This aureus is somewhat of a departure for me. Finding high quality aurei of Hadrian’s travel series is difficult and competitive. In particular, the Nilus aureus has been elusive. A decent example surfaced in NAC’s recent auction, and while I’ll continue to pursue this type in better quality, I liked this example for its complete reverse: the recognizable hippo and crocodile, the cornucopiae, plus all these features are fully on the flan and identifiable. It's a variation without the NILUS legend on the reverse. In hand, the coin’s luster is much brighter. HADRIAN 117 - 138 A.D. AV Aureus (7.14 g.) Rome ca. 134 - 138 A.D. RIC 33 var. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Nilus reclining l., holding cornucopiae and reed, leaning on rock; behind, hippopotamus among reeds and below, crocodile l. Let's see some exotic (for the time) African animals!
Gorgeous! I love everything about the reverse, down to the detail of the reeds in the background behind the hippo. This, however, is causing my brain so much difficulty... I love my silver example of the type and will be trying my best not to compare its "artistry" with that of your aureus.
Love your recent capture Ides! Exotic African animals? Here's the best I can do: 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
@IdesOfMarch01 That is a wonderful coin. That reverse is captivating. As for the condition, this is exactly the kind of Aureus I would pursue. I like the mild wear on the coin. It makes me think of who could have handled it and what they bought with it. You can almost see a toga wearer flipping this coin in his/her hand as they walk down some main thoroughfare of Rome. Congrats on this great acquisition.
Such a fabulous reverse scene! This Gordian III bronze from Hadrianopolis features an ostrich on the reverse. The presence of ostriches brought from afar is attested in contemporary histories but I have not found anything saying from where they came. Most ostriches are from sub-Saharan Africa but there were pockets of them in the Arabian peninsula. Those peninsular ostriches would have been closer to the provinces-- perhaps easier to acquire? I postulate that the ostrich shown on this coin is from the now extinct Arabian ostrich, Struthio camelus syriacus. THRACE, Hadrianopolis. Gordian III AE 18 mm, 2.59 gm Obv: AVT K M ANT ΓORΔIANOC AVΓ; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: AΔPIANOΠOΛEITΩN; ostrich running right Ref: Varbanov 3833, rare https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-now-extinct-animal-on-a-roman-coin.287175/ Looking over that writeup again, it is very possible that my theory is wrong. Perhaps it would have been easier to bring African ostriches to Rome and provinces via boat (Nile and Mediterranean Sea), although I guess it depends on the location of the province.
Here's a hippo, looking dejected and rather Eeyore-like EGYPT, Alexandria. Tiberius Year 5, CE 18/9 AE obol, 20 mm, 4.45 gm Obv: bare head right Rev: hippopotamus right; TIBEPIoY above; [L] E in exergue Ref: Emmett 62.5, R1; Geissen 47; Dattari-Savio 102 (this coin); RPC 5082 ex Dattari collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1858-1923)
A fabulous coin: the way that the artist took advantage of the round canvas by curving the reverse scene is really stunning. Not to mention the quality of Hadrian's portrait! Mine is of a more "linear" style. I would love to own an example of both but at today's prices, it would require a sacrifice of budget that could be applied to adding another distinct type (or types):
Not so much exotic, rather more UNCOMMON for Ancient coins: FROG: LUCERIA Anonymous, ca. 217-212 BC, AE uncia 7.36g. Obv: Frog viewed from above Rev: corn-ear, pellet left & retrograde letter L left, Ref: T&V-285. Comments: crudely cast as always, Fine to VF, R Since everyone is in a Roman Empire coin mode - ANTELOPE: RI Philip I 244-249 CE AR Ant radiate zoo Antelope 1000 yr anniv Rome
Thanks, everyone, for your posts and the menagerie illustrated by these Roman coins. I often wonder if the Romans back on the mainland thought that some of these animals were mythical (like the chimaera and griffin from Greek mythology) or knew that they were actually real. Possibly the games in the Colosseum were sufficient proof that these were indeed living animals. This is a great coin, on which I was the underbidder at the most recent auction where it was offered (no, AJ was not the other bidder; he acquired it through a somewhat circuitous route some time after the auction). The crocodile's limbs are clearly discernible, as is the Sphinx head on which Nilus is resting his arm. The artistry is superb.
I've got a hippo on this Alexandrine diobol of Claudius: I have to say, though, I was a bit underwhelmed when I actually saw hippos in the wild in Tanzania. They basically just sit around in the water all day, poop massive quantities, and make a terrible stench as a result. They are, apparently, an important part of the cycling of nutrients in their ecosystem, but they are a stinky part.
Z is too nice. I prefer his denarius. Better yet is Ancient Joe's aureus for its balance and animal detail but I do have a preference for the travel types with legends. Opinions will vary whenever any art form is discussed. I would, however, love to see the finest examples of the sestertii of this series where the larger flans allowed finer work (whether or not it was accomplished). The effect is lost when we descend to the level of coins like mine. Who has this coin? https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=43764#
@IdesOfMarch01 Where is the crocodile in your opening coin? I don't see it. I see a wolf looking creature, thats the hippo right?
