Just received this coin. Kyzikos, Mysia. AE13 civic issue. 2nd-1st centuries BC. 2.3 g. Bull's head right. / KY above, ZI below monogram ΡΔI within wreath. BMC 154. Post your entire or partial Bulls
GELA, SICILY Æ Trias OBV: Bull standing right, head lowered; ••• (mark of value) in exergue REV: Head of young river god right, hair flowing; barley grain behind Struck at Gela, Sicily, 420 - 405BC 3.55g, 17mm Jenkins, Gela 506 and 520; CNS 17; SNG ANS ex Agora Auctions ex, Roma Numismatics, ex Mark Christenson Collection THESSALY, TRIKKA AR Hemidrachm OBV: Youth, petasos and cloak tied at neck, wrestling forepart of bull right REV: Forepart of horse galloping right; T-PI-KK-A-I around; all within concave incuse Circa 420-400 BC 2.7g, 17mm SNG Cop 265 ex: JAZ Numismatics THRACE, PANTIKAPAION AE18 OBVERSE: Head of Pan left REVERSE: P-A-N, head & neck of bull three-quarters left. Struck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC 4.0g, 18mm SNG BMC Black Sea 890 PHOKIS, FEDERAL COINAGE AR Triobol OBVERSE: Bull’s head facing REVERSE: Laureate head of Apollo right, Φ-Ω before, lyre behind Struck at Phokis 357-346 BC 2.50g, 14mm SNG Cop 121
How to choose... I'll do one Cilician + a group of Thessalian ones that belong together: I'm partial to this one, an AR Stater of the Satrap Mazaios, struck in Tarsus shortly before Alexander the Great took the city. (The bull may yet come back and win -- not over yet!) This specimen has an interesting backstory. It was a scarce type until a large hoard was found (the so-called "Tarsus Hoard," late 1970s, see below). Much of it, including this coin, was acq. by the "Athena Fund," Merrill-Lynch's ancient coin investment fund that went bust (and the manager, Bruce McNall famously imprisoned, about which, to his credit, he wrote a classic memoir, Fun While It Lasted). This was also one of the first ancient coins ever encapsulated (the Seventko Collection, encapsulated by ICG for Heritage Auction 296 in 2002): Tarsos, Cilicia AR Stater (10.66g, 22.5mm, 1h). temp. Mazaios, Satrap of Cilicia, BC 361 – 334. Obv: BLTRZ (Baaltars) in Aramaic to right. Baal of Tarsos seated left, holding eagle, grain ear, grapes, and scepter; TR (in Aramaic) to lower left, M (in Aramaic) below throne. Rev: MZDI. Lion attacking bull left; monogram below. Ref: SNG Levante 106; Casabonne Series 2, Group C. Cf. BMC 53; Babelon 695. Provenance: Ex-CNG EA 455 (30 Oct 2019), Lot 168, J.B. (d. 2019, Edmonton) Collection; ex Calgary Coin Galleries, Autumn 2004; Heritage 296 (27 Jul 2002), Lot 11134, Dr. Joseph M. Seventko Collection; ICG (AU53) #5571290112 (removed from encapsulation, Feb 2021); CNG MBS XXIX (30 Mar 1994), Lot 252 (ill. on p. 25); Sotheby’s w/ NFA, “Greek and Roman Coins” (27 Oct 1993), Lot 808.1 (rev. illustrated), Athena Fund (Part II). Prob. ex “Tarsus Hoard” (late 1970s; see Bing, 1998, “Datames and Mazaeus....” Historia 47 (1): p. 63, n. 6 & p. 73). See the Provenance Diagram. I like the Thessalian ones that illustrate the local horseback bull-wrestling games known as Taurokathapsia. The same event (more-or-less, we presume) is depicted over the course of more than 500 years of Thessalian coins here, through the reign of Nero. I love all the bulls and horses on these: Thessaly, Larissa AR Stater, c. 460-450 BCE w/ BCD's tags, B&W photos: Thessaly, Krannon AR Obol, c. 460 BCE: Thessaly, Krannon AE Chalkous, c. 4th cent. BCE: Thessaly, Pherai, Tyrant Alexander AE, 369-358 BCE: Thessaly, Koinon, Nero AE Diassarion (?), c. 66-87 CE. It's hard to see what the image is, but it shows the bull-wrestler (Thessalos?) leaping from the horse to catch the bull's horns with a strap of fabric or leather: Well, I guess all of those aren't very nice to the bulls now that I think about it... But I do like them. Sorry, bulls.
