Cornucopias Revisited

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Deacon Ray, Oct 9, 2021.

  1. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    In recognition of our Canadian friend’s Thanksgiving holiday on Monday, I decided to round up a few of the many double cornucopias from my Judaean and Nabataean collections.
    N1 2.jpg
    N1 3.jpg
    N1 4.jpg
    I know that we’ve done this before but we have a lot of new coins and a lot of new collectors. Feel free to post yours.
     
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  3. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Here's a T. Decius Abundantia type featuring the personification holding a cornucopia.

    decius1.jpg

    decius2.jpg
     
  4. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Sumpin’ different…

    [​IMG]
    Roman I Empire era
    Tessera
    ca 1st C CE
    PB 13mm 1.39g
    Obv: Fortuna rudder cornu
    Rev: DP
    Rostovtsev 2307 Ruggerio 808-9
     
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  5. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    I love it! Great presentation, as always, @Deacon Ray!

    Here's Annona with a big ol' cornucopiae!

    [​IMG] Marcus Aurelius, Augustus AD 161-180.
    Roman AR denarius, 3.15 g, 18.1 mm, 11 h.
    Rome, 36th emission, AD 178.
    Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG, laureate head, right.
    Rev: COS III P P, Annona standing left, holding corn-ears in right hand over modius and cornucopia in left hand; to right, prow.
    Refs: RIC 424; BMCRE 691; Cohen 151; RCV 4893; MIR 436-4/30.
     
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  6. ambr0zie

    ambr0zie Dacian Taraboste

    Good idea for a thread!
    Here are some of my favorites
    upload_2021-10-9_21-43-2.png

    Titus, AD 80, Sestertius
    Obverse IMP T CAES VESP AVG P M TR P P P COS VIII. Head of Titus, laureate, right; Reverse FELICIT PVBLIC S C. Felicitas standing left, holding sceptre and cornucopiae
    RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Titus 143. Old RIC II Titus 89

    upload_2021-10-9_21-44-11.png



    Constantius I, as Caesar, Æ Nummus. Treveri, AD 298-299. FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB C, laureate bust left / GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, Genius, towered and nude to waist, standing facing, head turned left, holding cornucopiae with his left hand, patera in his right hand; B- gamma across fields, TR in exergue. RIC 196

    upload_2021-10-9_21-45-44.png

    Lydia, Thyateira, Trajan
    Obverse ΑΥ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟΝ, laureate head of Trajan, r. Reverse ΘΥΑΤΕΙΡΗΝΩΝ, Tyche standing facing, head l., holding rudder in r. hand, cornucopia in l.

    RPC III, 1826, BMC 75


    upload_2021-10-9_21-51-5.png


    Antoninus Pius AD 138-161. Rome Denarius AR 19 mm., 2,64 g
    RIC III Antoninus Pius 234
    Date Range: AD 153 - AD 154
    Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVII
    Type: Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right
    Reverse: LIBERALITAS VII COS IIII
    Type: Liberalitas, draped, standing left, emptying coins out of cornucopiae, held in both hands
    (interesting design!)

    upload_2021-10-9_21-52-16.png


    Julia Maesa. Augusta AD 218-224. Rome Denarius AR 19 mm., 2,31 g.
    RIC IV Elagabalus 249
    Date Range: AD 218 - AD 222
    Obverse Legend: IVLIA MAESA AVG
    Type: Bust of Julia Maesa, hair waved and turned up low at the back, draped, right
    Reverse Legend: FECVNDITAS AVG
    Type: Fecunditas, draped, standing left, extending her right hand over a child and holding cornucopiae in left hand


    upload_2021-10-9_21-53-15.png


    Domitian AD 81-96. Rome
    As Æ
    27 mm, 10,73 g
    RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Domitian 707
    Old RIC 394
    AD 90 - AD 91
    Obverse Legend: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XV CENS PER P P
    Type: Bust of Domitian, laureate, right
    Portrait: Domitian
    Reverse Legend: FORTVNAE AVGVSTI S C
    Type: Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae


