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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Animals| ▸ |Bull or Cow||View Options:   | | | |
Mazaios was the Persian satrap of Cilicia beginning about 361 BC and in about 345 B.C. he was also made satrap of Transeuphratesia (which included Syria and Judaea). In 331 BC, Mazaios was defeated by Alexander the Great at the Battle of Gaugamela, after which he fled to Babylon. Later that year Mazaios surrendered Babylon, the capital of the Persian Empire, to Alexander. For surrendering without a fight, Alexander appointed Mazaios governor of Babylon. He died in 328 B.C.SH114936. Silver stater, SNG Levante 103; SNG BnF 332; Newell 1920, series V, dd; Traité II p. 453, 700, pl. cxii, 19; Casabonne 2D, EF, sharp details, weight 10.740 g, maximum diameter 23.6 mm, die axis 90o, Tarsos (Tarsus, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 361/360 - 334 B.C.; obverse BLTRZ (Baaltarz) in Aramaic (read upward) behind, Baal of Tarsos enthroned left, head and torso turned facing, wreath on head, nude to waist, himation around hips and legs, bunch of grapes, grain ear, and eagle in right hand, lotus tipped scepter vertical behind in left hand,
(Aramaic resh) lower left, 
(Aramaic mem) below throne; reverse lion left, head turned facing, atop bull fallen left, attacking with teeth and claws, 
(Aramaic MZDI = Mazaios, read right to left) above, nothing below bull; ex Lugdunum Numismatik (Solothun, Switzerland) auction 23 (12 Dec 2023), lot 53; ex H.D. Rauch (Vienna, Austria) auction 23 (20 Jan 1986), lot 42; $2000.00 (€1880.00) 
Caria, Uncertain Mint D (?), c. 480 - 450 B.C.
The denomination of hemitartemorion for our tiny silver fraction must remain uncertain. Troxell thought the Carian "Uncertain Mint D" series was struck according to the Attic standard, the Persic was supported in SNG Keckman I, and Konuk has favored the Milesian in his work, including SNG Kayhan I and "Coin Legends in Carian," in Ignacio Adiego's The Carian Language (2007). Historia Numorum Online (HNO) also states the coins are on the Milesian standard. If a Milesian stater weighs 14.2 grams, than the theoretical weight of a hemitartemorion would be ~0.15 grams.
Although the faces of both bulls do look a little "man-faced," Prof. Nicholas Molinari, author of ΠOTAMIKON: Sinews of Acheloios, A Comprehensive Catalog of the Bronze Coinage of the Man-Faced Bull, with Essays on Origin and Identity (2016), has expressed doubts on this hypothesis, although he was careful not to say it contained a bunch of bull.
For more information on another, more certain, "Uncertain Mint D" issue, search for GA113198 in the FORVM Shop catalog.GA113197. Silver hemitartemorion, cf. HNO T2613 (larger denomination, different style), Troxwell Carians -, SNG Keckman I -, SNG Kayhan I -, Konuk Carian -, gF, well-defined bulls, grainy surfaces, rev. off-centered in an incuse circle, weight 0.174 g, maximum diameter 5.3 mm, die axis 180o, uncertain Carian mint, c. 480 - 450 B.C.; obverse forepart of an anthropomorphized(?) bull right with both forelegs; reverse forepart of an anthropomorphized(?) bull left with both forelegs; from the Michael Arslan Collection, possibly an unpublished hemitartemorion issue; extremely rare; $170.00 (€159.80)
Perinthos, Thrace, c. 217 - 200 B.C.
Perinthos, later called Heraclea and Marmara Eregli today, is 90 km west of Istanbul near a small pointed headland on the north shore of the Marmara Sea. It is said to have been a Samian colony, founded about 599 B.C. It is famous chiefly for its stubborn and successful resistance to Philip II of Macedon in 340 B.C.; at that time it seems to have been more important than Byzantium itself.GB113945. Bronze AE 21, Schönert-Geiss Perinthos 49, HGC 3.2 1620 (R1), SNG Cop 722 var. (monogram left), F, green patina, weight 6.996 g, maximum diameter 21.3 mm, die axis 0o, Perinthos (Marmara Ereglisi, Turkey) mint, c. 217 - 200 B.C.; obverse Jugate heads of Serapis and Isis right, Sarapis laureate and wearing the atef crown, Isis draped and wearing the basileion of Isis; reverse Apis bull standing left, ΠEPIN/ΘIΩN in two lines above and in exergue, conjoined foreparts of two horses below bull, no monogram; rare; $110.00 (€103.40)
Vespasian, 1 July 69 - 24 June 79 A.D.
The yoke of oxen symbolize colonization. The ceremonial founding of a colony included plowing a furrow, the pomerium, a sacred boundary, around the site of the new city. Although no legions were disbanded after the Jewish revolt, there were many retiring veterans that needed to be settled. Vespasian founded a colony at Caesarea Maritima, the first in the province.RS114802. Silver denarius, RIC II-1 944; RSC II 134; BMCRE II 209; BnF III 185; SRCV II 2289 var. (head right),, F, weight 3.166 g, maximum diameter 19.0 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 77 - 78 A.D.; obverse IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head left; reverse yoke of two oxen left (symbolic of marking the pomerium, the sacred boundary marked for the foundation of a new Roman colony), COS VIII in exergue; $110.00 (€103.40)
Kyzikos, Mysia, 3rd Century B.C.
