Got Bugs ??????

Hmmm, crayfish and insects share the same phylum, anthropoda, so whats the diff?

 

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M. Aemilius Scaurus AR Denarius
58 B.C.
Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 3.8 grams
Obverse: King Aretas of Nabataea kneeling in supplication, beside camel, giving an olive branch. M SCAVR / AED CVR above, S C in right field
Reverse: Jupiter in quadriga (left), scorpion below horses. PHVPSAE/AED CVR above horses, CAPTV in right field, C HVPAE COS/PREIVER in exergue

 

alicechaos & Bing => my bad ... well played my ancient friends, well played!!

:arguing:

 

Neither is a scorpion, Steve, but I hesitate to point that out because this is 'Coin Talk' not the test prep site for the Biology at the local school. Here I'm violating my own pet peeve: Off Topic posts using non coin related material (polar bears, for example). To get back on topic: There are two reasons for insects on coins. (1) We love our honeybees and put them on coins and (2) the things are pests destroying our crops or spreading disease. Can someone show an ancient pest? I can't think of a pest coin offhand. I'm not sure I know a pest coin until we get recent enough that 'collectible' coins started being more commemorative tokens than legal tender.

The Apollonia coin critter is always given as a crayfish. How do we know that the intent was little rather than lobster. Does anyone know what crustacean is common in that region?

 

... ummm, so I guess you're not givin' me a like, eh?

:kewl:

Fine ... I'll go try and figure out what the Apollonian kids were catching on the beaches (homework assignment => *sigh*)

 

not true that is my main focus.. coins with insects. quite a challenge. I have 140 out of the current 190 coins with insects out there to date.

 

not true. it is my main focus....coins with insects. to date I have 140 out of the 180 curently out there now. it's a challenge. so are very rare and some are very expensive.

 

not true that is my main focus.. coins with insects. quite a challenge. I have 140 out of the current 190 coins with insects out there to date. some are much rarer than others and some are very expensive.Read more: http://www.cointalk.com/t217944-4/#ixzz2L9odC07M

 

I will post pics of my whole "bug" coins when I have more time.

 

I assume your 190 number refers to modern coins only. I suspect there are that many ancients (almost all bees) if you count 'minor types' or small devices added in the field to some issues as a coded reference to a magistrate or date. For example the bee is easily missed if you are looking at the elephants:
http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=432082


Also some are beyond rare and expensive, as you said. I'm not sure if this really is a horsefly as listed but I won't be buying the coin in any event due to the price:
http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=631447

 

Alexander the Great, Alexander III, silver drachm, Magnesia ad Maeandrum, struck under Philip III Arrhidaios
Obv:– Head of (Alexander the Great as) Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress knotted at base of neck
Rev:– ALEXANDPOY, Zeus seated left, holding eagle in right hand and scepter in left, bee right in left field; spear head in right field
Minted in Magnesia ad Maeandrum mint. circa 323-319 BC under Philip III Arrhidaios.
Reference:– Price 1936

 

They're called "cockroaches" in America.

 

Martin, what is the significance of the bee in the field?

 

Hmm, a cockroach is not the same as a cricket methinks ... And here is another insect - an ant from a Latvian 1 lats coin (image from the central bank site). They come up with a new design every year.



Christian

 

you are correct there are so many ancient coins with insects on them... not sure how many there are. I love the Greek bee's and some beetle ancient coins I cannot remember off the top of my head. way down the road I want a greek bee in so-so grade. they get pretty expensive in high grades. thanks for your post.

 

my newest insect coin: praying mantis:
2012 KAZAKHSTAN PRAYING MANTIS HIERODULA TENUIDENTATA 50 TENGE COIN ~GEM BU~ I bought off Ebay for $10.00 free shipping. :kewl:

 

that beetle coin is on my want list. unfortunately my money is so tight now. I will get it later though. great design. thanks for posting it.

 

you are correct. i am still including scorpions and spiders and mosquitos to my insect coin collection.

 

some ancient insects coins on my want list 10 years in the future: bee's and beetles, grasshoppers/crickets. :