Snakes on a Thread!

The Alexandrian coinage struck for Domitian is quite rich in interesting reverse designs and are an endless source of numismatic fascination. My latest arrival was a fun one to research!



Domitian
Æ Diobole, 9.35g
Alexandria mint, 95-96 AD
Obv: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ΔΟΜΙΤ ϹƐΒ ΓƐΡΜ; Head of Domitian, laureate, r.
Rev: LΙΕ; Agathadaemon serpent erect, r., with corn-ears and caduceus
RPC 2734 (1 spec.).
Acquired from CGB.fr, October 2020.

A diobole struck for Domitian at Alexandria featuring the Agathadaemon serpent (the 'Good Spirit' of grain fields and vineyards) on the reverse wearing the Skhent (double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt). The 'Good Spirit' was venerated in both Greek and Roman religions, depicted as a serpent on Roman shrines and lararia and honoured as an omen of good luck among the Greeks. The Agathadaemon serpent's most developed form flourished in Roman Egypt where it became an exalted deity, far beyond the status of a mere household god. On this diobole it is a symbol of fertility and the regeneration of crops, as indicated by the corn-ear and caduceus at its side. The Skhent crown the serpent wears represents the power over both upper and lower Egypt. The type was frequently repeated on Alexandria's middle bronzes throughout Domitian's reign. This diobole struck during his last regnal year is fairly rare.

Guardian household spirits, symbolised as serpents, were frequently depicted on domestic shrines in the Roman world, likely owing to the fact snakes protected the household from vermin. This lararium from Pompeii depicts a fantastic snake guarding the fortunes of the household.



Feel free to post your snakes!

 

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Well, I don't collect Ancients, but I do have a photo of this critter who happened to pass through the breezeway at our house in Cape Coral, Florida circa 2004 AD.

 

This is my only snake, it's also my first Roman and ancient coin I ever bought!

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A wonderful coin, @David Atherton. I hope someday to have an Alexandrian coin with an Agathadaemon snake. In the meantime, here are some coins I do have depicting snakes/serpents: a drachm from Apollonia Pontika, a cistophoric tetradrachm from Tralleis/Tralles in Lydia, and a few Roman Republican denarii:








Obverse only:

 

..that's right ..mask of Medusa..she had snakes for hair(and i can see lil snakes on yours around the cheeks)..kool...in that case, i have two snake coins now ^^.. Markinopolis Marcrinus & Diadumenian Provincial bronze, L. Plautius Plancus AR denaius

 

Right -- some of the Plautius Plancus Medusas have one small snake at the top of each cheek, and some don't. Different sub-types.

 

This Domitian depicts an ancient version of "Snakes on a Plane"....

 

Wonderful thread idea!!!
Who doesn't LOVE snakes!?!?!
Oh, wait...

Censured Samuel L aside, I've ALWAYS been drawn to snakes on coins. And more specifically their respect of the snake vs our modern fears, via religion, art et al, and of course how they are portrayed on coin:


Aaand as Halloween nears I'm allowed to celebrate snake like sea monsters!!!

 

SSSSSSSSSplendid thread, @David Atherton.


MYSIA. Pergamon. AE. Circa 133-27 BC. Laureate head of Asklepios right /
AΣKΛHΠIOY ΣΩTHPOΣ ("of Asklepios the savior"), Serpent-entwined staff. 15 mm. 3.54 g.

 

Great coin David and great thread!

Vespasian, 69-79 A.D. AR Denarius, 3.16g. 21.41mm. Rome, 73 A.D.
Obv: IMP CAES VESP AVG CENS. Laureate head of Vespasian to right.
Rev: MAXIM PONTIF. Nemesis walking to right holding caduceus over snake.
C 385, RIC 544. BMC 97SRCV I (2000) 2304, RSC 385
Ex: E. E. Clain- collection. Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica - Auction 92 Part 2, Lot 2133 May 24, 2016 275 CHF ; Ex: Ed waddell September 7, 2016
Coin depicted in the Wildwinds.com database.
Best of type in the Forum Ancient Coins Galleries

 

Snakes flanking a cista mystica:



The snake god Glykon:



Hygieia feeding a snake:

 

