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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TIF, post: 2744511, member: 56859&quot;]Great writeup, thanks!&nbsp; Coincidentally, this morning I&#039;ve been doing a little serpentine research as well, trying to better understand the reverse of this coin:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]627184[/ATTACH]</p><p>MOESIA INFERIOR, Nikopolis ad Istrum. Elagabalus</p><p>Æ 26 mm, 12.5 gm</p><p>CE 218/9, Novius Rufus, consular legate</p><p>Obv:&nbsp; ...ΠΗ ANTΩNEINOC΄ laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Elagabalus right</p><p>Rev:&nbsp; VΠ NOBIOV POVΦOV NIKO[ΛOΛITΩN ΠPOC IC TP]; Athena standing left before serpent coiled around olive tree to left; shield on ground behind her</p><p>Ref:&nbsp; Hristova &amp; Jekov 8.26.4.7 (same as last illus. Specimen); Varbanov 3906 (same dies as illus.); Moushmov 1384</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;m trying to understand the reverse scene and why it appears on this coin from Nikopolis.&nbsp; Maybe it recalls Athena&#039;s creation of an olive tree as she competed with Poseidon for patronage of Athens?&nbsp; Where does the snake fit in?&nbsp; Did this scene copy a contemporary statue?</p><p><br /></p><p>Regardless, the serpent and Athena appear to be on good terms, unlike the coin shown below in which Athena is about to slash it&#039;s head off.&nbsp; Septimius appears shocked by this turn of events.</p><p><br /></p><p>(<a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=48607#" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=48607#" rel="nofollow">from CNG&#039;s archives</a>)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]627205[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>CILICIA, Carallia. Septimius Severus. </b>193-211 AD. Æ 37mm (25.45 gm). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / Athena standing right, holding shield decorated with gorgoneion, striking at serpent entwined around tree. SNG Levante -; SNG Levante Suppl. 52 (this coin); SNG France -; SNG von Aulock -.</p><p><br /></p><p>Looks like snakes can&#039;t trust Athena <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>...</p><p><br /></p><p>More on topic, here&#039;s an Asklepios, holding a serpent-entwined rod and riding on a winged serpent:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cointalk.com%2Fproxy.php%3Fimage%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fstatic.wixstatic.com%252Fmedia%252Fae43f8_b253f019eb874641b1f598c2e54655ec.jpg_srb_p_850_426_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srb%26hash%3D1e6fc059737a3c2e6b57835f28839855&amp;hash=b7255d4fefc8f5f546fc1fdccdb4f148" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><b>THRACE, Pautalia. Caracalla</b></p><p>CE 198-217</p><p>AE29, 16.4 gm</p><p>Obv: AYT K M AY CEY ANTΩNEINOC; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right</p><p>Rev: OYΛΠIAC ΠAYTAΛIAC; Asklepios seated right on back of winged serpent</p><p>Ref: Varbanov 5007[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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