I sold this coin as unidentified over 16 years ago and reacquired 2 years ago! It was ID'd yesterday on Forvm by Mark Fox as an early provincial from Massilia in Gaul. Gaul, Massalia. Æ12. After 49BC. Obv: MAC / Laureate head of Apollo r. Rev: NM / Dolphin r. with trident. Referenced as a dolphin but most of these are in poor condition. Mine seems to have detail those are lacking.
I am on-board with TIF's attribution ... I thought Capricorn for sure, but then when I drank one more wine, it kinda looked like a hippocamp (dolphin => ummm, no way) steve "David Sear" x6
IF you turn in a little more it kinda looks like a 3 headed chicken..... but I think it look like a capricorn too lol
Thanks for a great post, ancientone! Fascinating symbols for coins! I don't yet have a dolphin or porpoise but I have a Capricorn or two and my most plentiful Emperor.
Here's a similar coin still referenced as a dolphin that I've rotated left. Head and face are clear. Sea-goat or Sea-horse?
experts ... that's a Capricorn (Doug's is totally different than your coin) => stick to your guns, my friend
Hey Steve! Mark Fox over at Forvm changed my mind with, "I have yet to find tridents associated with capricorns in a numismatic context." I'm just peachy with the fact it looks like both.
@ancientone , OMG, we are all wrong! That is a Venus Fly Trap! Look at the jaws at the top (10-11 o'clock!). They are indigenous to North Carolina... ergo, PROOF the Romans landed in America! sorry, I.JUST.could.NOT.resist...
On this Titus denarius reverse, there's a not-so-clear dolphin above a wreath which is above a tripod with ravens on it.