    upload_2021-10-9_21-54-13.png


    Trajan AD 98-117. Rome
    Dupondius Æ
    27 mm, 9,85 g
    RIC II Trajan 385
    Date Range: AD 98 - AD 99
    Obverse Legend: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM P M
    Type: Head of Trajan, radiate, right
    Reverse Legend: TR POT COS II S C
    Type: Abundantia seated left on chair with crossed cornucopiae, holding sceptre in right hand

    upload_2021-10-9_21-55-3.png


    Otacilia Severa AD 244-249. Rome
    Antoninianus AR
    23 mm, 3,54 g
    RIC IV Philip I 125
    Date Range: AD 246 - AD 248
    Obverse Legend: M OTACIL SEVERA AVG
    Portrait: Otacilia Severa
    Type: Bust of Otacilia Severa, diademed, draped, on crescent, right | Bust of Otacilia Severa, diademed, draped, right
    Reverse Legend: CONCORDIA AVGG
    Type: Concordia, draped, seated left, holding patera in right hand and double cornucopiae in left hand

    Here is one where the cornucpiae is the main star

    upload_2021-10-9_21-56-0.png


    CILICIA. Soloi (ca 1st century BC) AE19
    Obv: Head of Artemis right, wearing stephane.
    Rev: ΣΟΛΕΩΝ - Double cornucopia; to left, Є above Θ.
    Ziegler -; SNG BN 1209-10 var. (controls); SNG Levante 865 var. (same)
    5,68 g, 19 mm
     
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  7. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Nicely presented (as usual!), @Deacon Ray :)

    Judaean and Nabataean coinage certainly loved their cornucopiae.

    The cornucopia seems to be a favorite accoutrement of many gods and personifications. Here's a sampling.

    Held by Annona, who is swapping swag with Ceres:
    [​IMG]
    Nero
    struck in Rome, CE 63
    Orichalcum sestertius, 34 mm, 26.7 gm
    Obv: NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP PP; laureate head right, wearing aegis
    Rev: ANNONA AVGVSTI CERES; Ceres, veiled and draped, seated left, holding corn ears and torch, her feet on stool, facing Annona standing right, holding cornucopia; between them, modius on garlanded altar; in background, stern of ship
    Ref: RIC 98. Cohen 24


    Held by Dido:
    [​IMG]
    PHOENICIA, Tyre. Julia Maesa
    CE 218-224/5
    AE 27, 12.71g (11h)
    Obv: IVLIA MAE - SA AV[G] Draped bust right, wearing stephane
    Rev: TVRIORVM Dido standing left on deck of galley sailing right, extending right hand and holding cornucopia in left; to left, sailor throwing sack of sand overboard; to right, sailor extending right hand and holding curved staff in left; stern decorated with a shield and aphlaston, [two murex shells] in exergue
    Ref: CNG e320, 12 Feb. 2014, lot 323 (same dies). Rouvier 2408

    Held by the personification of Africa:
    [​IMG]
    HADRIAN. CE 117-138
    AR Denarius. 18 mm, 3.53 gm. struck CE 134-138, Rome
    Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, laureate head right
    Rev: AFRICA, Africa with elephant skin headdress, reclining on rock, holding scorpion and cornucopia, basket of fruit before her
    Ref: RIC II 299

    Held by Athena:
    [​IMG]
    CILICIA, Tarsos. Valerian I
    253-260 CE
    AE 32 mm, 19.06 gm
    Obv: AVKΛΙΠOVΛΙOVAΛЄPIANOCCЄ; Π - Π; radiate, draped, and cuirassed (?) bust right.
    Rev: TAPCOVMH TP OΠOΛЄΩC; A/M/K - Γ/Γ in fields; KOINOBOVΛION ЄΛЄVΘЄ__ in exergue; Athena seated left on throne, holding cornucopia and dropping a voting pebble into amphora to left; shield below.
    Ref: SNG Levante 1193; SNG BN 1821-2 (I do not have these reference books; references taken from similar ex CNG coin)
    ex Doug Smith

