CONSERVATOR AFRICAE SVAE

[Numerianus]

Maximianus AE follis, Carthage mint,306-308 AD.

Obverse: IMP MAXIMIANVS SEN AVG,  laureate head right.
Reverse: CONSERVATO-R AFRICAE SVAE, Africa standing facing, head left, wearing elephant-skin
headdress and holding standard and tusk; at her feet, to left, lion with captured bull, SE-F; in exergue, A.
RIC 56; Cohen 65.

I think that knowledgeable people could comment this coin of a clear historical interest. Please!

[virtvsprobi]

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=CONSERVATOR%20AFRICAE%20SVAE

G/<

[Numerianus]

I wonder  why this article interprete the animal as crocodile.
I have another  coin, of Galerius, where the animal is a lion without any doubts.

[virtvsprobi]

As we know from another thread, interpretation is all in the eye of the beholder.

I say "tomato", you say "red potato"...

The article describes two types, one with a crocodile and one with lion/bull. Besides, the author raises the question himself if it is really a croc or not.


G/<

[curtislclay]

     Banduri, in 1718, had described the animal as a crocodile.  The point of Eckhel's comment, translated by Stevenson, is to REFUTE Banduri's description, and suggest that the animal cannot be a crocodile.

[slokind]

Agree, and I suggest that it may be a tiger, as with the Africa holding an elephant tusk on the approximately (or exactly, depending on whom you agree with) contemporary mosaic from the Hunting Villa at Piazza Armerina.  How WOULD you try to suggest stripes on a die?  Never mind that Africa is not the prime place for tigers.  I've posted the picture twice: I'll see if I can find the link.  Pat L.

[virtvsprobi]

Pat, don't you think these stripes could be representing the lion's mane?

Cheers,

G/<

[slokind]

Visually, clue for clue, it could be almost any big cat, but I was thinking again of that somewhat anomalous choice of a tiger (looking Bengal!) on the Piazza Armerina mosaic, because (a) the Africa holds a tusk, (b) the coin explicitly alludes to North Africa, (c) the mosaic is nearly contemporary, and (d) the hunt mosaics in Sicily are thought to be from the same workshops, probably North African, as the Tunisian and Algerian mosaics.  I have spent hours hunting for my post of the Piazza Armerina Africa, not to burden the server with a new posting, but here is it for reference in this context.  I could always add a link and delete the picture here if desired.  Pat L.

[Windchild]

The original coin have been minted by Maximian comming in Africa to fight the rebellious quiquegentiani (a moorish rebel tribe).
It is generaly accepted that the lion represent Maximian, holding a captured bull (the rebel) in it's claw.

[antoninus1]

If you look at the elefant, it might be that the creator of the mosaic had never seen these animals with his own eyes. Maybe he saw a tiger at the circus and mistook it with a lion?

[*Alex]

I agree with virtusprobi, the lion's head appears to be looking up, viewed from behind and the stripes are it's mane.

Alex.