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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Animals| ▸ |Pig||View Options:  |  |  |   
Boars, Sows and Piglets on Ancient Coins

For an interesting article about pigs on coins, see, "This Little Piggy Went to Market: Boars, Hogs, Sows and Piglets on Ancient Coins" by Mike Markowitz in CoinWeek


Cyprus, Early 5th Century B.C.

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The obverse die was used to strike three different issues, with different reverses. This type is from the third issue, when the obverse die was heavily worn and the ankh was engraved over the ram. The published specimens have no symbol or monogram on the reverse. There are other examples of this variant on Coin Archives.GS87794. Silver stater, Apparently unpublished variant; cf. Zapiti-Michaelidou pl. VIII, 2; Asyut pl. XXXII, N; Troxell-Waggoner p. 35, 8-9; Tziambazis -; Traité -; BMC -, aVF/VF, struck with the worn obverse die (as are all coins from this issue), slightly off center, light bumps and marks, weight 10.662 g, maximum diameter 18.6 mm, die axis 270o, uncertain Cypriot mint, early 5th century B.C.; obverse ram walking left, ankh symbol superimposed on and above the ram's side and back (the ankh symbol was recut on a heavily worn die); reverse laurel branch with two leaves and three fruits, monogram lower left, all in dotted square within incuse square; rare; $540.00 (€475.20)
 


Macedonian Kingdom, Antigonos I Monophthalmos, Strategos of Asia, 320 - 306/5 B.C., or King, 306/5 - 301 B.C.

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Antigonos I Monophthalmos ("the One-eyed") (strategos of Asia, 320 - 306/5 B.C., king, 306/5 - 301 B.C.) was a nobleman, general, and governor under Alexander the Great. Upon Alexander's death in 323 B.C., he established himself as one of the successors and declared himself King in 306 B.C. The most powerful satraps of the empire, Cassander, Seleucus, Ptolemy, and Lysimachus, answered by also proclaiming themselves kings. Antigonus found himself at war with all four, largely because his territory shared borders with all of them. He died in battle at Ipsus in 301 B.C. Antigonus' kingdom was divided up, with Seleucus I Nicator gaining the most. His son, Demetrius I Poliorcetes, took Macedon, which the family held, off and on, until it was conquered by Rome in 168 B.C. -- Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaGS87629. Silver tetradrachm, Price 3575, Müller Alexander 900, SNG München 755, SNG Saroglos 598, SNG Alpha Bank 678, SNG Oxford 3169, Meydancikkale 2204, VF, well centered, toned, light earthen deposits, bumps, marks, scratches, weight 16.992 g, maximum diameter 26.0 mm, die axis 0o, uncertain Phoenician or Syrian mint, c. 317 - c. 300 B.C.; obverse head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck; reverse Zeus Aëtophoros enthroned left, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, AΛEΞAN∆POY downward on right, right leg drawn back, boar's head left (control) in left field; $260.00 (€228.80)
 


Lesbos, c. 500 - 450 B.C.

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A most unusual use of illusion on a coin. The two confronting boars' heads can also be viewed as the facing head of a panther.GA89723. Billon 1/12 stater, SNGvA 7712; SNG München 646; Rosen 542; BMC Troas p. 151, 15; HGC 6 1069 (R2); SNG Cop -, gVF, dark toning, small edge crack, weight 1.195 g, maximum diameter 9.9 mm, uncertain Koinon of Lesbos mint, c. 500 - 450 B.C.; obverse confronting boar heads, creating the illusion of a facing head of a panther; reverse incuse square punch, M in one quarter; $250.00 (€220.00)
 


Castulo, Hispania Ulterior, Late 2nd Century B.C.

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After a local princess named Himilce married Hannibal, Castulo allied with Carthage. In 213 B.C., Castulo was the site of Hasdrubal Barca's crushing victory over the Roman army with a force of roughly 40,000 Carthaginian troops plus local Iberian mercenaries. Soon after the Romans made a pact with the residents and the city became a foederati (ally) of Rome.GB89567. Bronze quadrans, Villaronga-Benages 2152; Villaronga p. 337, 48; SNG BM Spain 1354; SNG Cop 217, nice VF, highlighting earthen fill patina, light scratches, weight 3.928 g, maximum diameter 15.6 mm, die axis 0o, Castulo (near Linares, Spain) mint, late 2nd century B.C.; obverse diademed male head right; reverse boar standing right on exergue line, star above, "Kastilo" in Iberian script in exergue, linear border; ex Lusitania Ancient Coins; $200.00 (€176.00)
 


Romano-British Empire, Carausius, Mid 286 - Spring or Early Summer 293 A.D.

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The legends are mostly off flan. Reverse legend possibilities include LEG XX V V, LEG XX AVG, LEG II PARTH, LEG V [...] S M AVG. The mintmark may be retrograde MC, which is known for Camulodunum (Colchester, England), but no boar standing right types are published for Camulodunum. Perhaps the mintmark is retrograde ML, but that too is unpublished. This was likely struck in an unofficial mint (an ancient counterfeit?). Carausius' legionary boar types are highly desirable, and all seem to be quite rare. We do not know of another specimen of this variety.RA73285. Billon antoninianus, cf. RIC V-2 82 (R2), Cohen VII 148, Hunter IV 13, Webb Carausius 97 - 99, Askew 151, SRCV IV 13617, aF, green patina, earthen deposits, tight flan cutting off legends, a little rough, weight 3.769 g, maximum diameter 19.3 mm, die axis 45o, unofficial(?) mint, c. 287 A.D.; obverse [IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG?], radiate and draped bust right, early reign 'moustache' portrait; reverse L[EG...], boar standing right, large tusks, prominent ridge of spinal bristles, [reversed C?]M in exergue; from the Charles Peters Carausius Collection; very rare; $190.00 (€167.20)
 


Abakainon, Sicily, c. 410 - 396 B.C.

