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Author Topic: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts  (Read 16915 times)

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Offline Enodia

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A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« on: February 23, 2015, 01:19:59 am »
this is another chance to throw some light into all of those beautiful but somewhat dusty galleries. it might even turn into a fun beastiary.  
so let's see all the fantastic creatures lurking in your files. bring out the Chimaeras and Skyllas and all the other mythical beasties. we might even see an MFB or two!   ;)
but remember,
DON'T FEED THE THREE-HEADED DOG!

i'll open the gates with a double shot on this 4th century BC stater from Corinth featuring a nice Pegasus on the obverse and a chimaera on the reverse. i got this one about 25 years ago and it still grabs me, but it's darkly toned and i never have captured a decent picture of it...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-82085

~ Peter




Offline Jaimelai

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2015, 02:30:38 am »
When pigs could fly and boars ruled the sky, at least in Klazomenai



Offline Enodia

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2015, 02:38:56 am »
nice detail and well centered. how big is it?

Offline Molinari

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2015, 08:51:14 am »
How about a man-faced bull/Chimera combo? 

These were mostly overstruck on Macedonian bronzes of Phillip II.

AKARNANIA. Leukas. Ae (Circa 350-300 BC), 5.99 g, 21 mm.. Obv: Chimera walking left, monogram below. Rev: Head of river god Acheloos left, monogram behind. BCD Akarnania 236.

Offline Molinari

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2015, 08:53:18 am »
Here's a nice Pegasus:

Stratoniceia, Caria. After 81 B.C., 15mm. Obv: Head of Hekate laureate r. Rev: ΣΤΡΑΤΟΝΙΚΕΩΝ,Pegasus flying l. Aulock 2658.

Offline Jaimelai

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2015, 03:34:31 pm »
nice detail and well centered. how big is it?

It is a diobol:

Klazomenai, Ionia
480-400 B.C.
Silver Diobol
1.02 gm, 11 mm

But that didn't stop it from terrorizing the neighborhood:

THE HUS KLAZOMENAIOS was a gigantic winged sow which terrorized the Greek town of Klazomenai in Ionia, Asia Minor


Offline carthago

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2015, 09:27:12 pm »
Scylla dares you to run the Strait!


Offline Sam

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2015, 09:35:23 pm »
Quote from: carthago on February 23, 2015, 09:27:12 pm
Scylla dares you to run the Strait!




SPECTACULAR !

Sam
Sam Mansourati

Offline ancientone

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2015, 10:03:21 pm »
How about some fish tailed goats?

Offline benito

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2015, 05:45:33 am »
Chimaera. Griffin. Capricorn.

Offline laney

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2015, 10:06:10 am »
A Symphony of Sphinxes

My favorite beasts.
Laney

Offline Jochen

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2015, 11:13:48 am »
Another Skylla:

Bithynia, Nikomedeia, Plautilla, AD 202-211
AE 21, 3.17g
obv. [NIB] FOV PLAV - TILLA CEB
        Bust, draped, r.
rev. NEIKOMHDEW - N / DIC NEWKO / RWN
       Skylla advancing l. over waves, holding rudder over her shoulder and dolphin
       in outstretched r. hand
Rec. Gen. 253
extremely rare, good F, green patina

Best regards


Offline benito

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2015, 05:39:16 pm »
I do not think your reverse is Scylla. IMO its  a ictiocentaurus ,human head and torso ,front legs of a horse and tail of a fish.
Interesting coin. The first ictiocentaurus I have seen in a coin

Offline Akropolis

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2015, 06:03:07 pm »
Here is a Scylla/Skylla.
PeteB

Offline JBF

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #14 on: February 24, 2015, 06:07:15 pm »
There once was an ictiocentaur.
Who saddled up to the bar.
He ordered some booze,
and stayed until two
and then he threw up in the car.

Okay it's not that good. :P

I like the Roman skylla of Carthago.  Also, Jaimelai's Pigasus+poetry!

Offline carthago

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #15 on: February 24, 2015, 08:36:29 pm »
I do not think your reverse is Scylla. IMO its  a ictiocentaurus ,human head and torso ,front legs of a horse and tail of a fish.
Interesting coin. The first ictiocentaurus I have seen in a coin

Interesting. I think you are right about Jochen's coin, Benito. 

 

Offline Enodia

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #16 on: February 25, 2015, 03:26:06 pm »

Offline Molinari

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #17 on: February 25, 2015, 03:36:08 pm »
I was about to leave a comment on your beautiful coin, Peter, when I noticed I already had!


Offline Jochen

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #18 on: February 25, 2015, 03:55:07 pm »
Hi Benito!

Thank you for your advice with the ichthyocentaurus. I must confess, that I have never heard of this beast before.

Jochen

Offline Enodia

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #19 on: February 25, 2015, 04:05:23 pm »
I was about to leave a comment on your beautiful coin, Peter, when I noticed I already had!


thank you Nick, high praise indeed coming from you! 

Quote from: Jochen
Thank you for your advice with the ictiocentaurus. I must confess, that I have never heard of this beast before.

don't feel bad Jochen, this is a new one to me too. we still learn something new everyday, huh?   ;)

~ Peter


Offline Molinari

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #20 on: February 27, 2015, 09:06:29 am »
I still think a boar, like the attached coin.  I'm not so sure about the second coin you list, though.  Send me the details (dealer, etc.), please!

https://manfacedbullsar.wordpress.com/lycia/

Taras

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #21 on: February 27, 2015, 09:57:50 am »
I still think a boar, like the attached coin.  I'm not so sure about the second coin you list, though.  Send me the details (dealer, etc.), please!

https://manfacedbullsar.wordpress.com/lycia/

Thank you Nick, I forgot your previous attribution! I see it could be a boar, you must be right, homeland is probably Lycia.
I am still a bit confused by weight, too low if compared to other specimens listed on the site.
I'm going to write you a mail with details for the second pic I posted.

Best :)
Nico

Offline Enodia

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #22 on: February 27, 2015, 01:09:38 pm »
Quote from: Nico
Thank you Nick, I forgot your previous attribution! I see it could be a boar, you must be right...

aahhh, happy endings always make me feel a bit verklempt.  

~ Peter  

Offline quadrans

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Offline Jochen

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Re: A Managerie of Amazing Beasts
« Reply #24 on: February 28, 2015, 03:05:15 pm »
Is it possible, that this is Neptun/Poseidon holding a Trinacrius?

Jochen

 

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