[ancients] An Unusual Mode of Transportation

This wonderful coin was inexplicably unloved in a recent auction. Who in their right mind wouldn't want a coin that features a quadriga of hippocamps? With Poseidon? It may not be fleur de coin but good luck finding one in better condition!

Unsurprisingly given the devices, this coin is from a land renowned for seafaring. Berytos (now Beirut) was positioned in the center of Phoenicia's coastal territory. I recently posted another coin from Phoenicia (Byblos dishekel) so I won't recap that history in this thread.

I'm unsure of the date of issue. It was struck in the first century BC, perhaps mid, perhaps 27/28. If you have any information pointing to a historically correct attribution, please let me know. I will continue to research the coin. Many important political changes occurred in that time frame and it would be nice to know more about the political climate at the time of this coin's issue. Was it struck while Pompey the Great was using Berytos as a naval base? Was it struck around the time of the Battle of Actium? Some time in between? Whatever the circumstance, the coin appears to be a statement of the city's naval power and prosperity.

PHOENICIA, Berytos
1st century BCE
Æ19.5, 5.9 gm
Obv: Turreted head of Tyche right
Rev: Poseidon standing left in quadriga drawn by four hippocamps
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 83

Post your coins which show unusual modes of transportation: flying snakes, bigas and quads of elephants, stags, goats, snakes, centaurs, lions, tigers, and bears. Oh my!

 

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Holey hippocamps, Batman! That's a stunning coin. The eye appeal is just dripping off of it in oozy green and orange globs of numismatic goodness.

 

Quadriga of Elephants:

 

I saw one similar recently (could have been this one maybe) and was poised to bid, but, for whatever reason, never did. Outstanding TIF. For one thing I have an affinity for Tych, but those hippocamps make this coin. Congrats!!

 

I do like traveling by unusual means. I love Tyche. Truly a testament to a long sea fairing tradition.

 

Do you recall if you saw the coin in the recent Vauction? If so, yep, it was this one. I had eyed it for a while and bid at the end. It really was surprising that no one else bid. I won another coin in that auction and didn't want it to be lonely during shipping so Poseidon and his sea horses joined the party.

 

Then it is the same. But I do not remember why I did not bid. Oh well, it has found itself a good home.

 

Neat coin, never seen that type before. Guess I should also start checking their auction site. Usually I just shop through their stores.

 

Nice one, actually like the obverse more. Hopefully some of that chipped patina doesnt turn to BD.

 

Very cool Hippocamp coin=> I absolutely love it!! (I'm very jealous of that baby!)

Huh, small world ... I also have a coin from this area ...

=> Titus, Phoencia, Berytus




... ummm, I'm fairly sure that Titus got a few odd-looks for his suspect farm-activities?

 

I will keep a close eye on it and like all my bronzes, preemptively treat with VerdiCare.

I often have to do a double-take with those "foundation scene" coins.

Steve-O, I believe you have several "unusual modes of transportation" coins in your collection... Bring 'em on!

 

If I would've seen it I probably would have bid.

I've been looking for a nice example for a couple of years. Most are pretty shabby. Yours is really quite nice.

Of the ones I've seen didn't even know the hippocamp in front has a fish tail.

Very nice, congrats.

 

... ooops, I forgot one ...




... that's an Alexandrian biga o' snakes, my friends!!

 

Thanks, Doucet! I'm glad you and Bing didn't bid.

I am very envious of that coin and many of the others!

Someone on another forum dug up another attribution source which describes the reverse in more detail. Catalogue of Greek coins in the Hunterian collection, University of Glasgow (1899)

Apparently Poseidon has a chauffeur for his stylish ride-- that's a "small male figure" atop one of the hippocamps, "guiding the team".

 

My "Unusual Modes of Transportation" collection is paltry compared to Steve's but I do have a couple more candidates.

Warning: I am actively on the hunt for more. You might want to think about that before you get your heart set on any of those types.


THRACE, Pautalia. Caracalla. Asklepios on a winged serpent.


Eleusinian Festival coin. Triptolemos in a winged chariot (which looks more like a winged wheelchair on this small flan)

 

FOUR hippocamps?? Jealous! Super nice coin, congrats.

I guess Neptune gave two of his the day off on my coin.


ROMAN REPUBLIC
Q. CREPEREIUS M. F. ROCUS Denarius (3.69g, 18mm)
Rome mint, 72 BC.
Crawford 399/1b.
O: Bust of Amphitrite right, control marks to left (squid) and right.
R: Neptune in biga of sea-horses, brandishing trident, control mark above, Q. CREPER. M. F. ROCVS in two lines below.
Ex Andrew McCabe Collection

 

My coin was quite reasonable when viewed as price per hippocamp.

Looks like he had to let the chauffeur go too. Hard times.

That coin of yours is on my hit list but dang, they are pricier than most other Roman Republicans.

 

I know! Mine is worn and off center, but a nicer example would have been prohibitive for me.

There is another Republican coin with a biga of two Cupids that I would like to have. Some may find the idea of that sort of child labour distasteful, but I try not to judge the ancients through these modern lenses of mine.

 

tyche, poseidon with a mini-me, and a "quad-hippa"...WIN!
the color is very nice also....great coin!

hmmmm...here's a triga, but compared to some of the mods of transport here, that pretty mundane.