Got this very modest bull recently; it was in a mixed lot: Vespasianus face looks a bit bullish, at least he doesn't look as usual The bull is probably a reference to the agricultural prosperity of his 7th consulship. Denarius, Rome 76 AD 19 x 18 mm, 3.173 g RIC II, Vespasianus, 841; RSC 118; BMCRE 177; Ob.: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG [starting counter-clockwise at 5 o’clock], laureate head of Vespasianus to right. Rev.: COS VII above bull standing right
Nice examples! Here is my best representative bull: Lucania, Thurium, tetradrachm (double nomos), 443-400 BC. 15.47 grams Obverse: head of Athena to the right, wearing crested helmet decorated with laurel wreath. Reverse: ΘOΥΡΙΩΝ; bull butting to the right; to the right: エ.
Hi All, HADRIAN (11 Aug 117 - 10 Jul 138 CE) ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT Year 18 (133/134 CE) Æ Diobol Broucheion Collection R-19xx-xx-xx.024 Obv: Hadrian laureate draped head facing right. Legend: [AVTK]AICTPAIAN - AΔPIAN[OCCЄB]. Dotted border. Rev: Apis bull walking to right in front of alter. Above: IH. Dotted border. Note: No disk between horns. Refs: Emmett-1114.18; Geissen-1102; Dattari-2009 through 2010; RPC III-5927/42; BMC-811; Staffieri 'Alexandria In Nummis' #88 From CNG Triton XXI, Stafierri Collection: "In Egyptian mythology, Apis is a sacred bull worshipped primarily in Memphis. Identified as the son of Hathor, a primary deity in the pantheon of ancient Egypt, he was initially assigned a significant role in her worship, being sacrificed and reborn. Later, Apis also served as an intermediary between humans and other powerful deities (first Ptah, later Osiris, then Atum). The Apis bull was one of the most important of all the sacred animals in Egypt, and, as with the others, this importance increased as time went on. During the colonization of Egypt, Greek and Roman authors had much to say about the Apis bull: the markings by which the black calf was recognized, the manner of his conception by a ray from heaven, his house at Memphis with a court for his amusement, the mode of prognostication from his actions, his death, the mourning at his death, his costly burial, and the rejoicings throughout the country when a new Apis was found. Auguste Mariette’s excavation of the Serapeum of Saqqara revealed the tombs of more than sixty animals, ranging from the time of Amenhotep III to that of the Ptolemaic dynasty." - Broucheion
BITHYNIA, Kalchedon. Circa 367/6-340 BC. AR Drachm (15mm, 3.76 g). Bull standing left on grain ear; kerykeion and monogram to left / Quadripartite incuse square with stippled quarters. Türkoğlu S02a; HGC 7, 511. VF, light toning. From the Kallman Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 195 (10 September 2008), lot 64.
Being born in May, my horoscope is Taurus, the Bull: Roman Republic AR denarius, L. THORIUS BALBUS. Obv: I S M R, Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin. Rev: L THORIVS / BALBVS, Bull charging right; A above. Crawford 316/1. Roman Republic, A. Postumius A.f. Sp.n. Albinus, 81 BC Silver Denarius, Rome Mint, 19mm, 3.85 grams Obverse: Draped bust of Diana right with bow and quiver over shoulder, bucranium above. Reverse: Togate figure standing left on rock holding aespergilium over bull, flaming altar between them, A POST A F S N ALBIN around. Postumia 7 // Crawford 372/1 // RBW 1392 AUGUSTUS 27 BC - AD 14 AR Denarius. 3.51g, 19.3mm MINTED: Lugdunum (Lyon) mint, 15 BC REF: RIC I 167a; Lyon 19; RSC 137 OBVERSE: AVGVSTVS DIVI F, bare head right. REVERSE: Bull butting right, left forefoot raised, lashing his tail; IMP • X in exergue. LUCANIA Thourioi (Thurium). Circa 350-300 BC AR Nomos Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet with Skylla thowing stone / Bull butting right; ΣΩ above; in exergue, fish right 7.80 g, 20-21 mm, silver. Toned, struck with worn dies, small graffito on reverse References: HN Italy 1820; SNG ANS 1076; HGC I, 1262 EUBOIA Euboian League. Circa 304-290 BC AR Drachm Head of the nymph Euboia right / Head of bull right; EY above, lyre to right 3.30 g, 16 mm, silver, toned, rough area on obverse References: SNG Alpha Bank, Greece 6, 984; HGC 4, 1420 Thessaly, Larissa, 400-360 BC, AR Drachm, Youth wrestling bull left/Rev. horse prancing right, 5.77g BMC 39 THRACE, Byzantion. Circa 387/6-340 BC. AR Drachm (16mm, 3.72 g). Heifer standing left on dolphin left; trident head below raised foreleg / Incuse punch of mill-sail pattern. Schönert-Geiss, Byzantion 712–32; HGC 3