    Held by the genius of the Roman people:
    [​IMG]
    Commemorative Series under Constantine I
    330 CE; Æ 14.5 mm, 1.16 gm
    Constantinople mint, 1st officina
    Obv: POP ROMANVS; draped bust of Genius left, with cornucopia over shoulder
    Rev: Milvian Bridge over Tiber River; CONS//A
    Ref: RIC VIII 21; LRBC 1066; Vagi 3043
    ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection
    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/celebrating-the-site-of-constantine-is-vision-and-victory.280747/

    Held by Homonoia:
    [​IMG]
    EGYPT, Alexandria. Aelius
    137 CE
    Billon tetradrachm; 23 mm, 13.16 gm
    Obv: ΛAIΛIOCKAICAP; bare head right
    Rev: ΔHM EΞOVC VΠAT B; Homonoia standing left, holding cornucopiae and patera over garlanded altar
    Ref: Emmett 1350.2; Köln 1271; Milne 1539
    Secret Saturn gift 2018; Ex Theodosius Collection
    Ex John A. Seeger Collection


    Held by a half-man, half-crocodile mutant:
    [​IMG]
    Egypt, Alexandria. Trajan
    AE drachm, 32.07 mm, 18.28 gm, 1 h
    Regnal year 15 (111/12 CE)
    Obv: [AVT T]PAIAN C-ЄB ΓЄ[PM ΔAKIK]; laureate bust of Trajan right, drapery on left shoulder
    Rev: Harpocrates of Canopus with hindparts of a crocodile, standing left, pointing finger at mouth and holding cornucopiae; LI - E across field
    Ref: Emmett 500.15; Milne 659
    ex Tom Buggey Collection

    Held by Nilus:
    [​IMG]
    EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan
    Regnal year 18 (114/5 CE)
    billion tetradrachm, 24 mm, 12.8 gm
    Obv: AVTTPAIANAPICEBΓEPMΔAKIK; laureate bust right, star in right field
    Rev: draped bust of Nilus right, crowned with taenia and lotus bud; cornucopia at left shoulder; LI-H
    Ref: Dattari 670 (this coin); Dattari-Savio plate 26 #670 (this coin); RPC 4851.16 (this coin cited); Emmett 387.18, R4.
    ex Dattari collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1858-1923)

    Held by Zeus-Ammon-Serapis-Helios-Poseidon-Nilus-Asklepios:
    [​IMG]
    EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
    year 5, CE 141/2
    AE drachm, 20 gm
    Obv: Laureate draped bust of Antoninus Pius right
    Rev: Radiate and draped bust of Serapis-Pantheos right, wearing calathus and horn of Ammon; trident and cornucopia behind; L-Є in right field
    Ref: Emmett 1676.5, R1
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2021
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  8. ambr0zie

    ambr0zie Dacian Taraboste

    @TIF, that Nero sestertius is breathtaking.
     
  9. Shea19

    Shea19 Well-Known Member

    Great theme and nice presentation as always. Here are a couple more cornucopiae:

    3BC09A79-7695-47C8-86DF-4DF4C9DB3304.jpeg
    Philip II, Antoninianus, (21mm, 3.12 g). Antioch mint. 1st issue. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / AEQVITAS AVG, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia. Bland Study 61; RIC IV 240a var.
    From the Richard McAlee Collection

    2A8FBAFC-271D-4E58-ABCE-B74AC64C6612.jpeg

    Septimius Severus, Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis. AE Pentassarion (27mm, 9.94 g). Struck 201-202 AD. Aurelius Gallus, legatus consularis. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust r. / Tyche Soterios (Fortuna Redux) standing l., holding rudder set on ground and cornucopia.
    From the Benito Collection
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2021
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  10. Ancient Aussie

    Ancient Aussie Well-Known Member

    Some great cornucopiae coins shown, I have a Vespasian, Felicitas to add. 2015-01-07 01.08.12-28.jpg
     
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  11. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Here's another, an interesting Alexandrian. I haven't shown this coin before-- backlog of coins to show :). It's an upgrade but I'm keeping the coin that was upgraded :D.

