Four-horse chariots -- quadrigas -- are common on ancient coins. Chariots drawn by four other animals are less common. Here is one drawn by four sea horses, fish-tailed horses called hippocamps. \ AE 16-17. 4.13 grams. Berytos (Beruit), Phoenicia 87/6 - 82/1 BC. Turreted bust of Tyche right Poseidon standing in car drawn by four hippocamps left. Sear Greek p. 522 type of 6019 Hoover X 109, p. 30 McClean III Phonenica 12, plate 349 is 21 mm, not 16-17 mm like this one. SNG Copenhagen VII Berytos 83 Show us your quadrigas that are not drawn by horses.
Wow, that's a very nice example of the type! I picked one up a couple of years ago and adore it PHOENICIA, Berytos 1st century BCE Æ19.5, 5.9 gm Obv: Turreted head of Tyche right Rev: Poseidon standing left in quadriga drawn by four hippocamps Ref: SNG Copenhagen 83 My other "alternative modes of transportation" are bigas, although there are are a few unusual quadrigas on the never-ended shopping list. On the OP coin you can see more details, including the little guy "guiding the team". From Catalogue of Greek coins in the Hunterian collection, University of Glasgow (1899):
@Valentinian @TIF : Nice coins and definitely tough to find. Here's an interesting Sestertius of Lucius Verus with an elephant quadriga; Ox: DIVVS VERVS Rx: CONSECRATIO; Verus seated left on cart drawn by four elephants, each with a driver
L JULIUS CAESAR ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS JULIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: CAESAR Head of Mars left in crested helmet REVERSE: Venus Genettris with scepter, in chariot drawn by two Cupids left, lyre in field, contolmark above, L IVLI L F in ex. Struck at Rome, 103BC 3.85g, 17mm Cr320/1, Syd 593a
M. VOLTEIUS M.F. ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS VOLTEIA AR Fouree Denarius OBVERSE: Laureate & helmeted bust of Attis right; shield behind REVERSE: Cybele seated right in chariot drawn by two lions; OQ above Rome 78BC 2.9g, 18mm Cr385/4; Syd 777, Volteia 4
C RENIUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind REVERSE: Juno Capriotina in biga of goats right, C RENI below goats, ROMA in ex Struck at Rome 138 BC 3.6g, 16mm Cr231/1, Syd 432
Oh, I really want one of those... I have a couple of interesting bigas, but alas, no unusual quadrigas.
Nice, always liked coins with quadrigas on them or anything unusual. Another coin to add to my to get list.
