MYSIA. Pergamun. Cistophoric Tetradrachm AR 133 - 67 B.C. 12.63 grams, 27 mm Obv: Snake emerging from basket (Cista Mystica) all within ivy wreath Rev: Serpents entwined about bow case with Pergamun monogram above & also to left. KP above. Grade: aEF with old toning. Reverse perfectly centered and obverse slightly off center. Other: Purportedly purchased from Stacks in 2009. Pergamun became the capital of the Roman province of Asia in 133 B.C. Pergamun was allowed to continue striking coins in the style of the Greek times while they were part of the Roman empire. One Cistophoric Tet equals three Roman Denarii.
Lovely coin, especially the toning. Man. Acilius Glabrio ( 49 B.C.) AR Denarius O: SALVTIS behind, laureate head of Salus right, wearing earring and necklace; hair in knot, falling down neck. R: MN. ACILIVS III. VIR. VALETV, Valetudo (Salus) standing left, holding serpent, resting elbow on column. Rome 18mm 3.9g Sear 412; Crawford 442/1a; CRI 16; Sydenham 922
Perhaps I've got the Pergamun monogram deciphered thanks to my Sear book. On the left it appears to be a monogram of (∏ΕPΓ). At the top the monogram is apparently (∏PY). Might it be better to describe the reverse as follows: Rev: Serpents entwined about bow case with Pergamun monogram (∏ΕPΓ) to left & KP/(∏PY) above. Also, do you spell the name of this city Pergamon or Pergamun? Sear uses Pergamon so I should probably change it yes?
ROMANREPUBLIC => L. Roscius Fabatus AR (Silver) Serratus Denarius Rome Mint Struck 59 BC Diameter: 18mm Weight: 3.84 grams Obverse: Head of Juno Sospita in goat skin, L ROSCI below, Rhyton behind (couple of banker's marks) Reverse: Girl standing right feeding serpent before, symbol to left, FABATI in exergue The reverse depicts the scene that occurred early at Lanuvium at the festival in honor of Juno Sospita, when a virgin descended into the grotto under the temple with food for the serpent who dwelt there. If the girl was chaste, she returned safely to her home, where there was much rejoicing. Reference: Crawford 412/1; Syd 915; Roscia 3. Other: Nice VF+ … Attractively toned
MOESIA INFERIOR, Marcianopolis. Philip II. As Caesar Æ Pentassarion AD 244-247 Diameter: 27 mm Weight: 13.73 grams Obverse: Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust of Philip II right, facing draped bust of Serapis left, wearing calathus Reverse: Serpent coiled left; E (mark of value) to right Reference: H&J 6.44.22.2; Varbanov 2100 Other: 2h ... Good VF, green-brown patina
L Papius AR denarius serratus 79 BC Diameter: 18 mm Weight: 3.40 grams Obverse: Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goatskin, snake behind (bankers marks on portrait?) Reverse: Gryphon dancing right, Snake / dog. Symbol 122 (Rare and unusual symbol), L PAPI (exergue) Reference: Syd 773, Cr384/1. Symbol 122 Other: nice silver tone … Better in hand!!
That Euboea reverse is similar to the eagle and snake on Feuchtwanger's one cent tokens. Wonder if Dr. Feuchtwanger had seen the the Euboean coin? There were probably been many other eagle/snake coins between the Chalkis coin and the Feuchtwanger token though, so who knows. And it's funny how so many of these ancient coins are in better shape than my less-than-200-year-old coins.
Highly educated people of his time knew a lot more about Classical civilizations than they do today. He probably had seen if not owned one. I suspect the difference is that there are more people who want the 200 year old US items do damaged ones are easily salable. There are thousands of poor grade ancients that no one wanted before eBay came along. You only see the better ones at full service ancient dealers.
Good Lord, snakes give me the Heebie-jeebies..........spiders too. Still, nice examples posted fellows. You guys 'Rock'.........
Monogram is a Snake in a bowl MACEDONIAN KINGDOM Alexander III (The Great) AR Tetradrachm ca. 330-323 B.C. 17.06 grams, 26 mm diameter Obv: Head of young Herakles facing right clad in lion’s skin Rev: Zeus enthroned facing left with legs parallel holding eagle and scepter. Serpent in a bowl to left, AΛΕΞΑΝΑΡΟΥ to right Grade: GVF with attractive old toning and lustrous details in the protected areas. Slightly off center on small flan Other: Coveted lifetime issue coin with snake monogram possibly from the 'Babylon', 'Pella', or 'Sardes' mint. Similar to Sear 6724, Price 3665 Variant. From private sale June 2013.
ROME1st-3rd centuries AD. PB Tessera (18mm, 2.58 g, 12h) Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia Serpent rightRostovtzev 1564; Milan 233-4; München 255; BM 565 EGYPT, Oxyrhynchus2nd-3rd centuries AD PB Tessera (26mm, 6.53 g, 1 h) Athena-Theoris advancing right, fighting serpent Zeus Nicephorus seated left Milne 5303-6 (same reverse die as illustration); Dattari (Savio) -; Köln 3554 (same dies)
