So, my dad (the one who is to blame for giving me this addiction/love of ancient coins), really likes elephants on coins. So for Christmas one of the coins I gave him was this little fella. The pic doesn't do it justice (do they ever?). When I got it I immediately felt guilty for wanting to keep it (don't worry, I still gave it to pops along with a box of other coins). I figured he would be able to ID it with no problem. But so far we are both stumped. Can anyone help give any further detail then what I got from the listing which I have added below? While we are at it, please post any cool elephant coins that might help give me ideas for what to get him in the future. Here is all the info the listing had: UNCERTAIN INDIA AE SQUARE COIN ELEPHANT CIRCA 100 BCE Weight : 10.2gr Size : 18mm x 16mm Condition UNC,EF,VF,F,VG,G,PR : G Authentic : 100%
Great coin! Check out the CoinIndia dealer on VCOINS. Do a search for "elephant" and you'll see some that look very similar. INDIA, TAXILA-PUSHKALAVATI City Coinage: AE 1+1/2 karshapana, Elephant/Lion type
Fantastic! I didn't think to check Vcoins. An elephant sized THANKS! And what a cool coin too. It's quite heavy in hand. Now it's time to buy one for me...
I can't help attribute it but I can share some elephants! Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161 AE, As, 27mm, 9.3g; 2h; Rome, AD 148-149 Obv.: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII; Laureate head right, aegis on left shoulder Rev.: MVNIFICENTIA AVG; elephant walking right with trunk raised In Ex.: COS IIII SC Ref.: RIC III 862(a), p. 134 MVNIFICENTIA AVG refers to the games he held during the celebration of his vota decenallia (AD 149). Apollodotos I, Backtria, 174-165 BC AR, drachm, 14mm, 1.4g Obv.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΠOΛΛOΔOTOY SΩTHPOΣ; Elephant standing right, MI monogram below Rev.: Maharajasa Apaladatasa tradarasa (Karosthi script); Zebu standing right, Karosthi legend around, MI monogram below Indo-Scythians, King Maues 90-57 BCE (per CoinIndia; elsewhere, shown as 125-85 BCE) AE hemi-obol, 9.5 gm, 20 x 23 mm Obv: Elephant walking right, with raised trunk, within rectangular dotted border; Greek legend around, BAΣIΛEΩΣ BAΣIΛEΩN MEΓAΛOY MAYOY Rev: King seated cross-legged facing oncouch, within rectangular border, monogram above right, Kharoshthi legend around:rajatirajasa mahatasa moasa Antiocus VI, ca. 148–142/1 BC Minted in Antioch - for some reason I didn't weigh and measure that coin. Obv.: Radiate head of Antiochus VI, wreathed with ivy. Rev.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ / ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ ∆ΙΟΝΥΣΟΥ; elephant walking left holding torch in trunk, ΣΤΑ above right, cornucopia right
Very cool article, and site! As always thanks for your insight Doug. Any cool elephant coin you really like I could get you to share? I've loved everything you have posted on here.
Say what??? An Antoninus Pius elephant coin. My new hunt has begun. Also, very cool Backtrian and Indo-Sythian elies!
Elephant coins are among my favorites also. Upon reviewing my Seleucid bronzes, I remembered that have two of them.
Great coins and wonderful presentation! Seleucid coins are, IMO, a hidden treasure (pun intended) in numismatics. I just wonder why they don't get nearly as much attention and it seems there is so much less known about them?
