regards,
Steve
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: gallienus1 on April 24, 2013, 10:23:08 am

Following Herodotus, I have drawn up a map for the possible range of the European lion in his time.

Steve
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Lee S on May 01, 2013, 04:10:57 am
Here is my contribution to the Pride... They are not as beautiful as most of the coins in this thread , however I did clean them myself, and they are MY lions, so that makes them far superior, in my opinion of course!!  ;D

First... 

Lysimachos. 297 - 281 BC. AE14...
Obv. Young male head ( Ares?) right in crested helmet.
Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΛYΣIMAXOY above and beneath forepart of Lion leaping right.

and secondly, a Seleucid lion

Antiochos VII 138-129 BC. AE15..
Obv: Bust of a lion roaring right
Rev: Club "BASILEWS ANTIOXOU EUEPGETOU"
Ref. SG 7100
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: gallienus1 on May 01, 2013, 11:54:09 pm
Nice examples Lee S and Taras. I particularly like the lion head on the AE 15 of Antiochos VII and the doomed lion struggling against Herakles on the Taras diobol.

Favorite lions on ancient coins for me are the ones on the Satrapal staters in the 4th century B.C. I was going to just post the reverse of my Mazaios stater (S. 5650) when I remembered that I do have another interesting lion. Not Greek and on a coin but on a page from a Renaissance copy of the Cosmographica. (The page has a quote from Herodotus so that is my slender excuse for posting it!) In an interesting take on the subject long after lions had disappeared from the arenas of empire in Europe, it shows what an artist of the time thought a lion might look like.


Regards,
Steve
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on June 15, 2013, 11:12:52 pm
presenting my new coin from Velia, in Lucania.

i found this lion quite intriguing.
typically underfed, he is excited over his prize, but at the same time is fully aware of you, the watcher, and the threat you represent to his dinner.
i don't know about you, but this is as close as i get!

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-98023

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Taras on June 18, 2013, 04:53:58 pm
Quote from: Enodia on June 15, 2013, 11:12:52 pm
presenting my new coin from Velia, in Lucania.

i found this lion quite intriguing.
typically underfed, he is excited over his prize, but at the same time is fully aware of you, the watcher, and the threat you represent to his dinner.
i don't know about you, but this is as close as i get!

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-98023

~ Peter

Great coin Peter!! 8)
And very interesting too, for the headaches that these types gave to Williams, who listed them in the Philistion group, but stating that the engraver was another one.
For a correct reference, your coin is classifiable Williams 415 (O.205-R.293).

Bye my friend.
Nico
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on June 24, 2013, 01:35:42 am
thank you once again Taras.
whoever he was, i like the way the artist created a scene rather than just capture a static moment. it put me very much in mind of the way vase painters could capture an extended verse in just a single scene.
but the light relief did confuse me, especially since my other Velia coin from only 30 years earlier is almost sculptural.

thanks for the reference. i managed to find a copy of Williams for $5+ postage and it should be here within the week, so i will check that out.

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Pscipio on July 05, 2013, 11:44:13 am
That's a great reverse!

Lars
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: paparoupa on July 06, 2013, 10:39:25 am
I believe this Hecatomnos tetradrachm is the most realistic depiction of a lion in an ancient coin (not that I needed this excuse to acquire it  ;D)
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on July 06, 2013, 04:11:18 pm
paparoupa, that really is a great coin! the artist has captured the real animal, bulging muscles and all.

and Taras, what a beauty, a miniature masterpiece! congratulations on aquiring this one my friend. i've always had a thing for facing heads, and this type coin is definitely on my want-list.

i did get a Tarentine diobol last month with the same reverse scene. here too is another diobol with a rare Herakles facing left reverse...
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Salaethus on July 11, 2013, 07:06:36 pm
Love this thread, so many great coins already posted.  I have two new lions in my collection:
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on July 12, 2013, 03:44:06 am
both are cool types thomas.
i have one like the Agathokles bronze, but your lion is much nicer.

and i really like the Velia! yours is Williams 161 or similar. and you will be interested to know that Wiliiams classifies this coin as Period III (440-400 BC), the 'Earliest Athena Group'.    :)  
but artistically i like the dynamic action on the reverse, a very blood-thirsty but wonderfully natural scene.
nice!

