I received this coin as a gift from a friend who knows I collect gallienus coins, but doesn't know that I don't clean coins. This coin isn't in great shape and I don't have the ability to clean it further. I originally thought it was a standing Pegasus, but am unable to find an example of it. I have seen mention of a right facing Griffin, but again cannot find an example of it. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if they think it is a Pegasus or Griffin and point me to an example. Thank you!
I don't want to spoil your fun identifying it. But here's a link to the "Gallienus" page on wildwinds.com that catalogs the majority of roman coins issued by ruler. http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/gallienus/i.html
Thank you for the reply, I already searched wildwinds and other pages, but cannot find a standing/walking Pegasus or right facing Griffin listed there.
I haven't seen a right-facing griffin on gallienus' coins. Pegasus is right facing, but your coin to me seems to depict a griffin. Here's a Pegasus in my collection (or one of Sol's horses)
Wolkow describes a griffin walking right in his book (Catalogue des monnaies romaines : Gallien, l'émission dite du bestiaire de l'atelier de Rome). They are quite rare Although it's quite difficult to figure out the devices on yours, I wouldn't be surprised if it were identified as an imitation in the end, judging from its style Q
It appears to have a delta in exergue on the reverse. The reason I thought it was a Pegasus is that Beast coins lists a right walking Pegasus under Apollo Coins, but I can't find any other reference to an Apollo Pegasus so beast coins may be incorrect. Out of curiosity, what about the style makes you think imitation? I'm assuming you mean the reverse as the obverse when compared to my other gallienus coins with the same obverse looks correct.
If it's a delta for sure and not an alpha, it's a griffin and not one of the flying horses of Apollo (often called "Pegasus" in the zoo series). I think yours is a griffin because of the position of the legs, which is not consistent with the flying horse type. Here's my griffin. Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman billon Antoninianus, 2.63 g, 20.5 mm, 12 h. Rome, AD 267-268, 4th officina, 10th emission. Obv: IMP GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head, right. Rev: APOLLINI CONS AVG, griffin walking left, Δ in exergue. Refs: RIC 165K; Göbl 718z; Cohen 77; RCV 10180 var; Cunetio 1348.
Regardless of the officina number, it's definitely not a Gallienus pegasus, all of which have their front feet off the ground. (There are no Apollini pegasi, by the way; they're all Soli.) If the officina mark in the exergue is a delta, then it probably is a Gallienus right-facing gryphon. Here's the relevant page from Wolkow: Here's my left-facing Gallienus gryphon: Gallienus, Billon Antoninianus, 267-268 AD, Rome Mint (4th Officina). Obv. Radiate head right, GALLIENVS AVG / Rev. Gryphon walking left, APOLLINI CONS AVG; Δ [Delta = 4th Officina] in exergue. RIC V-1 166, RSC IV 76, Wolkow 4a4, Göbl MIR [Moneta Imperii Romani] Band 36, No. 718, Sear RCV III 10180. 20.5 mm., 3.29 g., 6 h.
I suspect that's just loose language: Pegasus is indeed "standing," but with his front feet off the ground.
And the fact that it's listed as an Apollini coin? RIC lists the pegasi on sol coins as either flying or springing heavenward. I'm just genuinely curious as I am still fairly new to ancient coins. I do not have the ability or patience to clean my coin so it will likely remain as is in my collection and in that case may never be positively identified. Like I said, it came as a gift with other partially cleaned gallienus coins and a clean, but very badly worn left facing pegasus so I was never really invested in it.
Difficult to tell from very bright pictures of an uncleaned coin, but the griffin looks very cartoonish to my eye. I might as well be completely wrong, though Here are my left facing griffin and right facing pegasus Q