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Even today, Sicilian farmers allow their indigenous Sicilian Black Swine to forage for acorns in the oak forests of the Nebrodi Mountains near ancient Abakainon. Physically resembling and often mistaken for wild boar, they stand about 70 centimeters high and have a prominent ridge of spinal bristles running from its large head to about midway along its back. There are fewer than 2000 of these swine today. Their meat, especially Nebrodi ham, is highly prized as the pig's wild woodlands diet enhances the flavor.
GI86596. Silver litra, SNG München 4 (same rev. die); SNG Tübingen 552; SNG ANS 899; BMC Sicily p. 2, 8; Weber 1171; HGC 2 20 (R1); SNG Cop -; SNG Lloyd -, gVF, toned, some bumps and scratches, some corrosion, weight 0.675 g, maximum diameter 11.7 mm, die axis 45o, Abakainon (Tripi, Sicily) mint, c. 410 - 396 B.C.; obverse head of water nymph facing slightly left; reverse sow and piglet walking right, piglet before her, below her head, double exergue line, BA above, A in exergue, within round incuse; rare; $160.00 (€140.80)
 


Laodicea ad Lycus, Phrygia, c. 1st Century B.C.

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The boar and the wolf are symbolic of the rivers Kapros and Lykos respectively.
GB88939. Bronze AE 15, BMC Phrygia p. 287, 52; Weber 7129; SNG Cop -; SNGvA -, VF, dark patina, obverse a little off center, porous, weight 3.031 g, maximum diameter 14.6 mm, die axis 30o, Laodicea ad Lycus (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, c. 1st century B.C.; obverse wild bristle-backed boar (river Kapros) standing left, (control monogram) below belly; reverse wolf (river Lykos) standing right, ΛAO∆I/KEΩN in two lines above and in exergue; very rare; $160.00 (€140.80)
 


Castulo, Hispania Ulterior, Late 2nd Century B.C.

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After a local princess named Himilce married Hannibal, Castulo allied with Carthage. In 213 B.C., Castulo was the site of Hasdrubal Barca's crushing victory over the Roman army with a force of roughly 40,000 Carthaginian troops plus local Iberian mercenaries. Soon after the Romans made a pact with the residents and the city became a foederati (ally) of Rome.
GB89050. Bronze quadrans, Villaronga-Benages 2152; Villaronga p. 337, 48; SNG BM Spain 1354; SNG Cop 217, Choice F, broad flan, attractive patina, scattered porosity, weight 3.827 g, maximum diameter 17.5 mm, die axis 210o, Castulo (near Linares, Spain) mint, late 2nd century B.C.; obverse diademed male head right; reverse boar standing right on exergue line, star above, "Kastilo" in Iberian script in exergue, linear border; $140.00 (€123.20)
 


Athens, Attica, Greece, 307 - 300 B.C., Eleusinian Festival Coinage

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"The pig was sacred to Demeter, goddess of grain, and figures prominently on special coinage struck by Athens for use by participants in the Eleusinian Mysteries, a series of very ancient secret rituals held every Spring at Eleusis (now Elefsina, 18 km, or 11 miles, from Athens). Pigs were sacrificed to Demeter as part of the preparation for initiates...Each had carried to the river or lake a little pig, which was also purified by bathing, and on the next day this pig was sacrificed. The pig was offered because it was very pernicious to cornfields. On the Eleusinian coinage the pig, standing on a torch placed horizontally, appears as the sign and symbol of the Mysteries." -- "This Little Piggy Went to Market: Boars, Hogs, Sows and Piglets on Ancient Coins" by Mike Markowitz in CoinWeekGB91909. Bronze AE 14, Kroll 51; SNG Cop 420; Svoronos Athens pl. 103, 17 ff.; HGC 4 1767 (S), F, glossy near black patina with highlighting earthen deposits, tight flan cutting off ethnic, weight 3.740 g, maximum diameter 14.3 mm, die axis 180o, Athens mint, 307 - 300 B.C.; obverse Triptolemos seated left in winged chariot drawn by two serpents, stalk of grain in his right hand; reverse piglet right standing on torch (mystic staff), EΛEYΣI below, all within wheat wreath; $80.00 (€70.40)
 


Kyzikos, Mysia, c. 475 - 450 B.C.

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During the Peloponnesian War 431-404 B.C. Cyzicus was subject to the Athenians and Lacedaemonians alternately. In the naval Battle of Cyzicus in 410, an Athenian fleet routed and completely destroyed a Spartan fleet. At the peace of Antalcidas in 387 B.C., like the other Greek cities in Asia, it was made over to Persia. Alexander the Great later captured it from the Persians in 334 B.C.
GS92955. Silver obol, SNG Cop 50; SNGvA 1215; SNG Tüb 2228, BMC Mysia p. 35, 121; Klein 266; SNG Kayhan -, VF, toned, tight oval flan, light corrosion, weight 0.741 g, maximum diameter 10.6 mm, die axis 180o, Kyzikos (Kapu Dagh, Turkey) mint, c. 475 - 450 B.C.; obverse forepart of boar running left, tunny fish upwards behind; reverse head of roaring lion left, backward K above left, all in incuse square; $80.00 (€70.40)
 



  



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