Featured So... these exist: Snake Cowboys

Objectively, there are two stories with similarities. But It rarely stays objective and thus one or both always winds up being called a myth, which only identifies the belief of the author/teller, not which, if either, is truth or fiction.

But this is enough philosophy for a coin forum.

Back to Snake Cowboys!

 

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Well said!

 

Oh what the heck, I'll add this Vespasian 'snake' denarius to the fray.


Vespasian
AR Denarius, 3.27g
Rome Mint, 75 AD
RIC 776 (R). BMC 169. RSC 369.
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: PON MAX TR P COS VI; Victory, draped, holding wreath extended in r. hand and palm upright in l., standing l. on 'cista mystica', on either side of which is a snake, coiling up on it's tail, facing inwardly
Ex Berk 145, 14 September 2005, lot 232.

An interesting type with a decidedly 'Eastern' influence.

 

What makes the OP coin so fascinating is that no modern person expects a snake to be riding a horse. And then when the religion behind the iconography is explored, it becomes especially interesting! This thread well deserves its "featured" status!

I don't have a snake cowboy coin. The snakes on my coins only appear where you'd expect them.

--Portrayed with a cista mystica (which is, of course, a basket in which snakes were kept):



--Portrayed with Asklepios/Aesculapius or Hygeia/Salus:




If you're interested in learning more about the Aesculapian snake, I direct you to this thread from about a year ago.

 

My Grandkids lived in Texas for several years. When my Grandson was young, he would see a snake in their yard and yell "NAKE, Grandu, there's a NAKE!"


Mysia Pergamon Cistophorus Tetradrachm Cista mystica with serpents - snakes KP 85-76 BCE

 

TIF - neat coins, fabulous post, and truly amazing animation!!

 

WoWiE Bing! (Let me just wipe the drool off my chin) The head with the siddling snakes on the reverse of that thar coin, as you know, is none other than Octavia! The sister of Rome's 1st emperor and wife to that fella on the obverse, Julius Caesar's homeboy, Marc Antony. What a story that coin tells. That's a beauty. And in good condition ta booty!

 

Thanks @Ryro

 

I love this gif so much

 

I’m not sure how I have missed this thread for akmost a week, but it has been a fun read.

 

Hey TIF,

never seen this reverse very neat and extraordinary
congrats

 

Long time ago I had one with the snake coming out
of a basket?

 

"Cista mystica" (scroll up this page for a couple of examples)-- frequently found on ancient coins. Excerpt from the Numiswiki entry for cista mystica:

 

That's it.Thanks.

 

TIF, awesome coins and animation! It made my day.

Doug

 

Congrats! These are great acquisitions and, btw, your gif is awesome !

 

I get to resurrect my favorite thread! AWESOME!!

I present to you the ancient version of:








Tag says:
Domitian -Smyrnia, Ionia
OBV: bust, radiate right
REV: Serpent crawls left upon ships prow
*certainly much more to decipher here!

**Just received this coin today...I look forward to investigating this coin further - so if anyone has any information - it is VERY welcome.
Can't see anything on VCoins.. but for me: An excellent addition to my collection - super fun reverse!

Help me out - or just pile on snakes - it's all good (I don't think TIF will mind)!!!

 

nice one! commode o slitherer......kool coin man!..