    APi-IsisSothisDrachm2.jpg EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
    AE drachm, regnal year 21 (157/8 CE)
    32 mm, 23.22 gm
    Obv: Α[ΥΤ Κ] Τ Α ΑΔ[Ρ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CЄΒ ЄΥC]; laureate head right
    Rev: Isis-Sothis, seated facing and holding a cornucopia and scepter, riding a dog (Sirius?) right; the dog is looking back at Isis
    Ref: Emmett 1593.21; Dattari (Savio) 8581; RPC IV.4 online 15227.
    From the Rhakotis Collection, formed in the 1960s and 1970s

    About the type:

    This coin represents Isis as the Egyptian Sepdet (Sothis in Greek), a personification of Sirius, the brightest star in the firmament. Sirius' heliacal rising in mid-July heralded the coming of the Nile inundation, without which civilized life would be impossible in the scorching sands of Egypt. So important was this event to the Egyptians that the start of their civil calendar originally coincided with the heliacal rising of Sirius. However, although the Egyptian civil calendar only lasted 365 days, there are 365.25 days between two successive heliacal risings of Sirius. In other words, every four years, the civil calendar shifted by one day versus the “Sothic year”. After 1460 Sothic years, or 1461 civil years, the heliacal rising of Sirius again took place on the first day of the month Thoth (Egyptian New Year), and a Sothic cycle was completed. According to Censorinus (De Die Natali 21.10) such a cycle was completed in 139 CE, at the start of Antoninus Pius' reign. (-from Leu Numismatik)

    Thanks... I agree :D. I love the reverse. So artistic! The engraver did a fine job of conveying distances. Look how the ship is shallowly engraved so that it appears far away, for instance. The coin is definitely of "fine style" :).
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2021
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  12. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    That one reminded me of a scene from a carousel.
     
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  13. philologus_1

    philologus_1 Supporter! Supporter

    It never dawned on me how utterly prevalent the cornucopia was on ancient coins. Wowsers! I started going through my coins chronologically (beginning with the oldest), pasting images of my coins with that device into one large image, so that I could post it on this thread. But I stopped when I got to 23 because I had not even made it up to my Judaean and Nabatean coins yet. I have a veritable cornucopia of cornucopias. :-o

    However...

    I've noticed through the years that numismatic descriptions sometimes use this spelling: cornucopiae. And I've also noticed that when two of this 'thing' we call cornucopia are paired together on the same coin type, some numismatic descriptions cite it as "double-cornucopia", and others cite "double cornucopias". (Might any grammarian want to weigh in on that?) And still others use "double cornucpiae".

    And so...

    I searched a certain online site which typically proves to hold a cornucopia of interesting information related to ancient coins, and I found a thread in which @Gavin Richardson and @dougsmit explain the interesting Latin backgrounds of our modern day spellings.
    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/corny-question-ric-and-cornucopiae.300319/
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2021
  14. Broucheion

    Broucheion Well-Known Member

    Hi All,

    Here is a lead monetiform object with types of Berenice II, possibly a trial strike or decadrachm coin weight

    upload_2021-10-9_17-5-32.png

    Ptolemy III Euergetes (246-222 Bce)
    Uncertain Mint, Year 05 (243/242 BCE)
    LORBER: CPE-B403A (This specimen, CPE Plate Coin). Svoronos- Unlisted (but see Sv-972 for reverse of Au Dekadrachm)

    Pb
    Size: 36.1 x 39.4 mm (16.7 mm thick)
    Weight: 77.1 g
    Die Axis: 00:00

    OBV: Uniface
    REV: The reverse devices of CPE-B403. Single fileted cornucopia (twist left) amid two stars of the Dioskuroi. Legend at left: ΒEΡEΝΙΚΗΣ; at right: ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣΣΗΣ. Below, E (= year 5). Dotted border.

    PROVENANCE:
    CPE Plate Coin. Ex-Ancient Imports (July 2007), examined and authenticated by CC Lorber.

    Notes: The types and controls of this unique item relate it to the enigmatic Attic-weight gold decadrachms and pentadrachms issued for Berenice II (see CPE 744-745), though the reverse design differs slightly in the contents of the cornucopiae and in the omission of the royal diadem normally tied around it. Alexandria, mint of the Attic-weight coinage for Berenice, could be the source of this object, but differences in style and iconographic detail leave open the possibility that it was fabricated elsewhere.

