Fine Coins Showcase
Antiquities Showcase
Show Empty Categories
Shop Search
Shopping Cart
My FORVM
Contact Us
About Forum
Shopping at Forum
Our Guarantee
Payment Options
Shipping Options & Fees
Privacy & Security
Forum Staff
Selling Your Coins
Identifying Your Coin
FAQs
zoom.asp
Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Animals||View Options:   | | | Browse all our coins and antiquities depicting animals below or use the menu on the left to select specific types of animals. |
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) 
Roman, Bronze Krater Handle Ornamented with Lions, c. 1st - 3rd Century A.D.
Click here to see the line drawing of Catalogue des bronzes antiques de la Bibliothèque National no. 1446, a nearly identical handle in the Bibliothèque nationale de France published in 1895.AM23903. Roman bronze krater handle; cf. BnF Bronzes 1446, Superb, about as made with the addition of an an attractive green patina, c. 1st - 3rd Century A.D.; 12 cm (4 7/8") tall, on the upper part, which would have been attached atop the rim of the vessel: a lion's head faces inward, its back arching above, between two lions lying in opposite directions, on the lower part: acanthus and scrolls between two snakes with heads upward, ex Griffin Gallery of Ancient Art (Boca Raton FL); $1600.00 (€1504.00)
Aegina, Saronic Islands, Greece, c. 525 - 475 B.C.
"Greek Turtles" minted on the island of Aegina were most likely the first coins struck in Europe. They were popular in their own time and accepted for payment far from the island. Because they were the first European coin type and because they are attractive and interesting, the "Greek Turtle" is considered a "must have" by many ancient coin collectors.GS112504. Silver stater, HGC 6 433 (S); Meadows Aegina Group IIc; Asyut Group VI; SNG Cop 503; SNG Munchen 536; Milbank -, BMC Attica -, F, tight flan, bumps and marks, punch on rev., weight 11.808 g, maximum diameter 19.0 mm, Aigina (Aegina) mint, c. 525 - 475 B.C.; obverse sea-tortoise (Chelone Caouana) or common loggerhead turtle of the Mediterranean, collar at the top and row of six dots down the middle the ridge of the shell; reverse incuse square with skew device; from the P.S. Collection, ex Calgary Coin, ex Alberta Coins, ex Harlan J. Berk, ex Lewis Egnew Collection; scarce; $450.00 (€423.00)
Aspendos, Pamphylia, c. 465 - 430 B.C.
In 467 B.C. the Athenian statesman and military commander Cimon, and his fleet of 200 ships, destroyed the Persian navy based at the mouth of the river Eurymedon in a surprise attack. In order to crush to Persian land forces, he tricked the Persians by sending his best fighters ashore wearing the garments of the hostages he had seized earlier. When they saw these men, the Persians thought that they were compatriots freed by the enemy and arranged festivities in celebration. Taking advantage of this, Cimon landed and annihilated the Persians. Aspendos then became a member of the Attic-Delos Maritime league.
Roma Numismatics speculated that the undertype of the present coin was the uncertain Cypriot stater of the ram with ankh symbol/laurel branch type. A tantalizing suggestion, but a likelier candidate for the host stater is an issue of neighboring Side with a pomegranate on the obverse and the head of Athena within an incuse square on the reverse. On the warrior side of our Aspendus coin, we see hints of the fruit, including its prominent stem flanked by two leaves. There are also suggestions of Athena’s neck on the reverse.GS114035. Silver stater, SNG Fitzwilliam 5052 (same rev. die); SNG BnF 2 var. (no tortoise; same rev. die); cf. SNGvA 4484 (EΣ only; rev. tortoise; lion btw triskeles), aVF, oval flan struck with worn dies, clean bright surfaces, overstruck with traces of undertype visible on both sides, weight 10.896 g, maximum diameter 24.6 mm, die axis 180o, Aspendos (Serik, Turkey) mint, c. 465 - 430 B.C.; obverse warrior advancing right, wearing crested helmet, nude, couched spear in right hand, round shield on left arm, tortoise between legs; reverse triskeles of human legs clockwise, EΣT high across field, crouching lion lower left behind triskeles, all within an incuse square; interesting overstrike; ex Roma Numismatics e-sale 112 (7 Sep 2023), lot 408; $350.00 (€329.00)
Trajan Decius, September 249 - June or July 251 A.D.
