Show me your bulls / cows / calves and any other beautiful bovines

Hi All,

This one is ex- @stevex6 [see the thread Your favorite coins by century] and ex James Theselius Collection. Seller's photos.



Antoninus Pius, Alexandria, Egypt, Year 08 (144/145 CE)
Size: 34x35 mm
Weight: 23.1 g
Axis: 0

Obv: Antoninus Pius portrait bust facing right. Legend: [AVTKT]AIΛAΔP - ANTωNЄINOC[CЄBЄYC]. Border not visible.
Rev: Zodiac Series: Venus (Aphrodite) in Taurus (Bull). Bust of Venus (Aphrodite) facing left, above canting bull facing left (Taurus), star above bull's head. In exerge: LH. Dotted border.

Refs: Emmett-1450.08; Geissen-1493; Dattari-2960 var, pl xxvi (Legend ANTONINOC); Milne-1807 var (Date position); BMC-1080 var, pl xii: (Date position); SAN Vol 4, No 3 (1972/73) pg 46; Mionet-1615 var: (Legend end); Vogt II 71; Vogt I 116f; Fitzwilliam-9879, pl 32,2; Staffieri Alexandria In Nummis, #143.

- Broucheion

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

You have to get to a thread early if you want to be first to post a bull coin.
Gela, AE trias. /river god with flowing hair


Titus denarius (Eastern mint)

 

My moo-cow coin



Tetrobol
Byzantion, Thrace
Sear Greek 1582

 

I'm curious: are there any ancient coins that are believed to depict the aurochs as opposed to modern cattle, given that they were supposedly still rather common back then? Or is it impossible to tell?

 

Lots of bullspecialists here!

Here's my 80% bull:


@paddyman98
You got me fooled for a while. Due to how my phone scrolled through pictures and what I saw first, I thought you had two bull-hanukkiot.

 

That's an interesting question. I remember it having been raised in a very worthwhile older thread on extinct animals on ancient coins (see here) without anyone having a clear answer. The aurochs was native to much of Europe during the periods when our coins were struck, and many of the bulls appearing on ancient coins could thus theoretically be aurochs. Yet, I wouldn't know how to tell them apart from domesticated animals.

Also, I forgot to post a bull-and-horseman jital above. That leads us into another untapped area of bull coinage...


Tomara Dynasty, Mahipala, AE Jital, mid-11th century or 1103–1128 AD. Obv: stylized bull l.; Nagari legend “Sri Mahipala” above. Rev: stylized horseman r. 14mm, 3.15g. Ref: Tye 39; Deyell: Living without Silver (1990), no. 232; Roy: Coinage of Northern India (1980), S. 93–95. (While Tye and Deyell refrain from suggesting exact dates, Roy attributes the coin to a mid-11th century ruler whose reign in other documents is dated to 1103–1128 AD. There doesn’t appear to be clarity about which date is correct.)


Yajvapala dynasty, Chahada Deva, BI Jital, 1172–1191 AD or later. Obv: stylized bull l.; Nagari legend “Asavari samantha deva” around. Rev: stylized horseman r.; Nagari legend “Sri Chahada Deva” around. 15mm, 3.39g. (Tye dates this coin to 1172–1191 AD, while Cunningham gives Chahada Deva’s reign as 1234–1255, and Smith dates it to 1232–1260. I don't know which hypothesis is most sensible.)

 

Very nice bulls everyone!


T CAESAR IMP VESPASIAN
laureate head right
COS V
bull standing right

Titus Caesar 69-79
AR Denarius
Struck 76 AD
2,77g/18mm
Ric 858 (Vespasian) (R)

 

Nice buy, @Broucheion... it's great to see that ex x6 Zodiac drachm again. It seems I have two bull coins that are x6s as well.

AUGUSTUS
AE28. 11.4g, 28.1mm. SPAIN, Celsa, 27 BC - AD 14. L. Baggius and Mn. Flavius Festus, duoviri. RPC 273; ACIP 3164c. O: AVGVSTVS DIVI F, laureate head right. R: C V I CEL L BAGGIO MN FESTO II VIR, bull standing right, head facing.
Ex Stevex6 Collection (CNG E316, 4 Dec 2013, lot 292); ex Archer M. Huntington Collection (HSA 1001.57.5263)


IBERIA (Islands off), Ebusus
AE Quarter Unit. 3.33g, 17.3mm. Circa 2nd century BC. ACIP 719; SNG BM Spain 318-21. O: Squatting Kabeiros (Bes?) holding club and serpent. R: Bull butting left.
Ex Stevex6 Collection

Two Sicilian bulls of Hieron II...

SICILY, Syracuse. Hieron II
AE Trias. 5.48g, 19mm. SICILY, Syracuse, circa 275-269/265 BC. SNG Cop 867; HGC 2, 1497 (controls). O: ΣΥPAKOΣIΩN, Head of Persephone left wearing wreath of grain ears. R: Bull butting left; club and TI above, IE below.
Ex Cardinal Joachim Meisner Collection


SICILY, Syracuse. Hieron II
AE Trias. 4.08g, 17.9mm. SICILY, Syracuse, Hieron II, circa 275-269/265 BC. CNS 199; HGC 2, 1497; Virzi 1924 (this coin). O: Wreathed head of Kore-Persephone left. R: Bull butting left; club and monogram above, IE in exergue.
Ex Thomas Virzi Collection (1881-1974), no. 1924

Augustan bull...

AUGUSTUS
AR Denarius. 3.23g, 20.1 x 17.2mm. Pergamum or Samos mint, circa 21-20 BC. RIC I 475; RSC 28. O: CAESAR, bare head right. R: AVGVSTVS, bull standing right.

And a good ol' man-faced bull...

CAMPANIA, Neapolis
AR Didrachm. 6.87g, 19.7mm. CAMPANIA, Neapolis, circa 290-270 BC. cf. SNG France 917; cf. Sambon 490. O: Head of nymph Parthenope left, hair bound with band, wearing earring and necklace; uncertain symbol behind (Helle on a ram, trophy, shield?). R: Man-headed bull standing right, head facing; above, Nike flying right, crowing bull; NEOΠOΛITΩN in exergue.
Ex Cardinal Joachim Meisner Collection, acquired from Friedrich Redder, Leipzig

 

@Orielensis : Nice to see some Indian Bulls represented.
Your Mahipala is most likely from the later part of the 12th century. The reasoning by Roy to put this in the early 11th century is generally thought to be flawed.
Regarding your Chahada Deva, the attribution to the Yajvapala dynasty is the old classification used by Cunningham. But that's a different Chahada Deva (of Narwar) than the Chahada Deva of Dyell/Tye. The latter one is Chahada Deva of the Chauhan of Delhi. Hence the different datings.
To complicate things further, the coin you show is not a Chahada Deva specimen, but in the name of Prithvi Raj Chauhan of Delhi (Tye#52).

Adding one of my favourite abstract bulls from the same period under Muhammad bin Sam which i have shown before:


And a rare but cute bull issued under the Ghaznavid dynasty:

 

I am always coveting that Ebusus and that MFB of yours!

 

What a load of bulls so far!!! Great coins!!


Sicily, Messana, The Mamertinoi
Circa 288-278 BC, AE Quadruple Unit
Series I struck circa 288-285 AD
Obverse: APEOΣ, Laureate head of Ares right; helmet head behind.
Reverse: MAMEP-TI-NΩN, Bull butting left.
References: Särström Series I, Group A; Calciati I pg. 91, 1; SNG ANS 399; SNG Copenhagen 428; SNG Morcom 623
Size: 27mm, 17.51g
Ex: CNG Auction 447, Lot 20 (7/3/2019);
CNG Mail Bid Sale 67, Lot 287 (9/22/2004);
From the Tony Hardy Collection


Syracuse, Sicily
Hieron II, Ruled 274-216 BC
AE Hemilitron
Obverse: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ, wreathed head of Arethusa (Kore/Persephone?) left wearing single-pendant earring and necklace; poppy head to right.
Reverse: Bull butting left; above, club above OE; [IE] in exergue.
References: Calciati II, 191 DS 89 R1 8; SNG Morcom 809; SNG ANS 593 var.
Size: 20mm, --g


Syracuse, Sicily
Hieron II, Ruled 270-215 BC
AE Hemilitron, Struck circa 275-269 BC
Obverse: ΣYPAKOΣIΩN, wreathed head of Kore left; poppy-head behind.
Reverse: Bull butting left; above, club above Δ; IE in exergue.
References: CNS II 192, HGC 2 1469
Size: 19mm, 5.2g


Campania, Cales, AE21
Struck 265-240 BC
Obverse: CALENO, laureate head of Apollo left; behind, cock standing right.
Reverse: Man-headed bull standing right; lyre above, Δ below.
References: SNG Morcom 75 var, HN Italy 436, SNG ANS 175 var, Laffaille 12 var, BMC 14
Size: 21mm, 6.36g
Note: Rare without ethnic on reverse. Same obv/rev dies as CNG inventory #750588.


Claudius, Ruled 41-54 AD
AE25 Diobol, Alexandria, Egypt
Struck Year 2, 41-42 AD
Obverse: TI KΛAY KAI CEBAC ΓEPM, laureate head right; star before.
Reverse: AYTOKPA, bull butting right, LB in exergue (RY 2 = 41-42 AD)
References: RPC I 5138, Emmett 77.2
Size: 25mm, 7.4g


Augustus, Ruled 27 BC-14 AD
AE As, Celtiberian/Roman Hispania, Celsa Issued by L. Baggius and Mn. Flavius Festus (duoviri)
Obverse: AVGVSTVS DIVI F, Laureate head right.
Reverse: Bull standing right, L•BAGGIO above, C•VI•CEL left, MN•FESTO below, II/VIR before.
References: SNG Cop 540, RPC I 273
Size: 28mm, 12.5g


