This is the type coin I most wish to obtain someday. This one broken and fixed and thus inexpensive ( I think I paid 20 - 30$ for it 20 or so years ago) Domitian - the reverse is what I love - the centaur biga.
Welcome to CoinTalk, @jgusdon It may be broken but the state of preservation is otherwise not bad for the type! I picked up one last year. Hopefully I wasn't bidding against you EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian RY 14 (CE 94/5) Æ drachm, 36 mm, 25.42 gm Obv: Laureate head right Rev: The Emperor driving biga of centaurs right., raising hand and holding scepter and reins; in exergue, L IΔ Ref: Dattari-Savio Pl. 17, 453 (this coin); Geissen 406 (this coin cited); RPC 2704 (this coin cited) ex Dattari collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1858-1923)
The most interesting reverse types struck for Domitian at Alexandria were reserved for the bronze issues. Unfortunately for me as a silver collector! All kidding aside, wonderful coin @jgusdon (although, I would like to see the obverse). And @TIF, I never tire of seeing that beauty!
Very nice coin and WELCOME to CT Ancients! Centaur: Frentani - Larinum AE 18mm Quadrans 210-175 BCE Herakles - Centaur SNG COP 272 Griffin: Sicily Kainon AE Tetras 20mm 6.7g Griffin - Horse Prancing SNG COP 133 Sphinxes: Iberia Castulo Late 2nd C BC AE As 25mm Bust Nose Hand Sphinx Egypt SCARAB Middle Kingdom 2065-1650 BCE Scarabaeus Sphinx
No contribution from yours truly about centauers on coins. But you might be interested in statements from mythology literature. "The centaurs are probably part of the myths of Greece that stem from the time of the migrations and the coming of the horse - which was unknown in Greece before the second millennium BC. The memory of the horse as a cult animal (it would have been of enormous importance to migratory nomads) persisted and occurs frequently in Greek myth. - Centaurs were generally wild, lustful, and strongly attracted to wine, which they could not hold and which made them uncontrollable."
