Just received this in the post today. Although I might be a little disappointed in the obverse, the reverse is quite interesting. However, what exactly is on the staff Dacia is holding? Research has not been very definitive of the nature of what exactly is on the top of the staff. This is a type that has been the subject of discussion for years. I'm using the traditional "ass's head description here. But an argument has also been made that the object is a dragon's head, or a dragon "roarer", a device tribes would use that served as both a standard, and a noise maker for battle. And really, why would Dacia have a staff with the head of an Ass? What is your opinion? The coin came with an old handwritten envelope from Seaby coins and later sold in a lot on CNG as noted below. TRAJAN DECIUS AR Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP C M Q TRAIANUS DECIVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. REVERSE: DACIA, Dacia standing left, holding draco standard or vertical staff surmounted by ass's head Struck at Rome, 249 AD 4.39g, 22mm RIC 12b Ex CNG eAuction 328, Lot 761 Ex. Seaby with handwritten envelope and tag
Dragon. I believe it is deep-seated in Dacian/Romanian history. @seth77 would be a great person to ask his opinion.
bunny? no, i think it's a "dacian draco"....look at this.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacian_Draco cool coin with a very interesting reverse bing!
Those modern photos look like a head on a stick. I thought the thing was more of a larger unit with neck and hollows for noise making. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacian_Draco
Well, I guess the controversy is over---definitely Dacian-Draco!! As we all know only Democrats are asses...... and several buckets full of old bronze Roman coins
Wow, sweet addition big-bro ... D. Junius Brutus Albinus AR (Silver) Denarius Struck 48 BC => The year Caesar defeats Pompey at Pharsalus and becomes sole dictator of Rome, calling himself "Imperator" Rome Mint Diameter: 18mm Weight: 3.60 grams Obverse: Head of young Mars right, wearing a crested helmet Reverse: BRVTI F ALBINVS, two gallic trumpets (carnyces) in saltire, oval shield above, round shield below One footnote — the word "Gallic" relates to Gaul, the Roman name for France, and therefore means "French", and not a Scottish or Irish language The word “carnyx” is derived from the Gaulish root, "carn-" or "cern-" meaning "antler" or "horn," and the same root of the name of the god, Cernunnos (Delmarre, 1987 pp. 106–107). This is the name the Romans gave to the instrument. The original Celtic name is unknown. Even under torture, Carnyx players would not reveal the Celtic name of the instrument to the Romans Reference: Postumia 11; Cr450/1a; Syd 941 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnyx
I am not sure the controversy is quite over. @chrsmat71 posited a RABBIT as the staff head...and I distinctly recall KILLER RABBITS from Monty Python.
Don't you hate it when you are ambushed in the middle of the night and have to fight in your pyjamas?
I remember an episode of Time Team where they attempted to reproduce one of these draco standards. It was a fun episode, and it would have scared the bejazzers out of the natives.
