I have a special fondness for Flavian coins struck at Alexandria, especially those of Domitian. Many of his reverse types are extraordinarily fantastical, such as my most recent acquisition: Domitian in a biga drawn by two centaurs! Domitian Æ Drachm, 26.52g Alexandria mint, 95-96 AD Obv: AVT KAI C ΘEOY YIOC ∆OMIT CEB ΓEPM; Head of Domitian, laureate, r., with aegis Rev: LΙΕ; Emperor in biga of centaurs, r. RPC 2726 (3 spec.). Emmett 253.15b3. Dattari-Savio 454 var. Acquired from eBay, February 2022. This remarkable reverse type first appears under Domitian in regnal year 13. Domitian, either as Hercules or less likely Dionysus, is depicted riding in a biga drawn by two centaurs. Because the centaurs are each holding a small figure of Nike, we can understand this as a triumphal type. It was briefly struck at Alexandria for Domitian and later Trajan. The aegis portrait is an extremely rare variant with RPC citing only three specimens, all of which are in the ANS collection. Although the reverse's regnal year date is illegible in the exergue, I was able to die match the obverse with a regnal year 15 specimen (Cologne, erroneously catalogued in RPC as 2724, a standard laureate portrait without aegis). The exact meaning of the reverse is lost to us today, but the motif of centaurs drawing a biga was not unheard of in ancient iconography. In 139 BC a denarius struck by moneyer M. Aurelius Cotta struck a reverse featuring Hercules in a biga drawn by two centaurs. Later, the Great Cameo of Constantine the Great depicts the imperial family in a triumphal chariot drawn by two centaurs. It would not be a stretch to hypothesise this drachm is a triumphal type with the emperor taking on the attributes of Hercules. Please share your coins featuring centaurs, or any other mythological creatures. Thank you for looking!
Holy Hercules, indeed, @David Atherton! That's cool! I like coins with chariots drawn by non-traditional creatures, such as lions, stags, goats, snakes, and so on! The only coins I have with centaurs are these from Gallienus's "zoo" series. Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman billon antoninianus, 2.60 g, 19.6 mm, 5 h. Rome, AD 267-268. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head, right. Rev: APOLLINI CONS AVG, centaur walking right, drawing bow; Z in exergue. Refs: RIC 163; Göbl 735b; Cohen 72; RCV 10177; Hunter 95; Cunetio 1378. Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman AE Antoninianus, 2.73 g, 18.6 mm, 12 h. Rome, AD 267-268. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right. Rev: APOLLINI CONS AVG, Centaur walking left, holding globe and rudder; H in exergue. Refs: RIC 164; Cohen 73; RCV 10178.
My first Gallienus Zoo series was this one (I am sure @David Atherton would like different examples, but when seeing "mythological creatures" this is the first thing we think about ) Gallienus AE Antoninianus. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right / APOLLINI CONS AVG, Centaur walking left, holding globe and reversed rudder. Mintmark H. RIC V 164, Cohen 74, RSC 74. Sear5 10177. Pegasus is another popular creature fitting the subject. I recently bought this coin, very cheap, mainly because I like the portrait a lot. The reverse is from a worn die and the flan is small but I still consider this a very nice coin Antoninianus Æ silvered 20 mm, 2,88 g Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head of Gallienus right / Rev: SOLI CONS AVG, Pegasus flying right. RIC V Gallienus 283, RSC IV 979
M. AURELIUS COTTA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Head of Roma, COTA below, X behind REVERSE: Hercules holding club in biga of centaurs holding branches. M.AVRELI below, ROMA in ex Struck at Rome 139 BC 4.29g, 16mm Aurelia 16, BMC.914, Craw.229/1 ex. Pliego Numismatics
Very cool! I can't remember what reverse my one and only Domitian Drachm is. I sure love the big Drachmae!
Well, apparently mine is : DOMITIAN AE drachm. ALEXANDRIA, Egypt. Struck regnal year 15, 95-96 AD. AVT KAI S QEO VVIOS DOMIT SEB GERM, laureate head right. Reverse - Domitian seated right in biga drawn by two centaurs; LIE in exergue. Köln 406; Dattari 453; Milne 523; Emmett 253. 35mm, 28.3g. I'd post a picture, but it makes the coin look far more dreadful than it does in hand.
