"Totally Does Not Look Like" thread

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by TIF, Feb 21, 2018.

  1. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    The "Totally Looks Like" thread has been fun over the last several years. Seeing @Mat's new COL NEM croc with teeth pointing the wrong way reminded me of the numerous unrealistically engraved animals and objects on ancient coins.

    In the realm of ancient coin elephants alone we could probably take this thread to page twenty :D.

    Post your most bafflingly bad animals, portraits, and objects :)

    To get it started, here's an elephant which was clearly engraved by Caesar's five year old granddaughter. No neck; backwards ears, straight legs, and... globular toes?? This isn't even the worst elephant offender by any means. There are some Roman Republican elephants that are awesomely awful.

    upload_2018-2-21_9-18-45.png
    Julius Caesar. 49-48 BCE
    AR denarius
    Struck by the military mint traveling with Caesar.
    Obv: elephant standing right, trampling on serpent; CAESAR in exergue
    Rev: simpulum, sprinkler, axe, and priest's hat.
    Ref: Crawford 443/1; Sydenham 1006
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2018
    Cucumbor, TheRed, dlhill132 and 23 others like this.
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  3. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    These are not the most realistic lion and scorpion combo in the world, but I love the coin nonetheless.

    Mylasa Lion Scorpion Obol.jpg
    Caria, Mylasa
    450-400 BCE
    AR hemiobol
    Obv: facing forepart of lion
    Rev: scorpion within incuse square
    Ref: SNG von Aulock 7803
     
  4. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    The scorpion looks more like a grub worm :D

    You make an excellent point. Despite the horrible artwork on some ancient coins, they are still intriguing and wonderful.
     
    Ryro, Theodosius and Sallent like this.
  5. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    BAFFOON OWL:

    upload_2018-2-21_7-33-50.png
    Athens Attica 454-404 BCE ARr hemidrachm 16mm 2.08g Athena frontal eye - facing Owl wings closed olive branches COP 70 SG 2528

    EMACIATED BULL:
    Carthage 216-215 BCE Sardinia mint AE 3.3g Tanit L - BULL stndg R CNP 377a.JPG
    Carthage 216-215 BCE Sardinia mint AE 3.3g Tanit L - BULL stndg R CNP 377a
    (Seller attributed this as a STEER! LOL)

    EVIL HERAKLES FROM A KNIFE FIGHT:
    upload_2018-2-21_7-37-37.png
    Carthage LIBYAN UPRISING Mercenary War 241-238 BCE Herakles Head in Lion's Head L - Lion walking R SNG Cop. 240 f

    GIRAFFE SHIP PROW??? From Kids R US!
    RR Prv Macedon Amphipolis AE Semis 187-131 BC Zeus Prow giraffe shape SNG Cop 69.JPG
    RR Prv Macedon Amphipolis AE Semis 187-131 BC Zeus Prow giraffe shape SNG
    Cop 69
    EX: @John Anthony

    BIZAARE BOAR:
    Campania CAPUA AE Uncia 216-211 Diana Boar Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE.JPG
    Campania CAPUA AE Uncia 216-211 Diana Boar Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE

    CARTOON EMPEROR: Blockhead!
    RI Leo I 457-474 CE AE 4 10mm Salus Emp stdg hldg Globe and Standard.jpg
    RI Leo I 457-474 CE AE 4 10mm Salus Emp stdg hldg Globe and Standard

    RHODAN!
    Carthage Zeugitana 250-200 BC 2nd Punic AE 18 Tanit Horse Hd.jpg
    Carthage Zeugitana 250-200 BC 2nd Punic AE 18 Tanit Horse Hd

    DUMBO on stilts and he left a MESS!
    RR Caesar AR Denarius 49 BCE Traveling Mint Elephant-Pontificates Sear 1399 Craw 443-1 Obv-Rev.jpg
    RR Caesar AR Denarius 49 BCE Traveling Mint Elephant-Pontificates Sear 1399 Craw 443-1
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2018
  6. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Oh dear. Looking at that bull makes me hear a certain Sarah McLaughlin song. Quick! Change the channel before they show the abused and neglected dogs! :( :D

    YeeeeeIKES! That is one scary Herakles. He could hold his own against Freddy Krueger.

    That aside, this coin is on the miles-long wish list. Rather high up too :)
     
    TheRed, ominus1, Sallent and 2 others like this.
  7. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Thank you, wow, GOOD point on Sarah McLaughlin! Effective ad, BUT, WAY OVER-PLAYED (I am a real animal lover)

    I got that Mercenary War Shekel "on the cheap" because of the face damage... but in-hand, it ain't bad. My real reason, obviously, was the History, but it was the lion that sold me. Those guys are fairly scarce/rare, and fetch 5k or better.

    How about a Sarah McLaughlin Elephant?
    upload_2018-2-21_8-19-23.png
    INDIA Sunga Dynasty 187-78 BCE Cast Copper 1-2 Karshapana 15mm 2.5g Elephant flag swastika taurine symbol - Tree 3-arched hill hollow cross MACW 4378
     
  8. Ken Dorney

    Ken Dorney Yea, I'm Cool That Way...

    I've always liked these Mylasa types. The scorpion looks more like s centipede (but who can blame them when engraving such tiny dies?).
     
