Featured The “Roman” Caduceus challenge

I was lately classifying my Roman coins by iconographic elements ; patera, paludamentum, cornucopiae, standards, etc...and caduceus. I have never noticed I own half a dozen of them. They say “curiosity killed the cat”. But the cat has 9 lives, hasn’t it ? So I was wondering where this staff comes from. Did some research, lots of reading and here’s the results:

The caduceus is a rod, entwined at one end by 2 snakes, each of whose bodies folds again in the form of two half-circles, whilst the head passes above the wand. It is derived from the Greek karykeion or "herald's staff", itself based on the word "eruko" meaning restrain, control.



Prudence is generally supposed to be symbolized by these two serpents, and the wings which are sometimes added to the caduceus, are the representation of diligence. It was an attribute peculiar to the Roman god Mercury. But centuries before that time, the caduceus was one of the attributes of the god Hermes in Greek mythology. Besides Hermes, the goddess Iris was also represented with a caduceus because she was the messenger of Hera, female counterpart of Hermes, messenger of Zeus.


Detail on a vase, Hermes holding caduceus (5th century BC)
Musée du Louvres


Another vase, Hermes holding caduceus (4th century BC)
British Museum

But the famous staff seems to get his origin in Mesopotamia back to 4000 BC to 3000 BC. The Sumerian god Ningishzida is often depicted holding a staff with two snakes intertwined around it. Originally it was only a stick decorated with ribbons that floated in the wind, replaced over time by the famous snakes.


Vase depicting The god Ningishzida (21st century BC?)

The caduceus symbolizes everything related to trade and transport, even alchemy:another hypothesis explains that the two serpents facing each other symbolize the elementary substances that are sulfur and mercury when they are in perfect balance...
The caduceus should not be confused with the staff of Asclepius (or Aesculapius, in its Roman version) around which only one snake coils, symbolizing the snake that this ancient god walked. While the staff of Asclepius is a symbol of medicine in Europe, the caduceus of Hermes represents medicine in America. So in conclusion, the “roman caduceus” was in fact borrowed from several other ancient cultures.

4th century BC, Phoenicia. British Museum

Please search your collection and show us your caduceus coins !

Philip I


Tacitus

 

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Nerva

Type: Billon Tetradrachm, 25mm, 12.7 grams, mint of Alexandria year 96-97 A.D.

Obverse: Bust of Nerva facing right, KAIS SEB AVT NEPOVAS

Reverse: Agathodaemon serpent coiled with head right, holding caduceus and grain ear within coils, wearing the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt. In exergue, LA.

Reference: Milne 542, Dattari 638 (rare)

 

Informative write-up on an interesting item frequently seen on Roman coins!

Here is a Macedon kerykeion:

Alexander III "the Great" (postumous issue), Kingdom of Macedonia, AE half-unit, 323–315 BC, Salamis mint. Obv: Macedonian shield, with facing gorgoneion on boss. Rev: B-A; helmet; kerykeion to left, monogram (sigma and iota?) to right. 15mm, 3.89g. Ref: Price 3159.

A Republican caduceus:

Roman Republic, moneyer: C. Norbanus, AR denarius, 83 BC, Rome mint. Obv: C. NORBANVS; head of Venus, diademed, r.; to l., control number LXXIII; banker’s mark: cornucopia? Rev: ear of wheat, fasces, and caduceus. 19mm, 3.53g. Ref: RRC 357/1b. Ex Bing collection.

On Roman Imperial coins, it's in most cases Felicitas who is holding a caduceus:

Caracalla, Roman Empire, denarius, 196–198 AD, Rome mint. Obv: M AVR ANTON CAES PONTIF; bareheaded bust of Caracalla r. Rev: IMPERII FELICITAS; Caracalla, Felicitas standing l., holding caduceus and child. 18mm, 3.53g. Ref: RIC IV,1 Caracalla 9.


Philip I "the Arab," Roman Empire, antoninian, 248 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, bust of Philip I, draped and radiate, r. Rev: P M TR P V COS III P P, Felicitas standing facing, head l, holding caduceus and cornucopia. 22mm, 3.84g. Ref: RIC IV,3 Philip I 6. Ex Brian Bucklan.


