I finally managed to get an example of this Guatemalan 1 peso banknote. The reference books describe this as 'woman on winged chariot drawn by lions', not something you see everyday and who doesn't like a couple of fluffy cats! So what is the Ancients link? I am assuming this is a reference to Cybele, as mother, commemorating the start of the new Guatemalan republic.? Please post anything relevant as I expect she has numerous names - is it always two lions? are the wings on the chariot poetic licence??
Here's a photo of my Roman Republican denarius from 78 BCE, issued by M. Volteius (Crawford 385/4), with a reverse showing Cybele in a biga drawn by two lions. No wings on the chariot!
Really cool note. Now I kinda want one. M. Volteius M.f. (75 B.C) AR Denarius O: Laureate, helmeted, and draped bust of Attis right; winged caduceus behind. R: �Cybele driving biga of lions right. Rome Mint 3.53g 17mm Crawford 385/4
I don't recall seeing a RR coin with a winged chariot. Here is my lion biga example. Volteia. M. Volteius M.f. Denarius. 78 AD. Rome Mint. 3,70 g. Ex Colección Poinssot collection (1879-1967).
It is great to see all your coins - looks like the wings on the chariot may be the artist getting carried away Aren't flying chariots usually a result of the animal having wings rather than the chariot - another mystery to add to the list!
You are right that flying chariots are usually pulled by a winged horse, Pegasus. I did find a few winged chariots online. The first one is a vase painting and the second a coin from a TRITON auction. None have Cybele in the chariot. The Winged Chair of Hephaestus; Attic red figure vase painting. Museum Collection Berlin; Ware - Attic Red Figure; Kylix; Attributed to the Ambrosios Painter; ca 525 B.C.; Period - Archaic Triptolemos in winged chariot drawn by two snakes ATTICA, Eleusis . Circa 350's-330's BC. Æ 17mm (3.86 gm). Triptolemos, holding grain ear in right hand, seated left in winged chariot being drawn by two snakes / ELEUSI, pig standing right on mystic staff; pig's head and ivy leaf below. Kroll 38; Svoronos pl. 103, 2-3; SNG Copenhagen 414; BMC Attica pg. 113, 12-13; cf. Laffaille 357; Imhoof-Blumer (op. cit.), pl. EE, Eleusis, xi-xx. Good VF, black patina, nicely centered. This statue of Triptolemos was presumably still in its temple when Pausanias (I. 38, 6) visited Eleusis in about AD 160: " The Eleusians have a temple to Triptolemos...... They say that the plain called Rharion was the first to be sown and the first to grow crops... Here is shown a threshing floor and altar. My dream forbade the description of the things within the wall of the sanctuary, and the uninitiated are of course not permitted to learn that which they are prevented from seeing." Triton V, lot 367, 1/15/2002 Direct URL: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=94478
