I recall a thread a long time ago that discussed the depiction of some elephants on coins with "squares" or "diamond" pattern on their back. The discussion revolved around whether the pattern represented a covering or the pachyderm's epidermis. I do not recollect what the consensus ended up on this topic. Well, today is my 70th birthday and one of the coins I purchased in the last couple of weeks arrived at my door. The reverse displays an elephant with either a cuirass or it's skin depicted by this pattern. I happen to believe it is a cuirass. What is curious to me is that my new coin actually looks like squares, while others I've seen are more diamond shaped. Also take note of the "spikes" attached to the elephant's trunk. I can only imagine the devastation this caused during a battle. This issue commemorates the games mentioned in the Historia Augusta that were were given by Severus in mid 197 prior to his departure on his second Parthian expedition. And I blame @dougsmit for this acquisition since I remember he posted coins displaying the elephant and patterns (most generally, it's someone's fault here at CT for enticing me to buy another coin). SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP VIII, laureate head right REVERSE: MVNIFICENTIA AVG, Elephant wearing cuirass walking right Struck at Rome, 196 197 AD 3.63g, 17mm RIC 100, RSC 349 Note: The green seen on the coin is a hard mineral deposit. Show those pachyderms
Happy Birthday & great coin. You don't think the "spikes" on the trunk is maybe flowlines or die shift or something? Maybe it's from the same area and my Croc? Augustus, with Agrippa (27. B.C. 14 A.D.) GAUL, Nemausus Æ As O: Heads of Agrippa left, wearing rostral crown and laurel wreath, and Augustus right, wearing oak wreath, back to back. IMP above, DIVI F below. R: Crocodile right chained to palm branch with long vertical fronds; above, wreath with long ties, palms below; COL NEM flanking vertical palm. Nemausus mint, 9-3 B.C 10.26g 27mm RPC I 524; RIC 1 158
Wahoo! A big... I do love those wacky pakyderns. Here's some of my favs: Antiochos I Soter Shield with Anchor Æ20 6.09 grams 20mm Obv. Macedonian with Anchor motif Rv. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY Above and below elephant walking right OME monogram (obscured by Anchor counter stamp) and club above Jaw bone of boar in exergue BMC 37 Former fvrivs.rvfvs Antiochos III Megas Seleukid Kingdom. Uncertain (military) mint 60. 223-187 BC. Struck 202-187 BC Bronze Æ 17mm., 4,60g. Macedonian shield with gorgoneion in central boss / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑNΤΙΟΧΟΥ, elephant walking right, anchor above, monogram of ΠΑ below. very fine SC 1089.3a; HGC 9, 490 Former: Savoca Antiochos IV Epiphanes 175-164 B.C. AE 13 (12.7 mm, 2.50 g, 11 h). Ake-Ptolemaïs mint, Struck 175-ca.173/2 B.C. Diademed, veiled and draped bust of Laodike IV right; monogram behind / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ, head of elephant left; prow to lower right; monogram above elephant's trunk . SC 1477.2; Kadman 19; SNG Spaer 1102. VF Lysias BAKTRIA, Indo-Greek Kingdom. Circa 130-125 BC. Æ (20x20mm, 8.82 g, 12h). Indian standard. Head of Herakles right, lion’s skin tied around neck, club over shoulder / Elephant advancing right; monograms in exergue. Bopearachchi 8A; SNG ANS 1040-7. VF, dark green patina.Ex: Timeline Auction Caecilia Denarius. AR. Rome. (125 BCE). A / Head of Rome to the right, behind ROMA and in front X. R / Macedonian shield, around M. METELLVS Q. F., all within a laurel wreath. 3.70g. FFC.204. Banker's punch. Limited. BC / BC +. Ex Pliego
Interesting elephant @Bing - the spiky trunk does look particularly devastating and potentially unpleasant for the elephant too. Here's a Seleukid, Antiochos IV Epiphanes, elephant (175-164 BC), with best wishes for your birthday!
That's a nice coin, @Bing . But most and first of all, happy birthday! Here are two pachyderms to congratulate you: Roman Republic, Imperatorial Coinage, Julius Caesar, AR denarius, 49–48 BC, military mint moving with Caesar. Obv: [CA]ESAR; elephant walking r., trampling snake. Rev: priestly implements: culullus, aspergillum, axe, apex. 20mm, 3.70g. Ref: RRC 443/1. Ex Artemide, eLive Auktion 8a, lot 208. Satavahana Empire, later Satakarni ruler, BI karshapana, ca. 107–248 AD, minted in northern Deccan region. Obv: Elephant with raised trunk r., remains of legend. Revers: Dynastic symbol. 17mm, 2.58g. Ref: see Mitchiner 4963–4967 (different legends).
Happy birthday @Bing Here is a hippo for you (and yes a hippo is a pachyderm) on a Dattari plate coin.
...happy B-day Bing! ..while i don't have any elephants(yet) i do have a hippo for the pachyderm order.
These Septimius elephants woul be a lot more popular were it not for their being issued during the low point of quality at the Rome mint until the time of Gallienus. Diamonds IMP VIII squares IMP VIIII another squares (weak) IMP VIIII but I liked the pose These are hard to find with full legend on both sides. The CNG website shows 16 of the coins with two being even close to full legend (one of them was sold twice four years apart). I'll upgrade mine some day if I find one at a price I can swallow. Bing: What makes you think yours is IMP VIII and not VIIII?
Happiest of Birthdays, @Bing ! And may you have many more that are even happier! I really like that spikey trunk! Wow, that would be an impressive weapon. Mine only has a bell... ETRURIA, Arretium (?). The Chiana Valley. Circa 208-207 BC. Æ Quartunica . Head of African right; monogram to left / Indian elephant standing right, bell around neck; monogram below. HN Italy 69; SNG ANS 41 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 48 var. (no monogram on obv.). rare
Compliments of the day, you old rascal. I thought you were way more youthful, but then again collecting tends to keep us all young.
I only have one ancient elephant and it isn't much to look at so I will include my favorite non-ancient one also. Happy Birthday @Bing Antiochos III Seleukid Kingdom 222-187 BC Bronze 11.3mm, 1.7g Bust of Apollo Right Elephant Walking Left HGC 9, 517 Baden-Karisruhe Obverse: Winged Elephant Reverse: 1 Schoppen Fuldsche Walhrung Menzel 12699.2.
I'm totally unsure of which it is. To be truthful, I was, and still am, leaning towards VIIII, just by comparing portrait styles between the two. Do you have any idea?
Great coin Bing and happy birthday! Nice that it arrived right on the day. I don't own any elephants.. only tenuous link I can think of is to post my humble Alexander the Great - who first faced elephants at the battle of the Hydaspes in 326BC at modern day Punjab, Pakistan. Must have been an incredible and frightening thing to see on the battlefield.. especially with these bad boys attached: