There are several variations in the Gallienus zoo series that depict centaurs with the reverse inscription APOLLINI CONS AVG, meaning roughly "to Apollo, preserver of the Augustus." That's because Apollo and a certain centaur, Chiron, are linked in mythology and both are associated with healing and medicine. Chiron was the son of the Titan named Kronos, who is said to have assumed the form of a horse when he made love to Philyra, a sea nymph. Their union resulted in a centaur baby, with the head and upper body of a man, and the lower body of a horse. The centaur baby, named Chiron, was so grotesque that his mother rejected him. But Apollo adopted the infant Chiron and schooled him thoroughly in the arts, sciences, and medicine. Consequently, while centaurs in general were a rowdy lot intent primarily on drinking wine and chasing women, Chiron was different. He took up residence alone in a cave on the flank of Mount Pelion and over time earned respect as a healer, astrologer, prophet, and teacher. It was Chiron, for example, who taught the art of healing to Asklepios and others. 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. Post anything you feel is relevant!
LOL! Here’s an x6 classic that I’m now the happy owner of. KINGS of BITHYNIA. Prousias II Kynegos. 182-149 BC. Æ (21mm, 6.34 g, 12h). Nikomedia mint. Wreathed head of Dionysos right / Centaur advancing right, playing kithara; monogram below raised foreleg. RG 26; HGC 7, 629. Good VF, attractive dark green patina with light earthen highlights. Ex stevex6 Collection; ex Dr Lawrence D. Sporty Collection.
GALLIENUS Antoninianus OBVERSE: GALLIENVS AVG - Radiate head right. REVERSE: APOLLINI CONS AVG, centaur walking right drawing bow. Z in ex. Struck at Rome, 267-268 AD 2.6g, 19mm RIC 163, RSC 72
My only Centaur... Italia, Frentani - Larinum AE 18mm Quadrans 210-175 BCE Herakles - Centaur SNG COP 272
My only centaur. Thessaly. Magnetes. AE19, 7.23g, 196-146 BC Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right. Rev: ΜΑΓΝΗΤΩΝ; The centaur Chiron advancing right, holding branch over shoulder; star below.
Here is my Centaur. Cunobelinus Centaur.c.AD8-41. Bronze unit. 16mm. 2.38g. Head left, CVNO[BELINI]./ Centaur right, TAS[CIOVANI F] around. ABC 2957, VA 2089, BMC 1968-71, S 336. CCI 02.1143 (this coin).VF, dark green patina. Ex J W Barratt collection, ex W Tatu collection. Purchased from Chris Rudd Nuismatics, August 20, 2018
Those are excellent Gallienus centaurs! [guffaw] "Centaur for Disease Control" EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian RY 14 (CE 94/5) Æ drachm, 36 mm, 25.42 gm Obv: Laureate head right Rev: The Emperor driving biga of centaurs right., raising hand and holding scepter and reins; in exergue, L IΔ Ref: Dattari-Savio Pl. 17, 453 (this coin); Geissen 406 (this coin cited); RPC 2704 (this coin cited) Ex Dattari Collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1853-1923)
Cool bronze drachm! And quite a provenance, too! You have more coins depicting chariots being pulled by non-equine creatures than anyone I know!
Sadly I have no centaurs, but here are a couple of Apollos: Caracalla. AR denarius, Rome, 214 CE; 18mm, 3.03g, 1h. BMCRE 91–2, RIC 238a, RSC 242. Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM; laureate head r. Rx: P M TR P XVII COS IIII P P; Apollo, naked to waist, seated l., holding branch and leaning on lyre set on tripod. -------------------------------------------------------- Caracalla. AR denarius, Rome, 215 CE; 20mm, 3.12g, 6h. BMCRE 107–9, RIC 254, RSC 282. Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM; laureate head r. Rx: P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P; Apollo, naked except for cloak from shoulder, standing front, head l., holding branch and leaning on lyre on low base or altar.
