The gens Fabia was a prominent patrician family, who claimed descent from both Hercules and Evander. One branch of the gens Fabia, the Fabii Buteones, took their name from a bird, buteo, which during the Punic War siege of Drepanum settled on the prow of a ship commanded by consul Fabius and was a good omen. Pliny identified the buteo as a type of hawk, but the type of bird is questioned by Crawford in Roman Republican Coinage. Auspicious and Auspices both have roots in “avis” bird and “specere” to look. In ancient Rome an Augur would be consulted before any major undertaking. Augurs would look for omens in the flight and feeding of birds. The story of the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus told by Plutarch and others, relates that the two tried to settle their question of where to build the city “by the flight of birds of omen”. There is, of course, more to the story and interpreting the omen leads to a fight in which Remus ends up dead. Still the Romans put a lot of faith in augury: "Auspiciis hanc urbem conditam esse, auspiciis bello ac pace, domo militiaeque omnia geri, quis est, qui ignoret?" “Who is it that does not know that this city was only founded after taking auspices and that nothing is done in war and peace, at home or abroad, without taking auspices?” Livy (Ab Vrbe Condita VI.41) In addition to birds they would consult the entrails of a dead animal for signs as well. Haruspex from haru, entrails, intestines, specere, to look or observe. For me this puts a new twist on having the guts to go into battle, but that takes us away from the birds. Here is an AR denarius of C. Fabius C.f. Hadrianus featuring a bird on the reverse that may be a buteo or marsh bird (sumpfvogel) and making a questionable connection between the moneyer and the gens Fabii. Date: 102 BC Obv: EX A PV, Turreted and veiled bust of Cybele right Rev: Victory driving galloping biga right, E below horses, bird before, C FABI C F in exergue Size: 19.6mm, 3.96 grams Ref: Crawford 322/1b; Fabia 14; Sydenham 590 EX A PV translates to EX Argento PVblico, indicating a special issue struck from the reserve bullion in the public treasury. Crawford also connects C. Fabius Hadrianus to Fabius Hadrianus who was praetor in 84 BC in the Roman province Africa. Fabius Hadrianus was burned alive in an uprising in Utica. There is reason to suspect that this was because he got on the wrong side of Sulla - his successor was Pompey the Great a Sulla supporter. Cicero had no kind words for C. Fabius Hadrianus: “He, because Roman citizens could not tolerate his avarice, was burnt alive at Utica in his own house; and that was thought to have happened to him so deservedly, that all men rejoiced, and no punishment was inflicted for the deed.” Apparently, the bird on this denarius did not augur well for C. Fabius Hadrianus. Share your coins with birds, stories of good and bad omens, coins of C. Fabius Hadrianus, or anything else you find relevant.
C FABIUS CF HADRIANUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS FABIA Fourree Denarius OBVERSE: EX•A•PV behind veiled & turreted bust of Cybele right REVERSE: C•FABI•C•F, victory in biga right; stork below Struck at Rome 102 BC 3.28g, 20mm Crawford 322/1 Q. CAECILIUS METELLUS PIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CAECILIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Diademed head of Pietas right, stork before REVERSE: IMPER in exergue, lituus and jug, all within laurel wreath Spanish Mint 81 BC 3.8g; 20mm Crawford 374/2; Sydenham 751; Caecilia 44 Ex: Barry Murphy Q. CAECILIUS METELLUS PIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CAECILIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Diademed head of Pietas right; stork standing right before REVERSE: Q C M P I beneath elephant walking left w/bell hanging from neck Northern Italy, 79 BC-77 BC 3.75g; 18mm Caecilia 43; Crawford 374/1; Syd 750; Sear 301
@Bing - that first coin is interesting - is that some sort of rusted fouree? The Q. Caecilis Metellus Pius coins are both particularly relevant, not only for the birds, and great coins!
This is apparently the only known example of this coin. Although this reverse type is known for Septimius Severus, there isn't one of Julia Domna in Recueil général des monnaies grecques d'Asie mineure; it's not at Wildwinds, not at Coin Archives, not at acsearchinfo, not at CNG's archives, not in BMC, not in Sear Greek Imperial. It isn't in the ISEGRIM database either, which supposedly includes everything from Lindgren, Waddington, and the major SNGs for Nicaea. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman provincial Æ (1 assarion?) 17.6 mm, 3.78 g. Bithynia, Nicaea, AD 193-211. Obv: ΙΟΥΛΙΑ CΕΒΑCΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust right. Right: ΝΙΚΑΙΕΩΝ, eagle standing right. Refs: SGI --; Recueil Général --; BMC --
I like the fourree - unusually complete, clear and unsilvered. In addition to the birds, Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius governed in Africa until 84 BC when he was driven from the province by C Fabius Hadrianus.
My favorite bird....the majestic eagle! I got around 200 coins with eagles/ including the famed Habsburg Double headed Imperial Eagle. This AV Stater from Iceni Tribe depicts left standing Norfolk Wolf with some type of plover like bird on his rump. Also has pellets underneath wolf to indicate its a female....2 known. Ex: Rudd bought as unsold lot Now for an eagle From my homeland/ Brandenburg-Preussen AV 1/2 Friedrichs d'or 1832-A Berlin Mint Friedrich-Wilhelm III 1797-1840 Won; Kunker Auction Egad....really modern, but I like these too! United States St. Gaudens Double Eagle( Golden Eagle) stunning design, Hornbill (I have the entire 24 Country Conservation Series....love wildlife coins....
ITTY-BITTY BIRDY Ionia Miletos AR Tetartemorion 5.6mm 0.21g Roaring Lion Hd - Bird Klein 430 SNG Kay 941
That bird probably did not feel any pain, like getting hit by a load of buckshot pointblank! Wonder how the umpire called that pitch....
C. Fabius Hadrianus also issued denarii without the EX A PV legend on obverse, like this one from my collection. In fact, it's unclear why the EX A PV legend was used at all - wouldn't all denarii be struck from public silver?
@Carausius, thank you for posting this coin - great to see the two variants juxtaposed, and especially with your excellent example. I also wish I had a better explanation for why the EX A PV was used at all, and that it were clearer what was being communicated at the time. Always interested in learning more.
Moesia inferior, Nikopolis ad Istrum, Septimius Severus, AD 193-211 AE 16, 3.26g, 15.64mm, 180° obv. AV KAI CEΠ - CEVHPOC Bust, draped and cuirassed, laureate, r. rev. NIKOΠOΛIT - ΠPOC ICT Cock advancing r., stepping on snake which is erecting in front of him ref. a) AMNG I/1, 1416, pl. XX, 7 (1 ex., Bukarest) b) not in Varbanov c) Hristova/Hoeft/Jekov (2018) No. 8.14.10.36 (this coin) extremely rare (R9), EF, dark green patina Pick writes: "An unusual type!" The rev is known from a coin of Caracalla HrHJ (2018) No. 8.18.10.22, extremely rare too. The meaning of this depiction is unknown. If anyone has an idea I would be happy to hear. Jochen