M. VOLTEIUS M.F. ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS VOLTEIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Head of Bacchus or Liber right, wreathed with ivy
REVERSE: Ceres holding two torches, in biga of serpents right. Symbol in left field (double headed axe)
Rome 76BC
3.75g, 18mm
Volteia 3; Cr385/3; Sear 314

L ROSCIUS FABATUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS ROSCIA
AR Serrate Denarius
OBVERSE: Head of Juno Sospita in goat skin, L ROSCI below, Jug to left
REVERSE: Girl standing right feeding serpent before, Unknown control mark (?) to left, FABATI in ex.
Rome 59 BC
3.7g, 18mm
Cr 412/1; Syd 915

MAN ACILIUS GLABRIO ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS ACILIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: SALVTIS, head of Salus right
REVERSE: MN ACILIVS III VIR VALETV, Salus standing left holding serpent
Rome 49 BC
3.37g, 20mm
Cr442/1a, Acilia 8

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

MACRINUS
Pentassarion AE28
OBVERSE: AVT K OPEL CEVH MAKREINOC K M OPEL ANTWNEINOC - confronted busts
REVERSE: VP PONTIAN-OV MARKIANO/ POLIT, Coiled serpent with radiate head
Struck at Markianopolis, Moesia Inferior, Magistrate Pontianus; 217 - 218 AD
12.6g, 28mm
Hr & J (2012) 6.24.22.6

 

Kings of Macedon, Time of Alexander III – Kassander. Circa 325-310 BC. Æ Half Unit (17mm, 3.91g, 3h). Uncertain mint in Macedon. Obv: Macedonian shield with thunderbolt on boss. Rev: B-A; Macedonian helmet, coiled serpent left below. Ref: Price 409; Liampi, Chronologie 54; SNG Alpha Bank 840; HGC 3, 956.

 

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I"m glad @Bing posted his example, because it reminded me that I forgot to post my own L. Roscius Fabatus. So here it is, belatedly.


PS: I have no idea what happened above -- I swear I pressed "upload reply" only once, but three identical comments appeared.

 

...A Lot of (expl. del.) Snakes on this (expl. del.) Plane!

 

There are a lot of nice reptiles in this thread. I've got a number of coins with Salus holding or feeding a snake, but these are my only two examples with serpents in other roles:

The typical Pergamene snake staff:

Mysia, Pergamon, AE17, ca. 133–127 BC. Obv: head of Asklepios, bearded, r. Rev: [AΣ]KΛH[PIOY] ΣΩTHPOΣ, serpent-entwined staff. 17.5mm, 5.05g. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 370–376; SNG France 1828–1848; BMC 151–157. (AMCC picture)

And don't forget this famous snake on a coin:

Roman Republic, Imperatorial Coinage, Julius Caesar, AR denarius, 49–48 BC, military mint moving with Caesar. Obv: [CA]ESAR; elephant walking r., trampling snake. Rev: priestly implements: culullus, aspergillum, axe, apex. 20mm, 3.70g. Ref: RRC 443/1.

 

The oracular Snake God Glycon was apparently no more than a hand puppet dressed in a blonde wig and a fish tail, but that didn't stop its cult for being widely popular for more than a hundred years. It was probably not so much the case that its owner, Alexander of Abonoteichus, was a snake oil salesman of the first degree, but the sad fact that people have been prone to gullibility since the dawn of time.

Trivia: Even today, Glycon has at least one famous follower, Alan Moore, writer of, amongst other things, the Watchmen and V for Vendetta.


COMMODUS
AE24. 6.39g, 23.8mm. THRACE, Pautalia, AD 180-192. Varbanov 4565; RPC Online IV.1 temp 8913. O: ΑΥ ΚΑΙ ΜΑΡ ΑΥΡ ΚΟΜΟΔΟC, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: ΟΥΛΠΙΑC ΠΑ-ΥΤΑ/ΛΙΑC, the serpent Glykon wearing wig and with fish tail coiled right, feeding from altar to right; tree or branch to left.
Ex E.L. Collection (Germany); ex Helios Auktion 3, 2009, lot 157

 

Here are a few of my favorite slithering specimens:

Heracles strangling two snakes:



On Athena's helmet on this distater:


Likely not the appropriate manner in which to safely handle a snake: