Bigas and Quadrigas, yes, but Trigas anyone?

A Triga on a bonus triassarion:

Maximinus I. 235-238 AD. THESSALY, Koinon of Thessaly. Æ Triassarion (24mm, 8.18 g, 7h). Obv: ΓAIOV OVH (MAΞIM)ЄINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev: KOINO-N (ΘЄCC/AΛΩN), Nike, holding wreath in extended right hand, reins in left hand, driving triga galloping right; Γ (mark of value) below horses (barely visible). BCD Thessaly, 985.2

 

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My only Triga is a slick republican denarius of Appius Claudius Pulcher, T Manlius Mancius and Q. Urbinius, With Victory in Triga.110 BC.

 

A few years back I got a lot of two denarii on eBay that happened to both have trigas. Seller's photo -



Roman Republic Denarius
Appius Claudius Pulcher, T. Manlius Mancinus, Q. Urbinus
(111-110 B.C.)
Rome Mint
Helmeted head of Roma right, / Victory in triga right, AP CL T MANL Q VR in exergue.
Crawford 299/1a; Sydenham 570; Claudia 2.
(3.85 grams / 18 mm)

Roman Republic Denarius
C Naevius Balbus
(79 B.C.)
Diademed head of Venus right, SC behind / Victory in triga right; numeral (I-XXXXIII) above, C NÆ BALB in exergue.
Cr382/1b; Naevia 6, Syd 769b.
(3.82 grams / 17 mm)

I did take my own somewhat better photo of one of the Claudia2 (I need to do the other):

 

C Naevius Balbus Ar Denarius80 B.C. Obv. Head of Venus right Rv. Victory driving triga right Crawford 382/1a 3.88 grms 18mm Photo by W. Hansen

 

As fas as I understand, triga racing was an Etruscan tradition continued by the Romans only to some degree. Trigae also appear in ancient Greek literature, but there they are used in warfare, not for racing. In the Iliad, for example, Achilles' chariot is drawn by the two immortal horses Balius and Xanthus and a mortal trace horse named Pedasus (Iliad, XVI.130).

Only two Roman Republican coins show a triga, and this type of chariot doesn't appear on Imperial coins. I didn't know about the provincial type @PeteB has shown above.


Roman Republic, moneyers: Appius Claudius Pulcher, T. Manlius Mancinus, Q. Urbinus, AR denarius, 111–110 BC, Rome mint. Obv: Helmeted head of Roma r.; behind, quadrangular device. Rev: T MAL AP CL Q VR; Victory in triga r., holding reins in both hands. 20.5mm, 3.82g. Ref: RRC 299/1b.


Roman Republic, moneyer C. Naevius Balbus, denarius serratus, 79 BC. Obv: diademed head of Venus right, SC behind. Rev: Victory in triga right, C NAE BALB in exergue; above, CLXXXX. Ref: Crawford 382/1b.

 

I really like the way one of the Triga has its head turned back! Gives character to the coin...IMHO.

 

That is a cool detail. Is he telling the other horses to hurry up, or is there some symbolism we don't know?

 

Nice one, @PeteB !

TRIGA(s) - love these!


RR Naevius Balbus 79 BCE AR Den Venus SC TRIGA Sulla S 309 Cr 382-1



RR Pulcher Mallius Mancinus Urbinius 111-110 BCE AR Den TRIGA S 176 Cr 299-1a


How about a flip-over double-strike Triga ERROR?

And, the horses are unaffected!


RR Clodius Pulcher T Mallius AR Den 111-110 BCE ERROR Flipover Double-Strike Roma Triga Cr 299-1b S 176

 

Another Koinon of Thessaly triga. The value mark also barely visible.

CARACALLA
AE Triassarion. 6.13g, 22.7mm. THESSALY, Koinon of Thessaly, circa AD 211-217. Rogers 113b var. (legends). O: AY K M AVP A[NTΩΝINOC?], laureate and cuirassed bust right. R: ΘЄCCAΛΩN KOINON, Nike holding wreath in extended right hand, reins in left, driving triga galloping right; Γ (mark of value) below horses.
Notes: Rogers noted that the obverse and reverse legends of this type vary considerably and listed 8 varieties. This variant not amongst those listed by Rogers.
Ex BCD Collection