I love seeing all these bulls and how universally meaningful a symbol it must've been in the ancient world (albeit in various different ways). Here's the miniature 11mm, 1.04g version of @Bing 's AE Trias above. There's one dot in the exergue, representing AE Uncia (Lindgren II 459): Here's another bronze, one of these decorated Euboian bulls -- similar to the League Drachm posted above. Again, there are "fillets" dangling from the ears. I'm curious exactly what ritual they are being prepared for. I assume this is preparation for the sacrifice. Similar scenes are known throughout the ancient Greek and Roman world (Taurobolium). From 3rd-2nd BCE Euboia, Karystos (BCD Euboia 587): Herakles obverse with dolphin countermark, which I particularly enjoy. (Note @Mr.MonkeySwag96 : Since your coin is "reportedly ex W.P. Wallace Collection" -- most important scholar of the Eub. League -- it's very likely one of the specimens cited in his book on the League Coinage -- probably under type 92 in the Catalog, where he lists specimens weighing 3.30, 3.31, and 3.28g, "Wallace EL 411-413, Hoard 4." You can often track these to the specimens described or even photographed in his many hoard notebooks, which are digitized by ANS.) Staying in Central Greece, but a different League's bull coins, I love these Phokian League Hemiobols & Obols (BCD 198, 197, Duplicate): Moving eastward, here's Thrace, Byzantion. I really enjoy the double-strike (I think?), which gives the bull six legs, and appears rather like an animation showing it kicking (colección Guadán 1870): Remarkably, there's another (?) one of these with the same double-strike (or is it just a weird die with six legs?) published from a plaster cast in Schoenert-Geiss' 1970 Griechisches Münzwerk die Münzprägung von Byzantion (No. 561, hoard coin at Istanbul). It's paired with a different reverse, otherwise I would be certain it's the same coin. (Some of Guadan's specimens did appear in that book, so I wonder if she got the casts mixed up and this is actually the same coin? I think prob. not.) Close, but not the same, I guess... (Still considering possible scenarios.) I never get tired of these jumbo Apis Bulls on the Julian II "Double-Maiorinae": These are very interesting for having been referenced in at least 3-4 classical sources known today. Most seem to have a disparaging tone (at least two authors' histories were purposely biased in favor of the Christian church). Some Provincial subjects were apparently hostile to the design, the citizens of Antioch reportedly complaining about this coin: “…the bull, which was impressed upon his coin, was a symbol of his having desolated the world. For the emperor, being excessively superstitious, was continually sacrificing bulls on the altars of his idols, and had ordered the impression of a bull and altar to be made on his coin.” -- The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus
I have one to add. L. Thorius Balbus OBV. 3.89g Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin. Rev: L THORIVS / BALBVS, Bull charging right; V above. Crawford 316/1. SYD 598
SICILY, SYRACUSE Time of Agathokles, 317-289 BC AE (15.51mm, 4.10g, 7h) Struck 317-310 BC Obverse: Head of Kore left; dolphin in front, ear of corn behind Reverse: Bull butting left; monogram above, ΣΥPAKOΣIΩN in exergue References: CNS II 109/Ds95 Dark glossy patina with mineral deposits.
Have a Thorius Balbus albeit with some dark something. Got it from HJB pick-bin in September for about $17 (i bought 7 coins for $115). Haven't tried to clean it because last time I cleaned a coin the result was a complete disaster. L. Thorius Balbus was born in an uncertain year in Lanuvium, Hispania, where there was a cult of Iuno Sospita. Lanuvium was the city of Iuno Seispes Mater Regina; etymologically Seispes - whose meaning is unclear until today – turned into Sospes or Sospita, meaning helper or savior. Denarius, Rome, 105 BC 19 mm, 3.566 g Crawford 316/1; RSC Thoria 1; Sydenham 598; RCV 2000 Ed., 192; BMCRR 1617 Ob.: Head of Iuno Sospita to r., wearing goatskin headdress; I•S•M•R (Iuno Sispes Mater Regina) downwards at left Rev.: Bull charging to right; control letter B above; below L•THORIVS /BALBVS. Border of dots
Great find for a Pick-Bin! I've got a bunch of $16 picks from an HJB bin from about 2014 I think... there were no Republican denarii in it though!
Great bulls! 1/ Uri/ Swiss Kanton AV Dukat 1736/20 Bull with nose ring/ St. Martinus aiding beggar 2/ Mysia/ Kyzikos EL Hemihekte ND 525-500BC Bull riding Tuna/ Quadripartite Incuse Square
Don’t have time to write about them right now as I’m posting from my phone but here are a few of my favorite bulls.