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Jaimelai on November 11, 2014, 04:35:34 pm
Just acquired a new member for our pride:

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22729/Macedon_50.jpg)
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Xenophon on November 12, 2014, 06:51:01 am
From my Sikyon collection. Most Sikyon obverses show a chimera (a lion with the additional heads of a goat and snake), but a few issues used a simple lion, as with this hemiobol:
SIKYONIA, Sikyon. Circa 431-400 BC. AR Hemiobol (8mm, 0.41 g, 9h). Lion standing left; no exergue line / Dove flying left within wreath. Warren, Silver 11; BCD Peloponnesos 208; SNG Copenhagen 41-2. Good VF, toned, slight granularity. Very rare.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Xenophon on November 12, 2014, 06:55:34 am
Also this Sikyon hemiobol, ca. 431-400, Av: Lion standing left, without ground line, Rv: Dove flying left with wings open, branch below, BCD Peloponnesos -; BMC 35, Condition: good very fine, 10 mm; 0,4 gm
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: J. B. on January 23, 2015, 11:23:32 am
Velia lions are popular here so here is mine.

AR nomos
334 - 300 BC
Williams 328 (O174/R244); HN Italy 1294; SNG ANS 1337
7,19g
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Molinari on June 13, 2015, 10:11:16 am
Very impressive my friend.  I had no idea you had so many!
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on June 13, 2015, 03:08:37 pm
wow Nico, your lion feed bills must be enormous!

you have some very enviable coins there buddy, and i'm particularly drooling over the Herakles obverse.   :) 

congratulations on a truly fine sub-set,
~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Marsha on June 14, 2015, 10:22:54 am
I love all of the lion coins..  But have not yet seen my favorite, so will add mine.   From Libyan revolt in about 240 BC - The rebels produced coinage imitative of the Carthaginian types.  The struggle lasted about 4 years in which the Carthaginians finally prevailed.

OBV:  Head of young Herakles left, clad in lion's skin
REV:  Lion prowling right, Punic letter above, Punic script below
Silver Shekel/Didrachm, 241 - 238 BC, 25.1 MM - 7.51 GM, SNG Cop 241

From my collection:

Marsha
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on June 14, 2015, 04:08:48 pm
that's a very scarey looking beast Marsha!

Nico, i liked your collage so much a put one of my own together. not nearly as impressive i admit, but such as it is...

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Taras on June 14, 2015, 04:50:15 pm
I agree with Peter, that lion looks really frightening! Beautiful coin Marsha!

Peter, your group of Tarentine diobols is worth of great interest, some are scarce variants, and they all look of great quality!! Congratulations buddy! ;)

Best :)
Nico
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Taras on February 27, 2016, 02:19:58 pm
Here is a new addition to my collection of Nemean Lions: a silver diobol from the Vlasto collection, attributed to Taras, but IMHO most likely issued in Heraklea.
I found it in my postbox some time ago, and I could not believe my eyes! It was s a gift given to me by a dear friend from this board, to whom I am enormously grateful for the kind thought.
I love it! Thank you!!!  :)

12mm, 1.18g, 3h
Valsto 1283 (this coin)


EDIT 30/03/16

Dear board, dear friends, dear Peter,
I just finished deleting all my posts on this forum where in the last years I have been sharing coins from my collection.
I did it as first step of my plan to leave this community. I took my decision after my thoughts and personal opinions suffered yet another censorship, this time during a discussion on the board of metal antiquities.
This is the unique coin from my collection I decided to not remove from the forum, because it is not simply a coin for me, it is a symbol of friendship and respect. It was a pleasure to share routes together over the years, and I greet you with pain.
Goodbye, maybe our routes will meet again on the sea of the world wide web, maybe we'll talk again together of Numismatics, but not on this board for me. I just hope this post will not be censored too.
All the best.
Nico
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Carausius on February 27, 2016, 06:22:41 pm
Lovely coin, Nico, and even better being ex Vlasto!  Below is my lion acquisition from this year's  NYINC. A Roman Republican denarius of Poblius, circa 80 B.C. and with a 1989 CNA auction provenance. Photo looks a bit out of focus - I'll need to reshoot it!

