Featured Follow the coin theme GAME - ancient edition - post ‘em if you got ‘em

I don't know of a coin for Trajan struck only in year 117 (last year of reign) - I do have one of Hadrian from 117 (first year of reign). Curious to know if there is such a coin. Here's one struck AD 116-117 according to CNG and AD 114-117 according to RIC II Online (Trajan 332).

Trajan, AD 98-117, AR denarius, struck AD 114-117
Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIM AVG GER DAC, bust of Trajan, laureate, draped, right
Rev: PARTHICO P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Felicitas, draped, standing left, holding caduceus up in right hand and cornucopiae in left
Ref: RIC II 332
Note: the lettering on this coin is pretty sloppy in general - the R's especially the one in SQPR look a lot like Q turned R.

Next: coin of a die maker with poor lettering skills

 

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Obviously barbarous, the reverse of this Septimius Severus is particularly raggedy and splits the words in unusual places (PM TRP III COS II PP). Of course the bare headed portrait that looks like Clodius Albinus also contributes to the situation.

Next: Odd letter spacings

 

12 hours

Amisos, Kingdom of Pontus
c. 85-65 BCE
AE | 7.48g | 21mm
Obv: Aegis facing front
Rev: Nike walking right holding palm, AMI-ΣOY
Ref: SNG-BMC Black Sea#1182

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Next: Another Black Sea region coin

 

next: medusa

 

This qualifies to meet both of the two most recent requests, as the obverse can be interpreted as Medusa, and Apollonia Pontika (now Sozopol) is on the Black Sea:

Thrace, Apollonia Pontika [now Sozopol, Bulgaria], AR Drachm, ca. 450-400 BCE. Obv. Upright anchor with large flukes and curved stock; “A” [for Apollonia] to left and crayfish to right between flukes and stock / Rev. Facing gorgoneion (Medusa), wavy hair parted in middle, 16 thin, open-mouthed snakes around head as additional hair or crown, puffy cheeks, mouth open, tongue protruding (but not extending below chin), all within shallow incuse. Goldsborough Type 3 [Goldsborough, Reid, Apollonia Pontika Drachms (see https://web.archive.org/web/20141115000124/http://medusacoins.reidgold.com/apollonia.html), Catalogue of Types]; Seaby 1655 var. (crayfish to left, A to right) [Sear, David, Greek Coins and their Values, Vol. 1: Europe (Seaby 1978); Topalov 41-42 [Topalov, Stavri, Apollonia Pontika: Contribution to the Study of the Coin Minting of the City 6th - 1st c. B.C., Catalogue of Apollonia Coins, 7th-1st c. B.C. (Sofia, 2007) (English Translation, Kindle edition)]; BMC 15 Mysia 8-10 [Wroth, Warwick, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 15, Mysia (London, 1892) at pp. 8-9]; SNG.BM.159; see also id. Nos. 154-158 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain, Volume IX, British Museum, Part 1: The Black Sea (London, 1993)] [online ID SNGuk_0901_0159 ]. 14 mm., 2.96 g., 3 h.


Next: more gorgoneions.

 

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 95/4 BC
Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
28.5mm 16.76 gm Thompson issue (New) 66
Thompson catalogue: 937a ? (not in plates)
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
on which month mark Γ control MH below
3 magistrates : NIKETES DIONYSIOS MENE
RF symbol : Gorgon Head
All surrounded by an olive wreath

A coin that through its symbol is linked to the king of Pontus's mythological forebears. Who the magistrates on the coin were we don't know, but at this time it is apparent that the factions in Athens were divided on either supporting Mithridates or Rome.

Next: a coin with political links

 

CILICIA, Aegeae. Valerian 31mm, 20.37g, 6h. zodiac with medusa. (image courtesy of Numismatic, National Museums in Berlin Acc. 1873) - what an amazing coin!

(not in my collection)

Next: signs of the Zodiac

 

I can't help but think the reverse of this coin refers to the constellation Leo:


Greek Ionia, Miletos.
AE Hemiobol, 3.35 g, 18.3 mm, 12 h.
Aeschylinos, magistrate, ca. 200 BC.
Obv: Apollo Didymeus standing right, holding small stag and bow; monogram below.
Rev: Lion seated right with head turned to left, star above, monogram right, ΑIΣXΥΛΙΝΟΥ in exergue.
Refs: Deppert 941-56 var; Marcellesi 56.

Next: Miletos

 

Here's a favorite for political message: Ariarathes IX portrait looking a lot like his father (Mithradates VI of Pontus) with what appears to be a not-so-subtle message: "He's my son - watch how you behave or you may find yourself on the wrong side of the Great King of Pontus." This is the same Mithradates who murdered his nephew Ariarathes VII, and then placed his 8-year-old son on the throne.

Kings of Cappadocia, Ariarathes IX Eusebes Philopator, circa 100-85 BC, AR drachm, Mint A (Eusebeia-Mazaka), dated RY 4 (97/6 BC)
Obv: Diademed head right, with the features of Mithradates VI of Pontos
Rev: Athena Nikephoros standing left; monogram to inner left, Δ (date) in exergue

For more on this story and other related coins of Cappadocia: A Father's Support

I think "Signs of the Zodiac" came in as a follow-up to "more gorgoneions" after the buzzer - to stay in one thread: let's keep the "Next" from @Roman Collector.

Next: Miletos

 

Yeah I was after the buzzer on that one. Game over!

 

Ionia, Miletos. Gallienus AE21. Diogenous Dionysiou
Obv: AVT K ΠO ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHN, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right.
Rev: EΠI AP ΔIOΓE MIΛHCIΩN. Cult statue of Artemis facing, holding patera in right hand and bow with left.
Magistrate: Diogenous Dionysiou.
BMC 167.

Next: Ionian provincial

 

New theme,
Titus as Caesar, Mars with trophy.

Next, a divus Titus.

 

12 hours

Ghurid Dynasty
1206 - 1215 AD
Issued under Tay al-Din Yildiz
Kurraman Mint
AE Jital | 2.93g | 14mm
Ref: Tye#200

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Next: Another long-tailed beast

 

Far more people are killed by horses than .......
Philip I antoninianus Eastern mint


Next: A really dangerous animal

 

Is a panther dangerous enough?

Gallienus (253-268), Antoninianus, Rome mint.
Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right;
Reverse: LIBERO P CONS AVG, panther walking left. B in exergue;
RIC 230

Next: a Roman coin featuring a reptile.

 

next: another reptile(s)

 

LIZARD


SICILY Kamarina Æ Onkia 13mm 1.5g 420-405 BC-OLDEST Gorgon tongue - KAMA owl r lizard in claw pellet in ex SNG Münch 411

Next: More reptiles

 

Ae sextans of Roman Republic, C. 230 BCE. Tortoise obv.



next... Amphibian.

 

Augustus and Agrippa Ae As or Dupondius 9/8-3 BCObv. Heads of Augustus and Agrippa back to back. Rv Crocodile right chained to palm shoot. RIC 158 RPC 524 12.51 grms 25 mm Photo by W. Hansen Ooops my mistake DonnaML is correct back to amphibian