Cyzicus was one of the great cities of the ancient world. It was said to have been founded by Pelasgians from Thessaly, according to tradition at the coming of the Argonauts; later, allegedly in 756 B.C., it received many colonists from Miletus. Owing to its advantageous position it speedily acquired commercial importance, and the gold staters of Cyzicus were a staple currency in the ancient world till they were superseded by those of Philip of Macedon. The site of Cyzicus, located on the Erdek and Bandirma roads, is protected by Turkey's Ministry of Culture.GB112734. Bronze AE 28, Von Fritze III 11, SNG BnF 438, SNGvA 1231, McClean 7590, F, broad flan, partial green patina, obv. beveled, weight 14.353 g, maximum diameter 27.3 mm, die axis 300o, Kyzikos (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, 3rd Century B.C.; obverse prow of war galley right; reverse bucranium facing, K-Y/Z-I flanking in two divided lines, all within oak wreath; $100.00 (€94.00)
Parion, Mysia, 2nd - 1st Century B.C.
Archaeologists have been carrying out excavations at the ancient site of Parion since 2005. Sarcophagi and graves, as well as ancient artifacts have been found in the area. In 2017, ancient toys and a baby bottle from the Hellenistic Period were discovered inside tombs of children, likely intended to accompany the children on their journey to the afterlife.GB114896. Bronze AE 14, SNGvA 1326, SNG BnF 1412, SNG Cop -, BMC Mysia -, F, off center, light corrosion, weight 2.345 g, maximum diameter 14.3 mm, die axis 180o, Parium (Kemer, Canakkale, Turkey) mint, 2nd - 1st Century B.C.; obverse bull head right, within olive wreath; reverse the great altar of Parium, flaming, garlanded, amphora before at base, Π-A/P-I flanking across fields in two divided lines, monogram(?) below; first specimen of this type handled by FORVM, a cursory search did not find another example online; rare; $100.00 (€94.00)
Drusus, Son of Tiberius, Born 13 B.C., Died 14 September 23 A.D., Philippi(?), Macedonia
Drusus, the only son of Tiberius, never took the throne. Drusus' wife Livilla was seduced by the praetorian prefect Sejanus. She poisoned Drusus to support Sejanus' plot to become emperor. Years later the plot was discovered and Sejanus and Livilla were executed.RP111916. Bronze AE 16, RPC Online I 1659 (10 spec.), SNG Cop -, BMC -, F, green patina, encrustations, scratches, weight 4.145 g, maximum diameter 16.2 mm, die axis 30o, probably Philippi (near Filippoi, Greece) mint, obverse DRV CAES, bare head right; reverse two priests with yoke of two oxen right, plowing the pomerium (sacred boundary), founding a new colony; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $90.00 (€84.60)
Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D., Eumeneia, Phrygia
Eumenea, Phrygia was founded by Attalus II Philadelphus (159 - 138 B.C.) at the source of the Cludrus, near the Glaucus, and named after his brother Eumenes. Numerous inscriptions and many coins remain to show that Eumenia was an important and prosperous city under Roman rule. As early as the third century its population was in great part Christian, and it seems to have suffered much during the persecution of Diocletian. The remains of Eumenia are located in Denizli Province, Turkey on the shore of Lake Isikli near Civril.RP110014. Bronze AE 26, RPC Online IV-2 T1989; BMC Phrygia p. 219, 56; SNGvA 3594; SNG Leypold II 1540; Weber 7096; SNG Tübingen 4014; SNG Cop -, F, rough, black patina, weight 10.205 g, maximum diameter 25.7 mm, die axis 0o, Eumeneia (near Civril, Turkey) mint, obverse AVTO KAICA ANTΩNEINOC, laureate and cuirassed bust right, aegis on left shoulder, seen from the front; reverse EVMENEΩN AXAIΩN, hump-backed bull walking left, Nike walking left on far side of bull, wearing chiton, grasping bull's left horn and guiding bull with left hand, brandishing knife to sacrifice bull in right hand; $50.00 (€47.00)
Lydian Kingdom, Kroisos, c. 561 - 546 B.C.
The Lydian King Croesus minted the first silver and gold coins. He was famous for his extraordinary wealth, but after his defeat by Cyrus in 546 B.C. Lydia became a Persian satrapy. The Persian conquerors of Lydia continued to strike the same Croesus' silver half siglos and gold stater types. This coin is an early example issued under Croesus. We can tell it is an early example because the lion and the bull were struck separately, with one punch at a time. Later examples appear to have been struck with single punch only made to look like two separate punches.GA33281. Silver siglos (half-stater), BMC Lydia p. 7, 45, pl. 1, 18; SNG Cop 456; SNG Kayhan 1024; SNG Ashmolean 762; SNGvA 2877; Rosen 663; SGCV II 3420, gVF, weight 5.375 g, maximum diameter 16.3 mm, probably Sardes (Sart, Turkey) mint, c. 561 - 546 B.C.; obverse on the left, forepart of a roaring lion right, confronting, on the right, the forepart of a bull left; reverse two incuse square punches, of unequal size, side by side; SOLD
Gortyna, Crete, 4th Century B.C.
Zeus was enamored of Europa and decided to seduce or ravish her. He transformed himself into a tame white bull and mixed in with her father's herds. While Europa and her female attendants were gathering flowers, she saw the bull, caressed his flanks, and eventually got onto his back. Zeus took that opportunity and ran to the sea and swam, with her on his back, to the island of Crete. He then revealed his true identity, and Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her a necklace made by Hephaestus and three additional gifts: Talos, Laelaps and a javelin that never missed. Zeus later re-created the shape of the white bull in the stars, which is now known as the constellation Taurus. SH51407. Silver stater, SNG Delepierre 2378, Svoronos Crète 64, SNG Cop 442 var. (thinker pose), VF, toned, heavy flan, over-struck on an earlier coin, weight 11.592 g, maximum diameter 26.4 mm, die axis 180o, Gortyna mint, 4th century B.C.; obverse Europa seated right in a tree in a playful pose; reverse bull right, head turned back left; SOLD
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