Snake Biga RR denarius with an Owl Control Symbol

After reading a number of Cointalk posts over the past year or two, one of the coins that I am super-interested to locate is a Roman Republic snake biga. I understand that a portion of these RR coins have either the biga driver (or the snake) struck out of the flan. This is why it took me probably 5-10 seconds to make up my mind and press the purchase button, when I see this one available. This biga driver and snakes are complete in general, and I really like the owl control symbol. I recalled seeing a similar owl control symbol on a coin also with a snake theme (snake winding around a sacred stone).

Here is the coin I picked up:

M. Volteius M.f., Rome, 75 BC.
AR Denarius
Obv: Head of Bacchus (or Liber) right, wearing ivy wreath.
Rev: Ceres, standing in chariot, holding lighted torches, driving biga of snakes right; control symbol of owl standing right.
Crawford 385/3; cf. RBW 1416; RSC Volteia 3.
17mm, 3.85g, 6h

The coin is an excellent companion to my other bronze snake biga I purchased from our great CT member @PeteB, earlier this year.

Elagabalus. 218-222 AD.
Nicopolis, Moesia Inferior. Æ
Obv: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: Triptolemos in chariot drawn right by two winged serpents.
H&J 8.26.23.3; AMNG I 1906; Varbanov 3911
28mm, 14.20 gm, 12h

The coin also goes along well with my goat biga.


I wonder if there are other RR snake biga control symbols. Please post if you notice any. You are welcome to post anything snake or biga-related. Thanks!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

The owl control symbol is certainly adds interest to the coin! Mine doesn't have as interesting a symbol-- a crescent moon-- although the coin does have other charms .


Roman Republic
Moneyer M. Volteius M.f., 78/75 BCE
AR denarius, 18 mm, 3.91 gm, 6h
Obv: Head of Bacchus or Liber right, wearing ivy wreath
Rev: Ceres standing in biga of snakes right, lit torch in each hand; crescent upward behind; in exergue, M•VOLTEI•M•F•
Ref: Crawford 385/3; Sydenham 776; Volteia 3.
Removed from slab, NGC Choice VF 5/5 - ⅘
Ex Phil Peck (“Morris Collection”)


EGYPT. Alexandria. Trajan
AE drachm, 33.5 mm, 22.09 g
Uncertain regnal year
Obv: [AYT] TPAIANCE BΓEPM∆AKIK; Laureate bust of Trajan to right
Rev: Triptolemos in a chariot drawn right by two winged Agathodaemon serpents
Ref: Emmett 601; RPC III 4336.4


EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
year 14, CE 150/1
AE drachm, 34 mm, 28.8 gm
Obv: Laureate bust of Antoninus Pius left
Rev: Triptolemos driving biga of winged serpents right; L IΔ above
Ref: Emmett 1683.14

 

Nice coins!

Mine has a caduceus:

Moneyer: M. Volteius M.f.
Obv.: Head of Liber right, wearing ivy-wreath
Rev.: Ceres in biga of snakes right, holding torch in each hand; behind winged caduceus
Exergue: M.VOLTEI.M.F.
Mint: Rome (78 BC)
Wt./Size/Axis: 3.90g / 19mm / -
References:

• RSC 3 (Volteia)
• Sydenham 776
• Crawford 385/3

Acquisition: Naville Numismatics Online Auction NN Live 49 #365 12-May-2019



ATB,
Aidan.

 

There are more than 60 different control-symbols for this type listed in Crawford Vol. I, Table XXXV at pp. 401-402. I love the owl.
.
The snake biga of M. Volteius is one of my favorite types, and is near or at the top of my want-list for Roman Republican coins. You were very fortunate to find one with the reverse centered so well; it's wonderful!

I've noticed that the prices for examples of these with Ceres, the biga, and the snakes all on the flan have been going up a great deal lately, so I don't know when or if I'll find one.

There's another Republican denarius with a reverse depicting Ceres in a biga of snakes, issued by C. Vibius C.f. C.n. Pansa in 48 BCE (Crawford 449/3a). But I almost never see it up for sale or auction, in any condition. Does anyone here have one?

 

rudder here

 

This is Cr. 449/3b - it differs from /3a in the direction of the reverse legend - downwards in this case. I still need a /3a.

Moneyer: C. Vibius C. f. C. n
Obv.: PANSA - Head of young Bacchus right, wearing ivy-wreath
Rev.: C. VIBIVS C. F. C. N. - Ceres in biga right, drawn by two serpents; legend before and below, reading downwards and inwards
Mint: Rome (48 BC)
Wt./Size/Axis: 3.40g / 18mm / 8h
References:

• RSC 17 (Vibia)
• Sydenham 945
• Crawford 449/3b

Acquisition: Numismatik Lanz eBay 27-Mar-2013


ATB,
Aidan.

 

M. AURELIUS COTTA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Head of Roma, COTA below, X behind
REVERSE: Hercules holding club in biga of centaurs holding branches. M.AVRELI below, ROMA in ex
Struck at Rome 139 BC
4.29g, 16mm
Aurelia 16, BMC.914, Craw.229/1
ex. Pliego Numismatics

C RENIUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind
REVERSE: Juno Capriotina in biga of goats right, C RENI below goats, ROMA in ex
Struck at Rome 138 BC
3.6g, 16mm
Cr231/1, Syd 432

L JULIUS CAESAR ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS JULIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: CAESAR Head of Mars left in crested helmet
REVERSE: Venus Genettris with scepter, in biga drawn by two Cupids left, lyre in field, contolmark above, L IVLI L F in ex.
Struck at Rome, 103BC
3.85g, 17mm
Cr320/1, Syd 593a.

M. VOLTEIUS M.F. ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS VOLTEIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Head of Bacchus or Liber right, wreathed with ivy
REVERSE: Ceres holding two torches, in biga of serpents right. Symbol in left field (double headed axe)
Rome 76BC
3.75g, 18mm
Volteia 3; Cr385/3; Sear 314

 

Thanks, @TIF.

Your RR snake biga is VERY nice. I can feel its charm from the photo. Hard to imagine what it feels like holding it on hand...

I remember reading your snake biga posts in CT. Your cool photos are the main reasons why I put "RR snake biga" very high on my watchlist.

I like your other 2 bronze coins as well, especially the Trajan drachm. Very dynamic snakes.

 

Thanks for sharing, Aidan. Nice one with an interesting caduceus control symbol.

Thanks, Donna.

60 control symbols... that is a lot. I would imagine such symbols refer to different crafts people, instead of workshops.

Thanks for sharing one with the rudder control symbol, Doug.

You have a wonderful selection, @Bing. Thanks for sharing.

The centaur biga coin is really cool-looking.

 

..wow kool happy collector...i haven't been able to secure one for my collection at present...@TIF, yours always comes to my mind when one is mentioned...@Bing, you got some real kool ones my friend!

 

There are a number of Roman Republican types with hundreds of different control-symbols (sometimes simply in the form of numbered obverse and/or reverse dies), so 60 isn't really that many! I don't think anyone is certain of their exact purpose, except that obviously they served as some kind of internal control system, presumably of die production and quality and/or, as you suggest, different workers.

 

Thanks for your additional info, Donna.