A Steed or a Packhorse, Equines in the Ancient world

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by kevin McGonigal, Feb 17, 2021.

  1. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    Nice collection of material. Lekythoi were part of a commemorative visit to the grave of a companion or loved one. I wonder if there is any funerary connection with the image of the rider on horseback?
     
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  3. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    I am familiar with Not geld (need money) as colorful paper notes. Is this one of silver with genuine intrinsic value?
     
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  4. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Thank you for the thoughtful writeup and your great coins, @kevin McGonigal .

    And, yeah, @jdmKY , been on some KY horse farms, and I really enjoy your part of the country !

    I had horses growing up, and even had them on the Farm when I expatted overseas.

    I enjoy the animals...

    I have a over a couple hundred Ancient coins featuring them. Here are a few:

    upload_2021-2-17_19-13-57.png
    Makedon Alexander I 498-454 BCE AR Obol 10mm 0.75g Horse - Quadripartite incuse sq SNG ANS 32 Rare


    upload_2021-2-17_19-14-46.png
    Carthage mint 2nd Punic War 203-201 BCE BI 1½ Shekels 24mm 9.4 g Wrthd Hd Tanit - Horse stndng R hd L, raised foreleg Pellet SNG COP 394


    upload_2021-2-17_19-16-35.png
    RR 234-231 BCE AR Heavy Denarius - Didrachm Apollo-Horse prancing Crawford 26-1 Sear 28


    upload_2021-2-17_19-17-25.png
    China Song Dynasty 10th-12th C CE AE Gaming Token 29mm 6.42g Zhui Feng Zhi Ma-horse following wind- - Horse galloping left - Classic Chinese Charms Vol I 2149


    upload_2021-2-17_19-18-23.png
    Larinum Frentani 210-175 BCE AE Quincunx 22mm 9.8g Mars or Athena corinthian helmet- Galloping Horseman spear sheild tbolt 5 pellets NH Italy 625 BMC 2 SCARCE


    upload_2021-2-17_19-19-9.png
    OSCA Spain AR silver denarius 204-154 BC. Head r beard -N behind - Horseman spear, Iberian PMAN BOLSCAN Burgos 1501 Villaronga 3


    upload_2021-2-17_19-20-6.png
    RR Anon AE Semuncia 217-215 BC Turreted Horseman Whip Roma Craw 39-5 Sear 619 Scarce


    upload_2021-2-17_19-21-20.png
    RI Trajan AR Den Rome CE 112-114. IMP TRAIANO COS VI P P l SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Trajan on horseback RIC 291


    upload_2021-2-17_19-22-6.png
    Celtic Britain Iceni Boudicca 61 CE 1.03g Celt Hd r Celtic horse galloping Seaby 434 Scarce


    upload_2021-2-17_19-22-45.png
    Carthage - Zeugitana AV 1-10th Stater-Shekel 350-320 BCE 0.94g 7.5mm Palm- Horse Head SNG COP 132
     
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  5. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    This one is made of gilded brass.
     
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  6. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    L. Cupiennus Ar Denarius 147 BC Obv, Helmeted head of Roma right cornucopia behind. Rv The Dioscuri on horseback charging right Crawford 218/1 3.97 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen 218-c.jpg It is interesting that this coin was minted more or less at the cusp of when the denarius started becoming another weapon in the art of political agitation. Right now on this coin we see nothing that would be out of place in any other civic coinage.
     
  7. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    One of my favorite design - galloping Dioscurii with lances

    upload_2021-2-17_20-5-0.png
    RR AR Den C Antestius Rome 146 BCE 3.97g 19.0mm Helm Roma R X C ANTESTI - Dioscuri gllpng R puppy-dog running ROMA Cr 219-1e


    upload_2021-2-17_20-6-2.png
    RR Anon 190 BCE AR den 20.9mm 3.7g Rome Hd Roma R X - Dioscuri riding spears, stars ROMA tablet Cr 53-2 x20



    upload_2021-2-17_20-7-49.png
    RR Anon after 211 BCE AR Quinarius 2.12g Helmeted hd Roma - Dioscuri riding Cr 68-2b was 44-6 RSC 3 ex Clain-Stefanelli


    upload_2021-2-17_20-9-14.png
    RR Anon AR Quinarius 211-210 BCE 16mm 2.14g SE Italia mint Roma V ROMA Dioscuri H Cr 85-1a SYD 174 RSC33b ex RBW SCARCE


    upload_2021-2-17_20-10-2.png
    RR AR Sestertius After 211 BCE 12mm 1.0g Rome mint Roma r IIS - Dioscuri riding stars in ex ROMA Sear 46 Craw 44-7 RSC 4


    upload_2021-2-17_20-10-52.png
    RR Anon 210 BCE AE 23 Quincunx 6.96g Apollo P behind Dioscuri Luceria 5 pellets Cr 99-4 Syd 309 S 910 Very Rare


    upload_2021-2-17_20-12-8.png
    RR Anon AR Quinarius 211-208 BCE Roma Dioscuri S 42 Cr 47-1a


    upload_2021-2-17_20-14-0.png
    RR Anon AR denarius Roma 211-206 BCE ROMA incus Dioscuri single horn-helmet Sear-- Craw 68-1b SICILY ISSUE RARE


    upload_2021-2-17_20-16-9.png
    RR Anon AR Quinarius 211-210 BCE Aplulian mint 16.5mm 2.1g Phrygian helmet Dioscuri Craw 102-2b RARE
     
