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 . 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. 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
These are not the most realistic lion and scorpion combo in the world, but I love the coin nonetheless. Caria, Mylasa 450-400 BCE AR hemiobol Obv: facing forepart of lion Rev: scorpion within incuse square Ref: SNG von Aulock 7803
The scorpion looks more like a grub worm You make an excellent point. Despite the horrible artwork on some ancient coins, they are still intriguing and wonderful.
BAFFOON OWL: 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 (Seller attributed this as a STEER! LOL) EVIL HERAKLES FROM A KNIFE FIGHT: 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 EX: @John Anthony BIZAARE BOAR: 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 RHODAN! 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
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! 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
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? 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
I've always liked these Mylasa types. The scorpion looks more like s centipede (but who can blame them when engraving such tiny dies?).
This bull has some issues. Thrace, Byzantion. AR Hemidrachm. Bull/trident. 10mm. Funky horse. Thrace, Philippopolis. Commodus AE20. Emperor on horseback.
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' Or this funny guy wearing a birds costume... (Celtic quinarius of the Rhein area, 1st. century BC. 'Bird-man' Big nose, anybody ? the horse ain't bad either.... (Celtic quinarius of the Treveri. 1st Century BC. 'Big-Nose' type) 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.
Both obverse and reverse seem cartoonish: 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
The Corpse Bride Long neck Lion with Trump paws and contorting in an impossible way. Sir Duckalot Long neck part II Lovely medieval art style I’ve seen worse. Do you like my hat? The altar figures are always fun.
Great idea for a thread! My first coin that comes to mind is this Maximianus follis with Carthage "fruits" ?! on the reverse: 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...) Can you figure out which side is the lion and which the boar? (17th or 18th c. fanam from Sri Lanka):