Tiberius, Ruled 14-37 AD
AE As, Celtiberian/Roman Hispania
Calagurris Iulia Nassica (Calahorra, Logroño)
Issued by C. Celer and C. Rectus (duoviri)
Obverse: TI•CAESAR•DIVI•AVG•F•AVGVSTVS, Laureate head of Tiberius right; legionary Eagle Head countermark on head.
Reverse: Bull standing right, M•C•I to left, C•CELERE above, C•RECTO below, II/VIR before.
References: SNG Cop 587, RPC I 450
Size: 28mm, 11.5g
Ex: Ibercoin, Auction 25, #113 (1/30/19)


Tiberius, Ruled 14-37 AD
AE As, Turiaso, Tarazona (Zaragoza)
Issued by L Caecilius Aquinus and M Celsus Palud (duoviri)
Obverse: TI CAESAR AVG F IMP PONT M, Laureate head of Tiberius right; legionary Eagle Head countermark on head.
Reverse: Bull standing right, L•CAEC•AQVIN / MVN TVR (ligate) above, M•CEL•PALVD below, II/VIR before.
References: SNG Cop 587, RPC I 419
Size: 28mm, 9.7g


Hispania, Castulo,
AE Half Unit (Semis), mid 2nd century BC
Obverse: Diademed male head to right; palm-branch before.
Reverse: Bull advancing right, head facing; crescent with central dot above; Iberian “KASTILO” in exergue.
References: CNH p. 336, 42; SNG BM Spain 1345
Size: 22mm, 5.3g


Zeugitania, Carthage
AE Unit, Second Punic War (218-201 BC)
Struck 216-215 BC, Sardinia mint
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left; Punic zayin below chin.
Reverse: Bull standing right; star above, Punic ‘ayin and taw to right.
References: SNG Cop 387-388


Gordian III, Ruled 238-244 AD
AE Sestertius, Moesia, Viminacium
Struck 242/243 AD (RY 4)
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: PMS C-OL VIM, Moesia standing facing, head left, extending hands to bull and lion standing at feet on either side, AN IIII in exergue (RY 4 = 242/243 AD).
References: SNG Cop 144, Moushmov 33
Size: 30mm, 14.5g


Gordian III, Ruled 238-244 AD
AE Dupondius, Moesia, Viminacium
Struck 242/243 AD (RY 4)
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, Radiate, draped bust right.
Reverse: PMS C-OL VIM, Moesia standing with head to the left holding her right hand over a bull and her left hand over a lion, AN IIII below (RY 4 = 242/243 AD).
Reference: Cohen 427
Size: 23mm, 6.9g


Uncertain, Caria
AR Tetartemorion, Circa 500-450 BC
Obverse: Confronted foreparts of two bulls.
Reverse: Forepart of bull right within incuse square.
References: SNG Kayhan 949ff
Size: 6mm, 0.13g
cf: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1943222

 

More BULL-Schtuff:


RR Valerius Acisculus AR Denarius 45 BCE Apollo star Europa bull S 469 Cr 474-1



RR L Thorius Balbus 105 BCE AR Denarius Juno Sospita goat skin Bull charging Sear 192 Craw 316-1
The name on this coin ALWAYS reminded be of Taras Bulba the Cossack!

 

Greetings, @Curtisimo



Thanks for a great thread!

 

There's nothing more fun than a SURFIN' BULL!!!


Thrace, Byzantion
AR Half-Siglos, c. 340-320 BC
Obv.: Bull standing left on dolphin / ΠY
Rev.: Incuse granulated mill-sail pattern.
Reference: SNG BM Black Sea 21; SNG Copenhagen 476.
EX: @John Anthony
Comment: Byzantion was an ancient Greek colony that would eventually become Constantinople. According to legend, it was settled by Byzas, king of the Megarans, sometime around 657 BC.
This coin is a half-siglos that features a bull, dolphin, and interesting incuse stamp. These types are difficult to find with perfect centering, but this one comes pretty close - only one stem of the Y and bull’s tail are off the flan.

 

Thanks a lot - that’s extremely helpful!

 

I have never known anybody with a bull collection. What got you interested?

 

How about some MAN-FACED-BULLS! Achelous!


Campania Neapolis 320-300 BC AR Didrachm Nomos Nymph Achelous



Campania AE Apollo Left-Achelous -275-250BCE PLATE COIN 3 KNOWN RARE SNG ANS 474 - Listed Potamikon pg 232 Plate 343



Sicily Gela AR Litra Horse-Achelous 0.63g 13mm 465-450 BCE HGC 2 p 373


QUESTIONABLE... MFB

Uncert West Asia Minor Karia 5th C BC AR tetartemorion 5mm 0.15g Female - Frprt Bull man r Kayhan 968 exc rght
Yeah, I keep needling @Nicholas Molinari about it... looks a lot like the face on my Gela Litra...