Well for my 6,000 post I mind as well post a fairly special coin. I was gonna post it later. I got this coin about a month ago. Its a fairly scarce coin, especially compared to the more common one serpent reverse. It's also nice to have an animal ancient of some sort instead of the usual eagle, peacock or tiny snake from Salus. Hadrian (117 - 138 A.D.) Billon Tetradrachm O: AYT KAI-TPAI AΔPIA CEB, Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. R: L Δ_EK_ATOY Agathodaemon erect right at left, wearing skhent and enfolding caduceus, facing Uraeus erect left at right, wearing disk and horns, enfolding sistrum, their tails knotted together and holding a club erect. Alexandria Mint, 125/126 (Year 10) 10.6g 19.5mm Emmett 804 Dattari 1552; BMC 668; Milne 1164; Curtis 351; Demetrio 1247 The Caluceus refers to Hermanubis, the Sistrum is a symbol for Isis and the Club refers to Harpocrates.
Wow, super cool Hadrian coin (I am quite jealous of that fine lookin' animal coin) ... I think I just crapped my pants?!! => well done, my fine brother who collects sisters ... well done!!
Fine looking coin, Mat. I saw this reverse for the first time recently and it certainly caught my eye. Great pick up!
Well Mat ... even though my humble offering only has "one serpent", I feel that it still belongs in a thread associated with Hadrian-n-Snake coins from Alexandria ... hopefully, you agree? EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian Æ Obol AD 117-138 Dated RY 14 (AD 129/3) Diameter: 20 mm Weight: 4.51 grams Obverse: Laureate head right Reverse: Uraeus (cobra) to left, with poppy and grain ear; L-IΔ (date) across upper field Reference: Köln 1022; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G 32.501; Emmet 1170 Other: 12h ... red-brown patina
Thanks for the comments. Steve, looks like Hadrian and the Serpent got in a scuffle & the Serpent won. If anyone recalls the story of Hadrian once stabbed a slave in the eye, looks the Serpent taught Hadrian the feeling!
Speaking of serpents ... man, I never get enough chances to post this lil' winner, so here it is ... The Duke of Milan, Bernabo and Galeazzo II Visconti, AR Grosso or Pegione 1355-1378 AD Diameter: 25 mm Weight: 2.50 grams Obverse: Snake with maiden in its mouth between B G; above (an eagle) a aquiletta R/S Reverse: Ambrose on the throne
