What's hiding under Diana's biga of stags?

So I've bought this Roman Republican coin. Looking at the reverse, we see Diana riding in a biga of stags (which is cool). But what's runnen on the exergue? A dog? A mouse? A fox?

ROMAN REPUBLIC, C. Allius Bala. Denomination: AR Denarius, minted: Rome, Italy; 92 BC
Obv: BALA, Diademed head of Diana to the right, C below chin
Rev: C·ALLI, Diana, holding torch and sceptre, driving biga of stags right, below a dog(?),
Weight: 3.7g; Ø:17mm. Catalogue: Crawford 336/1c. Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 04-2020

 

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A dolphin attacking a shoal?

 

Aw c'mom. It's a kangaroo of course! Actually, it looks like a rabbit (hare),

Do you know what Gens Balba is part of?

 

I would agree with dolphin. And this can be confirmed with a quick search.

 

It's a dolphin. Crawford records 17 different symbols below the biga.

Barry Murphy

 

Of all the control-marks associated with the letter "C" on this coin, a dolphin is the only one that fits this creature. See the table at Crawford Vol. I at p. 337.

 

Great capture, @Roerbakmix !

I checked ACSearch and found, yup, as several said above, that device on your reverse looks like a DOLPHIN.

I have an Anchor. (or maybe it is a barn swallow strafing the ground!)


Roan Republic
C. Allius BALA, 92 BC
AR Denarius 19-18 mm. 3.83 grams.
Diana head right, I before neck
Biga of stags (thus Diana), anchor below. A ALLI
Sear 221. Crawford 336/1c. Aelia 4
Ex: @Valentinian

 

According to the Crawford table I cited, the choices for the letter "I" are grasshopper, anchor, fly, quiver, gryphon, and caduceus, with anchor being the most common. So I believe that yours is indeed an anchor!

 

LOL, oh yeah, I know it is an anchor. Just mine looks poorly done, so my imagination took it another step.
Soooo.... I am creating a NEW DEVICE: "Dive-Bomber Barn Swallow"
(we had scads of barn swallows in our barns, as I was growing up. They were FUN to watch!)

 

I would vote "dolphin" as well. It has that look of Roman coins with what most numismatists historically have labelled a "dolphin", though I agree with the old Celator article claiming these really aren't dolphins but a type of fish. The long waggy tail was known amongst ancients to not be endemics with dolphins.

 

It is a dolphin. There are plenty on RR coins.

 

Another Roman Republican dolphin. I don't really think there's much doubt as to its identity!

Roman Republic, L Lucretius Trio, AR Denarius, 76 BCE. Obv. Laureate head of Neptune right, XXXIII above and trident behind/ Rev. Cupid (or Infant Genius) on dolphin right; L LVCRETIVS TRIO. Crawford 390/2, Sydenham 784, RSC I Lucretia. 19 mm., 3.9 g.

 

Kinda big dolphin...



RR Aes Grave Anon 280-276 BCE Triens 46mm 90.3g 9.3mm thick Tbolt-Dolphin Rome Crawford 14-3 T Vecchi 3

 

Thanks! A dolphin, would not have guessed that! Still don't see it really...

 

Just reverse the way you look at so what you see as the animal's tail (or rear end) becomes the head (with a fish in its mouth), and vice versa.

 

...?!?!??..i'd like some of what you're taking...^^ (jk)...i would have been in @Bing's school of thought... a hare running the opposite direction...

 

Yeah, I still see the hare, but I can also see the dolphin. Wish it were a kangaroo.

 

Nice coin - If they say dolphin I guess then that is what it is, but I don't see it either.

 

LOL, it DOES look like a kangaroo, pointing left!

Whelp, we can rewrite the books, adding Kangaroos and Barn Swallows !!!

 

To me it looks like a Parthian being trampled. His headress to the right, beard extending to the left; right above his beard is his larger, rounded chest area. His right arm is extended above his chest, his left arm is down on the pavement breaking his fall. His knees are both bent with his right lower leg extending upwards with his right foot pointing up towards the stag. His left lower leg extends straight out to the left.

or, it could be a dolphin.