    TJC likes this.
  9. ancientone

    ancientone Well-Known Member

    This bull has some issues.
    a~4.jpg
    Thrace, Byzantion. AR Hemidrachm. Bull/trident. 10mm.

    Funky horse.
    a~0.jpg Thrace, Philippopolis. Commodus AE20. Emperor on horseback.
     
    TheRed, David Atherton, Ajax and 10 others like this.
  10. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    Excellent idea for a thread, TIF!

    Here a few examples from my collection of depictions that 'Totally Do Not look Like...'

    The portrayals of people and animals on the Celtic quinarii are anything if not 'unusual'......

    I mean, how about this little 'Dancing Man...!
    Celtic quinarius of the Rhine area. 1st century BC. 'Little dancing Man'
    Quinar Tanzendes Männlein-Hessen-Rheinland-UBIER-mid 1st cent BC. Obv - 1.jpg Quinar Tanzendes Männlein-Hessen-Rheinland-UBIER-mid 1st cent BC. Rev - 1.jpg


    Or this funny guy wearing a birds costume...
    (Celtic quinarius of the Rhein area, 1st. century BC. 'Bird-man'
    Quinar Vogelmännchen OBV-besser - 1.jpg Quinar Vogelmännchen REV-besser - 1.jpg


    Big nose, anybody ? the horse ain't bad either....
    (Celtic quinarius of the Treveri. 1st Century BC. 'Big-Nose' type)
    Quinarius Hakennase OBV - 1.jpg Quinarius Hakennase REV - 1.jpg


    Honestly, though, Celtic depictions of people and animals may not be realistic and plastic like Greek and even Roman numismatic art, but they were certainly 'avant-garde' for their time. Nowadays that is considered high-art.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2018
  11. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Both obverse and reverse seem cartoonish:

    Lower Danube Celt.jpg
    LOWER DANUBE CELTS
    AR Drachm
    OBVERSE: Stylized head of Herakles with wild hair, right
    REVERSE: Stylized Zeus seated left holding an eagle, kantharus to left
    Struck by the Lower Danube Celts, 2d-1st Century BC
    2.9g, 20mm,
    CCCBM I 217, Kostial 896
    ex JAZ Numismatics
     
  12. TJC

    TJC Well-Known Member

    Diocletian / Athena: by famous ancient die cutter Picasso;) DiocletianTetAth339O1.jpg DiocletianTetAth339R1.jpg
     
  13. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    The horseman on this one is just a leg with a head, anda nubbed arm reaching.
    100_6447.JPG
     
  14. TypeCoin971793

    TypeCoin971793 Just a random guy on the internet

    The Corpse Bride

    28CFBC82-50BA-4F00-B022-9E261F4C22C6.jpeg

    Long neck

    B89C252F-764F-43EE-AC48-51321E26440F.jpeg

    Lion with Trump paws and contorting in an impossible way.

    461145B2-8602-42F6-9ECE-8B83860360E7.jpeg

    Sir Duckalot

    D1EF062C-C426-4F10-84A8-BA6353BD1557.jpeg

    Long neck part II

    18FC0A6A-6262-49DD-82D5-C9D8F540BD92.jpeg

    Lovely medieval art style

    FA629381-4975-4B25-A06A-A02AFB5F1D25.jpeg

    I’ve seen worse.

    DC646F40-52A1-403E-94CF-52F141E08DCE.jpeg

    Do you like my hat?

    2ECEBA9D-A122-4C35-8AE7-7CBD604B6D11.jpeg

    The altar figures are always fun. :)

    39F2D1F2-69B4-427E-9CE4-FA8FFA5A105A.jpeg
     
  15. TypeCoin971793

    TypeCoin971793 Just a random guy on the internet

    That first one looks like a modern robot!

    D4CC62EB-29A5-478A-BFE5-AFC7F929549B.jpeg
     
    TIF, Johndakerftw and randygeki like this.
  16. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Great idea for a thread!

    My first coin that comes to mind is this Maximianus follis with Carthage "fruits" ?!:yack: on the reverse:
    Screen Shot 2018-02-21 at 11.00.08 AM.jpg

    My most amusing barbarous portrait of Constantine. Canadians will see the resemblance to Brian Mulroney (oops, sorry, this is the does not look like thread...)
    Screen Shot 2018-02-21 at 10.58.23 AM.jpg

    Can you figure out which side is the lion and which the boar? (17th or 18th c. fanam from Sri Lanka):
    Screen Shot 2018-02-21 at 10.52.05 AM.jpg
     
  17. Cheech9712

    Cheech9712 Every thing is a guess

    Like your coin. Spock on the initial reply makes it worth millions
     
  18. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    I don't understand what this means. Can you explain that comment? :)
     
  19. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Galeria Valeria? Did she really look like this?

    galeria1.jpg
     
  20. Milesofwho

    Milesofwho Omnivorous collector

    Not as much as Justinian looked like this! B4C0DE5F-8EC7-4120-8FA6-1FF593DCCF63.jpeg
    Or John VIII for that matter... F39C2A82-6A2F-417D-9E1A-A6D37A55108D.jpeg
     
    ancientone, TheRed, TJC and 10 others like this.
  21. Kentucky

    Kentucky Supporter! Supporter

    Is that Athena or Marty Feldman?
    marty.jpeg
     
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