EDIT: Apparently, I already had reshot it but picked the wrong photo to attach. Correct, in-focus photo now appears below.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Taras on February 28, 2016, 05:00:47 am
A beautiful coin Carausius!  +++

It is really fascinating to observe how certain symbols have remained unchanged for centuries, thanks to their evocative power that made them perfect to represent each time the power of the rulers. Even the iconography of your coin is found almost identical a thousand years later! ...like this gem of Norman-Swabian age stored at Washington.

Best :)
Nico
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on February 28, 2016, 04:59:52 pm
Carausius' lion's clearly got a mane, but are those teats as well?
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Taras on February 28, 2016, 05:05:54 pm
Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on February 28, 2016, 04:59:52 pm
Carausius' lion's clearly got a mane, but are those teats as well?

I think just protruding thoracic ribs roughly engraved.

bye :)
Nico
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: mauseus on February 28, 2016, 05:32:41 pm
Hi,

Don't know how but only just came across this thread.
A pride of lions from my own collection:

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11521/normal_rjb_post_4_01_05.jpg)
POSTVMVS AVG
Radiate, nude bust left, lion's scalp on shoulder and holding club
PAX AVG
Pax standing left holding transverse sceptre
Mint 1 (Trier), Issue 5
Cunetio - (cf 2450)

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11521/normal_rjb_ring_09_08.jpg)
A bronze Roman ring with traces of gold plating inset with a blue glass intaglio of Hercules strangling the Nemean lion.
A Norfolk find

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11521/rjb_car_69_10_05.jpg)
Carausius 287-93AD
AE antoninianus
Obv "IMP CARAVSIVS PF AVG"
Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev "LEG IIII FL"
Lion walking right, head turned to viewer
-/-//-
Unmarked London mint
RIC 69

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11521/normal_rjb_car_dated_11_06.jpg)
Carausius 287-93
Antoninianus
Obv"IMP CARAVSIVS PF AVG"
Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev "PM TRP III CO[S PP]"
Lion walking left
Camulodunum mint?
-/-//XXI [?]
RIC - (189 bis)
Mint attribution made on the basis of the other (few) known dated coins. It may be that the mark on this coin is a variation of the MCXXI mark, recorded on a SAECVLARES AVG (lion walking right) coin of Carausius in the Vogelaar collection.

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11521/normal_rjb_2009_08_08.jpg)
Carausius 287-93AD
Antoninianus
Obv - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev - Radiate lion leaping left, possible vestiges of RSR in exergue
Ex Vogelaar collection

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11521/normal_rjb_gall7_10_07.jpg)
Gallienus
Antoninianus
Milan
Issue 2
COHH PRAET VI P VI F
G 979

Regards,

Mauseus
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on February 28, 2016, 09:50:25 pm
thanks for reviving this thread Taras.   :)  

that gem is quite beautiful and brilliantly executed, but i have to say the design is somewhat uninspired. Herakles looks more like he is hugging his teddy bear rather than fighting for his life!   :laugh:  and what the hell is that bird thinking?!

mauseus, that ring is very cool!

here is my latest lion, although i've had it for a little while...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-127465

it is neither rare nor beautiful, but i've wanted a tetradrachm from Samos ever since i first started collecting ancients back in the 80's. and while certainly not that, this little obol will have to do.

