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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Roman Collector, post: 2788486, member: 75937&quot;]Great examples, everyone! Thanks!</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;m intrigued by [USER=42773]@John Anthony[/USER] &#039;s theory:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The inscription APOLLINI CONSERVATORI AVGVSTI (to Apollo, the preserver of the emperor) suggests this particular centaur is Chiron, the tutor of Apollo, who was the first to teach Apollo the medicinal use of herbs.</p><p><br /></p><p>On the other hand, I&#039;m not so sure this has to be the case, because the same APOLLINI CONS AVG inscription is found on antoniniani of Gallienus depicting a gryphon and Pegasus, too, and their connection to Apollo seems more tenuous.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]647073[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>I think the presence of the globe is significant in terms of iconography. The idea of a rudder being used to steer the outcome of the world is not infrequently used on coins (I&#039;m thinking of Fortuna or Tyche), such as this:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]647082[/ATTACH]</p><p>Elagabalus, AD 218-222</p><p>Roman AR Antoninianus; 5.17 g, 21.3 mm</p><p>Rome, AD 219</p><p>Obv: IMP ANTONINVS AVG, radiate and draped bust, right</p><p>Rev: P M TR PII COSII P P, Fortuna enthroned left, holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae; wheel below seat</p><p>Refs: RIC 18; BMCRE 94; Cohen 148; RCV 7495</p><p><br /></p><p>Or this one depicting Aeternitas with globe and rudder:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]647086[/ATTACH]</p><p>Faustina Sr, AD 138-141</p><p>Roman AR denarius; 3.83 g, 18.2 mm</p><p>Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust, right</p><p>Rev: AETERNITAS, Fortuna standing left, holding globe and rudder</p><p>Refs: RIC 348; BMCRE 360; Cohen 6; RCV 4577</p><p><br /></p><p>Or this one depicting Tyche with rudder set on globe:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]647093[/ATTACH]</p><p>Julia Domna, AD 193-211</p><p>Roman provincial AE 29.5 mm, 14.48 g</p><p>Thrace, Pautalia, AD 193-211</p><p>Obv: ΙΟΥΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ CΕΒΑ, bare-headed and draped bust, right</p><p>Rev: ΟΥΛΠΙΑC ΠΑΥΤΑΛΙΑC, Tyche with kalathos standing left, with rudder on globe and cornucopiae</p><p>Refs: Ruzicka 467; Moushmov 4230</p><p><br /></p><p>So, a globe and rudder are commonly found together and probably serves as an allegory of Gallienus steering the state.</p><p><br /></p><p>And, especially on Gogili&#039;s example, the thing <i>does</i> look like a rudder, such as on this denarius of Hadrian (Imagine the rudder upside down):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]647095[/ATTACH]</p><p>Hadrian, AD 117-138</p><p>Roman AR denarius; 3.44 g, 17.5 mm, 7:00</p><p>Rome, AD 121</p><p>Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder</p><p>Rev: P M TR P COS III, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae and resting on column</p><p>Refs: RIC 86b; BMCRE 170; RSC 1155; UCR 206; RCV 3521</p><p><br /></p><p>So, intriguing as the lyre theory is, I&#039;m going with the rudder theory.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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