  8. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    I have always been fond of the peacefully grazing horses on these provincials of Alexandria Troas:

    [​IMG]
    Valerian I, AD 253-260,
    Roman provincial AE 19 mm, 4.83 g, 7 h.
    Troas, Alexandria Troas, AD 253-260.
    Obv: IMP LICINI VALERIANV, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: COL AVG TRO, horse feeding, right.
    Refs: BMC 17.29, 159; cf: Bellinger A 436, SNG von Aulock 7573, SNG Copenhagen 191, Mionnet Suppl. V 313-314 (variations of inscriptions).
     
  9. bcuda

    bcuda El Ibérico loco

    Nice write up love it!
    dont have many horse coins but here are a few.

    9004.195.19_1.jpg

    Konterbia / Karbika
    Ancient Spain 150-101 BC.
    Obv: Male head right, hair in
    two levels, Iberian 'KARBIKA'
    behind, dolphin before
    Rev: Warrior on horseback (Jinete)
    right, holding spear; Iberian
    'KONTEBAKOM' in exergue. AE unit,
    8.90g, 24mm, 9h. ACIP 1830; CNH 7.
    Roma Numismatics E-61 Aug/22/19
    Hammered for £260,
    Ex Javier Paris Collection.

    9004.195.27_1.jpg
    Roman Occupation after 209
    BC. Obv: Bare-head left
    Scipio Africanus
    Rev: Horse standing right;
    palm tree behind.
    CNH Class XI, 282;
    SNG BM Spain 127-128; ACIP 609.
    10.30grams, 23mm,Ex Javier
    Paris Collection. Roma
    Numismatics auction E-61 Lot 66
    Villaronga pg. 72, 69;
    Burgos 425.



    carthageaa.jpg
    Carthaginian 237-209 BC
    Barcids In Spain
    PHOENICIAN AND PUNIC
    Obv: Wreathed head of
    Tanit left
    Rev: Horse’s head right,
    Phoenician letter'aleph'
    below chin.
    AE, Unit. 20mm 8.71 grams
    Reference CNH pg. 69, 45
    Burgos 515 seg.JPG
    Segobriga (SPAIN)
    ROMAN. Provincial.
    Augustus. 27 BC-14 AD
    Obv: Augustus Bare head right;
    palm behind, dolphin before
    Rev: Horseman galloping right.
    Below SEGOBRIGA
    Æ As. 11.03 grams,
    Reference: Vives 135–3, NAH 886,
    GMI 724,RPC I 470

    s-l1600celtic.jpg
    Celtic Gaul
    From around the 1st Century BC.
    Cast potin coin of Senones.
    Obverse shows warrior's head right;
    Reverse shows horse left.
    Diameter 17mm, weight 4.61g.

    Domitian_1-removebg-preview.png

    Domitian. As Caesar,
    AD 69-81. AR Denarius
    Struck under Vespasian,
    early AD 76-early AD 77.
    Obv: CAESΛR AVG F • DOMITIANVS,
    laureate head right.
    Rev: COS IIII above, Pegasus
    standing right, left foreleg
    raised. RIC II 921 (Vespasian);
    RSC 47; BMCRE 193-5 (Vespasian);
    (18mm, 3.12 g, 7h). Rome mint.

    s-l1600Theoa.jpg

    Theodosius I,
    379-395 AD.
    Obv: DN THEODOSIVS PF AVG, pearl diademed,
    draped, cuirassed bust right.
    Rev: GLORIA ROMANORVM, emperor on
    horseback right, hand raised.
    AE3 Atioch 2.20 grams
    Mintmark ANTΓ.
    RIC IX Antioch 69b Γ (Gama)

    16606.12.17_1.jpg

    Sekaisa
    Spain,
    Circa 150-100 BC.
    Obv: Bare male head right, wearing
    beaded necklace; dolphin before,
    Iberian 'SE' behind
    Rev: Warrior on horseback right,
    holding spear; Iberian 'SEKAISA'
    in exergue. ACIP 1544; CNH 24.
    Æ Unit. 20.84g, 30mm, 7h. Very Fine.
    From the inventory of a European dealer;
    Acquired from Tauler & Fau.
    Roma Numismatics E-Sale 68 27th Feb 2020
     
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  10. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    That's the saddest looking horse i have ever seen. Did the Romans have glue factories?
     
  11. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    A very interesting theory. The symbolism would certainly be fitting -- as I hinted at a bit with my "departing for parts unkown" phrasing. It's my understanding that most intact lekythoi this small were found inside tombs and were manufactured in Kerameikos (the Athens pottery district; the origin of the word "ceramic") for that purpose, both for the domestic and export markets. The symbolism would fit that use as well. To be fair, though, there a lot of different designs on lekythoi, and most of the ones I've seen (including the other two I own and have previously posted here) bear no obvious death-related symbolism.
     