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Carausius on February 29, 2016, 11:18:24 am
Quote from: Taras on February 28, 2016, 05:00:47 am
Even the iconography of your coin is found almost identical a thousand years later! ...like this gem of Norman-Swabian age stored at Washington


Thanks for sharing that photo, Nico. It is interesting that even the position of the lion's hind legs is identical on my coin and the Washington gem. I wonder if both were patterned after the same sculptural image (either the same statue or later generation copies of the same statue) or if a collected coin of my type inspired the gem engraver.


Quote
 Don't know how but only just came across this thread. A pride of lions from my own collection


Mauseus, that's an impressive display of rare Carausian lions.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Taras on February 29, 2016, 04:17:33 pm
Thanks for sharing your lions mauseus, and, I agree with Peter, that ring is very very cool!!  :o I wish some day I could find another sample to add to my collection.
I also agree with Peter that in the Washington gem Herakles has lost his classical beauty, but please note that it was engraved after 1040 AD, in times when the ancient grace of proportions was long-lost by that time; there is an incredible time-span between the two pieces; for the same reason I think that is much unlikely that the norman-swabian gem and the roman coin were both patterned after the same sculptural image. Probably the collected coin type inspired the gem engraver, also noting that norman-swabians were among the first low-medieval dynasts to recover the symbols of ancient Greece and Rome, re-adapting them to their political purposes.

Peter, that creature Herakles is squashing under his foot is not a bird, that is a dragon, a medieval representation of the Devil, in fact the norman-swabian Herakles could represent at the same time the power of the king, and his role as defender of Christianity.

Bye friends :)
Nico
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Sam on March 14, 2016, 08:39:45 am
CILICIA, Tarsos. Mazaios. Satrap of Cilicia, 361/0-334 BC.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-123787
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Taras on March 14, 2016, 06:59:00 pm
Interesting type Sam!
In my opinion this scheme (lion above attacking a bull below, also seen on issues of other mints) has a connotation of astral dimension, of near-eastern origin.

Bye :)
Nico
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on March 14, 2016, 11:43:42 pm
Quote from: Taras on March 14, 2016, 06:59:00 pm
Interesting type Sam!
In my opinion this scheme (lion above attacking a bull below, also seen on issues of other mints) has a connotation of astral dimension, of near-eastern origin.

Bye :)
Nico

yes, a very interesting image.

when i first discovered these i thought the scheme was a bit weird. i relegated them to the pile of rather confused and busy eastern Hellenistic types.
then i saw my first high quality specimen (and i haven't seen too many nicer than Sam's!) and i realized that the engraver was forcing the perspective in an effort to depict the two animals in an almost 3D picture. i now think he did an excellent job, and i have a new respect for these coins.
beautiful example Sam, and thanks for sharing!

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Sam on March 16, 2016, 09:55:21 am
Quote from: Taras on March 14, 2016, 06:59:00 pm
Interesting type Sam!
In my opinion this scheme (lion above attacking a bull below, also seen on issues of other mints) has a connotation of astral dimension, of near-eastern origin.

Bye :)
Nico


Thank you Nico and Peter , for the nice comments.
This type is one of my favorite.
You are right the Aramaic art {which is an art legacy from Assyrian , Hebrew and Chaldean }  is what makes this  ancient Greek a little different. ( perhaps the Ionia lion  is the best example of the difference )
When a killing is involved the lion face should show mercy and respect , for Power show is a different story , n.igma 's coin is a good example .

n.igma , Jason T ,   Nemonater and other members have really nice MZDI in the member gallery.

Here is a spectacular superb one from n.igma 's gallery

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-116113
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Sam on March 27, 2016, 08:30:27 pm

What a lion , n.igma.

Happy Holidays. To All.

