I acquired this for its reverse image Cilicia. Uncertain mint circa 400-300 BC. Obol AR 10 mm., 0,56 g. Facing head of Herakles, wearing lion’s skin Eagle standing left on stag's head, all within rectangular beaded border. Göktürk 42; SNG France 472; SNG Levante 229. Researching the type, I came across this statue in the Getty Museum This hollow bronze statuette depicts an eagle perched on the head of a stag; both are mounted on a stepped pyramid. The wings of the eagle are closed and its feet are placed between the antlers, which project on either side of the stag’s head. The composition is a well-known variation on the motif of an eagle perched on a quadruped (usually a bull or stag), which was common in ancient Near Eastern religious iconography and can be traced back to the Bronze Age. Most examples of this motif in the Roman period are small bronzes that seem to have originated in Anatolia (present-day Turkey) and northern Syria. The Getty statuette, which dates to the 2nd or 3rd century A.D., is an abbreviated type that reproduces only the head of the stag instead of the complete animal. The motif of the eagle and stag is typically associated with Jupiter Dolichenus, the Roman version of the local god Baal of the city of Doliche, Commagene (present-day Dülük in Turkey). Worship of this deity found a special place among the Roman military. By the 2nd century A.D., the cult of Jupiter Dolichenus had spread from the eastern Mediterranean to Rome and other areas of the Roman Empire, especially those along the garrisoned frontiers. The god, depicted in numerous stone reliefs and statues, was customarily represented wearing Roman military dress and standing on the back of a bull. It is consistent therefore for the eagle, a symbol of Jupiter himself, to replace the image of the god. Although almost all of the examples of the eagle and stag motif are small bronzes without inscriptions, the relationship with Jupiter Dolichenus is confirmed by an inscribed marble sculpture of an eagle on a stag’s head discovered in the sanctuary of the deity on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. An inscription on the statue reveals that it was dedicated to Jupiter Dolichenus by a soldier of the Misenum fleet. My coin is 500 years earlier than this, but I assume the iconography is the same. Any further information welcome . Please post anything relevant.
This is the first example of an eagle on the head of a stag that I've seen. Impressive. The obverse ain't bad either.
The facing Herakles and eagle on stag are neat. You found an interesting coin! Maybe it is Swoop the Eagle attacking Bango the Buck in a mascot's game.
The eagle on stag head is relatively common from Kroton in the 5th century BC. I have never studied any reason for the type but eagles feasting in various manners was common in Magna Graecia. This type has long been a favorite of mine coming after the heyday of the city that brought us the incuse tripod reverse coins and before the attacks from Syracuse that much weakened the city. Kroton, Bruttium, AR stater, 420-400 BC, Sear 470
Roman bronze figures of eagles standing on the heads (or the entire bodies) of stags, rams, and other ungulates are quite common. Last year, I was in the market for a small Roman bronze figurine of an eagle to add to my antiquities collection, and considered buying a number of that type. Here are links to some examples of what's out there: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/ancient-roman-bronze-eagle-head-bird-stag-sculpture Two views of a second example: https://artemission.azureedge.net/items/pics/1902/27219ah4.jpg https://artemission.azureedge.net/items/pics/1902/27219ah4.jpg Two views of a third example: https://artemission.azureedge.net/items/pics/1911/271119af4.jpg https://artemission.azureedge.net/items/pics/1911/271119af1.jpg And another: https://assets.catawiki.nl/assets/2019/12/19/5/9/a/59a541f2-07c1-404f-bbfc-e78faf3265a8.jpg And another: https://assets.catawiki.nl/assets/2019/11/21/2/7/f/27fdefb7-998c-454d-82a9-a9ce6816e956.jpg But I'm afraid that the one I ended up deciding to buy stands alone!
Super fascinating!! Thank you both for sharing. I have a nickle collection from Canada! Lol. Actually two. I have been compiling these coin collections for my children. My Grandpa started it by giving me many from the 20’s and 30’s. I have completed both from 1922-2019. Love love love coin collecting!
This thread and forum is dedicated to ancient coins. If you want to introduce yourself and tell us about Canadian coins then go to the Introductions forum and start your own unique thread.