    - Broucheion
     
  15. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    Yes, I’m with @philologus_1 . Please give us your thoughts on the proper pluralization of the word — cornucopia .

    Is
    pluralization the correct word? o_O

     
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  16. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Cornu copiae = horn of plenty. Copiae is in the genitive.

    Cornua copiae = horns of plenty. Cornua is plural, copiae is genitive.
     
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  17. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  18. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    These are great! I have quite a few coins, from various emperors, showing one cornucopiae (the formation I use as the singular, in accordance with Jones's Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins). Here's one:

    Hadrian, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 22 (137/138 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate bust right, ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΤΡΑΙΑ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Nilus seated left on rocks, holding reed in right hand and cornucopiae in left; crocodile below; L KB (Year 22) in left field. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 6254 (2015); RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/6254; Emmett 879.22 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Milne 1569 [Milne, J., A Catalogue of the Alexandrian Coins in the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford, 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay)]; Köln.1241 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band II (Hadrian-Antoninus Pius) (Cologne, 1978, corrected reprint 1987)]. 24 mm., 12.9 g.

    Hadrian Alexandria seated Nilus with crocodile COMBINED.jpg

    By contrast, all my coins showing someone holding two cornuacopiae (or, if you prefer, one double cornucopiae) -- compare with the two crossed cornuacopiae type specifically referenced in the OP -- are Roman Imperial coins issued in the name of various empresses:

    Faustina I [Senior] [wife of Antoninus Pius], AR Denarius 139-Oct 140 AD [lifetime issue], Rome Mint. Obv. Diademed and draped bust right, FAVSTINA AVGVSTA / Rev. Concordia standing left, holding patera with extended right hand and double cornucopiae with left arm, CONCORDIA AVG. RIC III 335 Antoninus Pius, RSC II 151, Sear RCV II 4668 (ill.), BMCRE 133, Dinsdale 008710 [Dinsdale, Paul H., Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Caesar AD 138-161: Antonine Coinage (2018) at p. 99; photo at p. 100] [see http://romanpaulus.x10host.com/Antoninus/04 - Faustina I - Undated 139-140 (med_res).pdf pp. 10-11]. 19 mm., 2.84 g.

    Faustina I (living) RIC 335 jpg version.jpg

    Aquilia Severa (second wife of Elagabalus), AR Denarius 220-222 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG, Draped bust right/ Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing left, holding patera over lighted altar and double cornucopiae; star in lower right field. RIC IV-2 226 (Elagabalus); RSC III 2. 18 mm., 3.2 g.

    Aquilia Severa jpg version.jpg

    Sallustia Orbiana (wife of Severus Alexander) AR Denarius 225-227 AD. Rome mint. Special marriage emission of Severus Alexander, AD 225. Obv: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, Draped bust right, wearing stephane/ Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae. RIC IV-2 319 (Sev. Alexander); RSC III 1, BMCRE 287 (Sev. Alexander). 19 mm., 3.5 g.
    jpg version Sallustia Orbiana. Augusta, AD 225-227. AR Denarius.jpg

    Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I) AR Antoninianus, 246-248 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, wearing stephane, on crescent, M OTACIL SEVERA AVG/ Rev. Concordia seated left holding patera and double cornucopiae, CONCORDIA AVGG. RIC IV-3 125(c), RSC IV-3 4, Sear RCV III 9147 (ill. p. 173). 22x25 mm., 4.5 g.

    Otacilia Severa Antoninianus with Concordia reverse.jpg

    An obvious question arises, which I don't believe has been addressed in this thread: are this kind of double cornuacopiae on Roman Imperial coins (or Provincial coins, if any) limited to coins of empresses, or does anyone know of any coins of emperors depicting them? If they are confined to empresses, does anyone know why?
     
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  19. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

    double cornucopia with caduceus on As of Antoninus Pius...

    601701.jpg
     
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  20. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Thanks. Although these are crossed as opposed to being held next to each other, so not exactly the same type.
     
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  21. dltsrq

    dltsrq Grumpy Old Man

    It doesn't seem to be gender-specific. A quick check of the CNG archives finds numerous examples of twinned cornuacopiae on coins of emperors. A random example:

    721643.jpg
     
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