Sam
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Nemonater on March 27, 2016, 10:19:59 pm
Sam, that lion is as great as they come.  Here's mine.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-125826
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Sam on March 28, 2016, 08:21:51 am
Quote from: Nemonater on March 27, 2016, 10:19:59 pm
Sam, that lion is as great as they come.  Here's mine.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-125826


Bingo  +++

A spectacular one !
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on April 17, 2016, 01:34:27 am
Quote from: Nemonater on March 27, 2016, 10:19:59 pm
Sam, that lion is as great as they come.  Here's mine.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-125826

Huhh Nemo ,

 It is a great coin... +++

 Q.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on August 08, 2016, 02:37:16 am
Nice find Sam..

 Q.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Sam on August 08, 2016, 09:40:44 am
Roarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :)

However no Lion here  can beat our big Lion President Joe Sermarini .  +++
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Zaph0dd on August 11, 2016, 03:01:27 pm
A pride all in itself, not great condition unfortunately

Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on August 11, 2016, 03:27:23 pm
Great revers    +++

Q.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on August 13, 2016, 02:03:14 pm
cool coin ZaphOdd!

Quote from: Sam
My new Lion .
EX FORVM Ancient Coins Shop.
Ex dear friend and great numismatist Andreas Reich.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-129707

this is a lovely coin Sam, and remarkably well-centered. thanks for sharing.
however, is a chimaera really a lion?
might it not feel more at home among other Amazing Beasts?...

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=100614.0

~ Peter




Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Sam on August 13, 2016, 04:03:21 pm
Thank you   +++ , I will post there .
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: quadrans on August 17, 2016, 03:24:45 am

Caria, Mylasa, (450-400 B.C.), AR-Hemiobol, SNG von Aulock 7803, -/-//--, Scorpion,
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-128561

Q.
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on December 12, 2017, 08:13:38 pm
*bump*
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: stevex6 on December 13, 2017, 07:46:25 am
Wow, there are some awesome lions in this pride!! (great thread)

Here is one of my favourite lion examples ...


Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: RL on December 14, 2017, 03:33:52 am
Good call Mr P

There's some better example of the type on the first page of this thread but as it's my only (ancient) lion... bump
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: peterpil19 on December 14, 2017, 04:20:27 am
Here is one from my collection, also from Lucania, Velia like Steve's but a different type. For those unfamiliar with these types, note the same reverse legend.

Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Joe Sermarini on December 14, 2017, 07:07:53 pm
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1804&pos=0&open=1799#Animals
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on June 03, 2018, 09:52:09 pm
here are 3 lions I've acquired in the last year, all from Pherai in Thessaly.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-145306

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-142947

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-143328

actually they're not really lions, but lion head fountains. still...   ;)  

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: stevex6 on June 04, 2018, 08:10:26 am
Wow Enodia, those are fantastic lion-additons (congrats on all three examples)

 +++ +++ +++

I happen to have an example of the type (wanna see it?)

Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Joe Sermarini on June 04, 2018, 08:41:48 am
|Forum's| shop| - Lions| on |Ancient |Coins (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1804&pos=0&galview=1)

These are the lions we have available today on our lion's theme page. Click to see larger photos.

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/images/lions.jpg) (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?vpar=1804&pos=0&galview=1)
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Enodia on June 26, 2021, 10:42:12 pm
Another bump.
This diobol from Taras I bought many years ago and was the first Herakles/Nemean lion I ever bought. The obverse would have been beautiful if it wasn't so corroded, but I  really got it for the detailed and well centered reverse, which is I think still one of the best in my collection.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=89528

And while all of the coins with which I have been bumping up these theme threads are Greek, that's only because that's what I collect. I know you Roman collectors have some big cats caged up in your collections too, so feel free to parade them!

~ Peter
Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: *Alex on June 27, 2021, 07:30:52 am
Kassander

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=169230

Alex

Title: Re: A Pride of Lions
Post by: Ron C2 on June 27, 2021, 07:54:51 pm
My best lion coin.  Not a particularly uncommon issue, but I like to think this is a nice example, definitely the nicest example of the type that I own.

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/albums/userpics/51928/normal_Septimius2_edited-1.jpg)