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  12. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    He doesn't look sad to me; he's just hungry. All those Alexandria Troas horses look kind of like that; I think mine does as well.

    Anonymous colonial civic issue, AE 23, 251 - 260 AD (Trebonianus Gallus to Valerian I), Troas, Alexandria Troas Mint. Obv. Draped bust of Tyche right, wearing mural crown, vexillum inscribed CO AV over right shoulder, CO ALEX TR / Rev. Horse (of Erichthonius?)* grazing to right, COL AVG, TROAD in exergue. RPC IX 505 (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/9/505); Bellinger A486 [Alfred A. Bellinger, Troy, The Coins (Princeton 1961)]; BMC 17 Troas, 46 var. [diff. legends]; see also id. 45, 47-50 var. [Warwick Wroth, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 17, Troas, Aeolis, and Lesbos (London 1894)]; SNG Copenhagen 108-113 [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Copenhagen, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Part 20, Troas (1945)]. 23 mm., 5.80 g. Purchased from Kenneth W. Dorney; ex: Pars Coins.


    Alexandria Troas (Tyche-Horse) jpg version.jpg

    * See BMC 17 Troas at xviii, citing Cavedoni (Spicil., p. 151) for the suggestion that the grazing horse, first depicted on the coins of Alexandria Troas ca. 300 BCE, is one of the horses of Erichthonius, father of Tros, after whom Troas was named.

    ***

    However, I do have to admit that that's the saddest-looking Tyche I've ever seen.
     
  13. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    GRAZING HORSES

    EEYORE


    [​IMG]
    RR Prv Macedon Province 168-166 BC Tamios Quaestor Athena Cow -
    Looks like a horse ... or Eeyore

    [​IMG]
    Thessaly Larissa 344-337 BCE AR Obol 0.68g 9mm 3/4 Facing NymphLarissa Horse Grazing SNG Cop 1
    Gifted from @ancientcoinguru


    [​IMG]
    RI Valerian I 253-260 CE AE 20mm Alexandria Troas mint Horse Grazing
     
  14. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I can't say I agree with this right off. There are several emperors with no horses but many had a few types. There may not have been as many as in the earlier Republic but horses are not hard to find.
    Trajan
    rc1690bb1732.jpg

    Commodus
    rc2640bb0416.jpg

    Septimius Severus
    rg3860bb1220.jpg

    Caracalla
    rm6700bb0102.jpg

    Geta
    rm7050bb1393.jpg


    Gordian III
    ro0525bb3056.jpg

    Philip
    ro0955bb1990.jpg

    Decius
    ro1270b01260lg.jpg

    Gallus
    ro1410bb1261.jpg

    As far as I am concerned, the best later horses come from Probus. I wish I had one of his obverses with the horsehead but I'll settle for a chariot of fire.
    rs2910b01457lg.jpg
     
  15. Theodosius

    Theodosius Fine Style Seeker

    Nice write up and thread.

    One of my favorite coins with a horse. A stater from Maroneia.
    Maroneia Tet 1Xa.jpg

    John
     
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  16. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

    Excellent write up. Enjoyed it very much.

    several Aes Grave trientes and a semis of horses....

    lastly, Roman phalera c 1-3rd century AD.

    161.jpg 13234_0.jpg 98742q00.jpg 2550152l.jpg image00017.jpg image00873.jpg 109146.jpg nTw93BmWa8JS4LfMK7kimXt252FbC6.jpg
     
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  17. Carl Wilmont

    Carl Wilmont Well-Known Member

    Interesting article on horses, @kevin McGonigal! Here's a coin of Philip II whom you mentioned in the write-up.

    Philip II for Caleb.jpg

    Kings of Macedon. Philip II (359-336 BC). Æ (18 mm, 6.96 g).
    Head of Apollo right, wearing tainia. / ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ, Youth on rearing horse right, dolphin and AP monogram below.
     
  18. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Those are great Aes Graves, @octavius ... I really like my Aes Grave, but have no horses! Looks like you have a stable full!

    @Carl Wilmont is right, (and, nice coin!), Philip II loved his horses, even won an Olympiad.

    Philip II

    [​IMG]
    Makedon Philip II AE 18 Apollo - Youth Horseback spear hd below 359-356 BCE 18mm 6.2g SNG ANS 850-1


    [​IMG]
    MAKEDON Philip II 1/5th Stater Apollo head r - Horseman r trident below as S6691
     
  19. maridvnvm

    maridvnvm Well-Known Member

    I have bought a few horse based types over the years.

    Here are a few of the Greeks I acquired in no particular order.

    anatolia_1d_img.jpg Calabria_1c_img.jpg Macedonian_Kingdom_1j_img_0.jpg normal_Anatolia_1a_img_0.jpg normal_Paeonia_1a_img_0.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

  20. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

  21. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    Absolutely stunning collection.
     
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