Adventus Augustus inscriptions commemorate the emperor's arrival at Rome, either at the commencement of his reign or on his return from a distance.SL114190. Silver antoninianus, RIC IV 11b, RSC IV 4, Hunter III 6, SRCV III 9366, NGC MS, strike 3/5, surface 4/5 (2406774-001), weight 4.13 g, maximum diameter 22 mm, die axis 45o, Rome mint, 249 - 251 A.D.; obverse IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse ADVENTVS AVG (arrival of the Emperor), Trajan Decius on horseback left, raising right hand in salute, scepter in left hand,; from the Craig Chambers Collection, NGC| Lookup; $300.00 (€282.00)
Ephesos, Ionia (or perhaps Bargylia, Caria or Amyntas, King of Galatia), c. 2nd - 1st Century B.C.
The type is most often attributed to Ephesos, but the style and denomination/weight do not strongly support any link to that city. NGC tags for the type note the origin may be Bargylia, Caria. The style certainly fits Bargylia better than Ephesos. The consignor of this coin, a professional numismatist, believes it was struck under Amyntas, King of Galatia, 37 - 25 B.C. Amyntas also issued Artemis and stag types.GS98643. Silver trihemiobol, cf. SNG Davis 270, SNG Cop -, SNG Kayhan -, SNGvA -, BMC Galatia -, aVF, toned, light marks and scratches, weight 1.337 g, maximum diameter 12.3 mm, die axis 0o, Ephesos (near Selçuk, Turkey) mint, c. 2nd - 1st Century B.C.; obverse draped bust of Artemis right, quiver at shoulder; reverse forepart of stag right, head turned back left; extremely rare; $280.00 (€263.20)
Mytilene, Lesbos, 521 - 478 B.C., Ancient Counterfeit
Counterfeiting began almost immediately after the first coinage was introduced. The official Mytilene coin was solid electrum, a mixture of gold and silver. This coin is plated with electrum over a base core, struck by a criminal counterfeiter in ancient times, intended for circulation as the official prototype. The low weight identifies this as is a plated coin.GA114610. Fouree electrum plated hekte, cf. Bodenstedt 9.1, HGC 6 933 (official Mytilene mint prototype, solid electrum), VF, rough spots, weight 2.086 g, maximum diameter 10.3 mm, die axis 180o, unofficial criminal mint, 521 - 478 B.C.; obverse forepart of winged lion left; reverse incuse head of cock left, rectangular punch to right; $250.00 (€235.00)
Anglo-Gallic, Edward III, 25 January 1327 – 21 June 1377
The Aquitanian title on both sides seems to suggest this coin was struck c. 1325 - 1326, when Edward III was Duke of Aquitaine but not yet King of England, but Elias dates the type the second half of the 1350's based on style. This type and similar billon Anglo-Gallic coins looked silver when issued, but after some use turned black, hence their nickname, "black money." They were usually hastily and poorly struck, heavily circulated and worn, and seldom hoarded. Surviving examples are now rare and mostly low grade. This type is very rare.ME112522. Billon obole au lion, Elias 110c (RR), Duplessy Féodales 1109 var. (obv. title ED':REX: ARGLIE), Boudeau 503 var. (same), aVF, broken with fragment lost, clashed obv. die, deposits, corrosion, weight 0.489 g, maximum diameter 14.9 mm, die axis 270o, Bordeaux(?) mint, 4th type, 1350 - 1360; obverse + ED' : DVX : AeITANIE (Edward, Duke of Aquitaine), leopard passant left on straight line, mB' (Moneta Burdegalensis?) below line; reverse +DVX : AeITANIE (Duke of Aquitaine), short cross pattée within inner circle, pellet under crown in second angle; ex Gordon Andreas Singer, very rare with the Aquitanian title on both sides!; $240.00 (€225.60)
Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Antiocheia, Pisidia
| Antiochia in Pisidia, also know as Antiochia in Phrygia, and under the Roman Empire as Antiochia Caesareia or Antiochia Colonia Caesarea, was on the border of Pisidia and Phrygia, at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Central Anatolian regions. After the death of Alexander the Great, Seleucus I Nicator, founder of the Seleucid Dynasty, took control of Pisidia. Captured places were Hellenized and, in order to protect the population, nearly 60 fortified cities were founded at strategically important places, usually on an acropolis. Seleucus gave 16 of them the name of his father Antiochos. Colonists were brought from Magnesia on the Maeander to found Antiochia in Pisidia. |  |
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)
CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE FROM THIS CATEGORY - FORVM's PRIOR SALES
Page created in 1.594 seconds.