Postumus, Gallic Roman Empire, AR antoninian, 263–266 AD, Trier mint. Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS P F AVG; bust of Postumus, radiate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: FELICITAS AVG; Felicitas, draped, standing l., holding caduceus in r. hand and cornucopiae in l. hand. 23mm, 2.71g. Ref: Mairat 265/317.; RIC V Postumus 58. Ex Ken Dorney.

Somewhat strangely, Mercury is not that often depicted on Roman Imperial coins. If he is, though, he usually holds a caduceus and a purse or patera.

Herennius Etruscus, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 251 AD, Rome mint. Obv: bust of Herennius Etruscus, radiate, draped, r. Rev: PIETAS AVGG; Mercury, nude except for cloak on shoulders, standing l., holding purse and caduceus. 20mm, 3.17g. Ref: RIC IV Trajan Decius 142. Ex JB collection; ex AMCC 2, lot 201 (their picture).

 

Kyzikos pseudo-autonomous issue:


Mysia, Kyzikos AE20 5.33g 1st century AD
Head of Kore right, grain ear in hair; within a wreath of grain
K-Y/ZI, caduceus, in the center of which is a gorgoneion, the handle is made of a club, crescent above, tunny below, monogram right; all within a laurel wreath.
RPC I 2240; SNG Copenhagen 86; BMC Mysia pg. 40, 170; SNG von Aulock 1245

 

You're right Ocat', when you start counting them you find a bunch :



























Q

 

THRACE, ABDERA
Tetrobol
OBVERSE: Griffin springing left
REVERSE: Magistrate's name around linear border, within which head of Hermes l., caduceus before; all in incuse square
Struck at Abdera 411-385 BC
2.780g, 15mm
May 279

CILICIA, KORYKOS CITY COINAGE
AE 19
OBVERSE: Turreted head of Tyche right; A behind. Circle of dots REVERSE: ΚΩΡΥΚΙΩΤΩΝ, Hermes standing left, holding caduceus, ΕΥ/ΕΠΙ/ΕΡ in left field
Struck at Cilicia 1st century BC (100-30 BC)
5.87g, 19.42
SNG Levante 792; SNG France 1075

C NORBANUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS NORBANA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: C• NORBANVS, head of Venus right, wearing stephane, earring, and necklace; XVIIII behind
REVERSE: Prow-stem, fasces, caduceus and grain ear.
Rome 83 BC
3.9g, 18mm
Crawford 357/1a. Sydenham 740. Norbana 1

Q. SICINIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS SICINIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: FORT P.R, diademed head of Fortuna right
REVERSE: Q. SICINIVS below, III. VIR across field, caduceus and palm in saltire, laurel wreath above
Rome 49 BC
3.64g, 17mm
CR 440/1; Sicinia 5

D. JUNIUS ALBINUS; GENS POSTUMIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Hd of pietas r; PIETAS
REVERSE: Clasped hands on caduceus; ALBINVS BRVTI.F
Rome 48 BC
3.91g. 19mm
Syd 942

AUGUSTUS
AE Quadran
OBVERSE: LAMIA SILIVS ANNIVS, clasped hands holding caduceus
REVERSE: III VIR A A A F F around large S C
Rome 9 BC
3.0g, 15mm
RIC 420, BMC 200, S 1693

CLAUDIUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VI IMP XI, laureate head right
REVERSE: PACI AVGVSTAE, Pax-Nemesis advancing right, drawing out fold of robe at neck, holding caduceus above serpent preceding her
Struck at Rome, 46/7AD
3.6g, 19mm
RIC39, BMC40

VESPASIAN
Æ Dupondius
OBVERSE: IMP CAES VESP AVG P M T P COS V CENS, radiate head left
REVERSE: FELICITAS PVBLICA S-C, Felicitas standing facing, head left, holding caduceus & cornucopiae
Struck at Rome, 74AD
10.2g, 28mm
RIC 716, (RIC [1962] 555), Cohen 152, BMC 698
Ex: J.Q. Adams

TITUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: T CAES IMP VESP CENS, laureate head right, "o" beneath neck
REVERSE: FIDES PVBL, hands clasped over caduceus, two poppies and two corn-ears
Struck at Uncertain Asian Mint or Ephesus, 76AD
2.9g, 19mm
RIC V 1485 (Vesp), RPC 1459
Ex David Atherton; ex Harry Sneh Collection; ex Sayles; ex Lavender

 

Marcus Aurelius / Mercury - Miracle of the Rain issue


Nerva dupondius


Gordian III / Hermes Nikopolis

 

Here are a couple of Early Roman Republican denarii with the Caduceus symbol:

Caduceus (early) - Denarius, Crawford 60/1
Denomination: Denarius
Era: c. 211-208 BC
Metal: AR
Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma R; X behind. Border of dots
Reverse: Dioscuri riding r.; Caduceus symbol below.; ROMA in raised letters in frame. Line border
Mint: Unknown mint in central Italy
Weight: 4.72 gm.
Reference: RRC 60/1
Provenance: Aureo & Calico Alba Longa sale, November 7, 2018; Ex. The Goodman Collection, Triton I, December 2-3, 1997, lot 892.

Caduceus (Later) - Denarius, Crawford 108/1
Denomination: Denarius
Era: c. 211-208 BC
Metal: AR
Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma r. with splayed visor; “X” behind; Border of dots
Reverse: Dioscuri r.; Below, caduceus symbol; in linear frame, “ROMA”.
Mint: Uncertain
Weight: 4.37 gm.
Reference: Crawford 108/1
Provenance: NAC 84, Part II, 21-MAY-2015

 

@Ocatarinetabellatchitchix...Nice interesting write up thanks!.......
I have one Caduceus...

Valerian I AR Antoninianus.Rome AD 255-256 ...2.93g
Obverse..IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS PF AVG, radiate, draped bust right
Reverse..FELICITAS AVGG, Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopiae.
RIC 87, Cohen 55; Sear 9936.

 

Macrinus
Pamphylia, Sillyum
Obverse - laureate, draped & cuirassed bust Right
Reverse - Hermes naked but for some sweet Winged boots seated on rocks, holding Purse & Caduceus

 

A cast sextans and a piece of the same sextans.

 

Wonderful write up and all around excellent examples of an easily ignored or missed piece of iconography.
Here's my examples of karykeion on Macedonian shield coins:

 

Good ‘ole Antonio

 

I thought for sure I had at least one, but I guess not:

I've enjoyed seeing all the coins here and many thanks for that great bit of research!

 

I have a few.

 

JUDAEAN. Roman Governors. Valerius Gratus (15-26 AD). AE Prutah. Dated 16/17 AD, RY 3 of Tiberius (14-37 AD). KAI CAP within wreath. / TIBEPIOY above; crossed cornucopias; caduceus between. Meshorer 320; Hendin 1334; RPC I 4960.

 

I have umpteen of Felicitas. Here's one of my favorites:


Volusian as Augustus, AD 251-253.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 17.26 g, 27.4 mm, 10 h.
Rome, AD 252.
Obv: IMP CAE C VIB VOLVSIANO AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: FELICITAS PVBLICA S C, Felicitas standing left, leaning on column, holding caduceus in right hand and transverse scepter in left hand.
Refs: RIC 251a; Cohen 35; RCV 9786; Hunter 39.
Notes: Ex- Pegasi Buy or Bid Sale 151 (2/21/2017); ex- Hoffman collection.

And here's a coin of Mercury with the requisite caduceus:


Gallienus, AD 253-268.
Roman silvered billon antoninianus, 4.25 g, 21.3 mm, 11 h.
Antioch, AD 267.
Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: FIDES AVG, Mercury standing right, holding marsupium (purse) and caduceus; PXV (=TR P XV) in exergue.
Refs: RIC 607F; Göbl 1667k; Cohen 219; RCV 10212; Hunter p. lxx.

 

My oldest coin with a caduceus on it .

 

Great and very interesting write up @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix. I'm shocked that I don't have a caduceus reverse! I need one of these now, and fast. I do have the 'do not mistake it with the serpent entwined staff of Asclepius' type. But I won't post that one.
Those really, really old vases are amazing too! Do you know where they are displayed?