The Bird Thread - Let's celebrate our flying, feathered friends!

For a while, a nice ancient prominently depicting a bird was kind of high on my list. It was mostly personal, since I am very fond of birds (my favorite kind of animal) and I happen to have two. I do have one or two ancients that depict them being held or in the background, and a Decius restoration of Antoninus Pius with the Consecratio eagle reverse, but the latter has the reverse struck very weakly and so is hard to see. But I'm glad I was able to find this Herennius Etruscus tetradrachm eagle type within the stock of one of our own members (who happens to be my favorite seller ever ) at a reasonable price, so I decided to go for it. Really like how large and hefty this coin is!

Herennius Etruscus, Roman Empire
AR tetradrachm
Obv: EPENN ETPOY ME KV DEKIOC KECAP. bare-headed draped bust right, one dot below
Rev: DHMARC EX OVCIAC, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings open, wreath in beak, S C below
Mint: Antioch
Date: 250-251 AD
Ref: Prieur 628; BMC 610



Greek is difficult for me so the reverse translation escapes me, even after trying to look for it online. If anyone can help in this regard I would really appreciate it Also, can anyone tell if it is full AR or billon?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herennius_Etruscus

No history since it is late here and also I won't have time to research and add it in later due to work/college stuff, but as mentioned in another thread Herennius and his father Trajan Decius were the first Roman emperors to die in battle against a foreign enemy. Herennius was 24 (227-251 AD) when he was killed. Knowing that this coin shows an emperor who died at about my age (I'm 25), this hits a little close to home for me since, besides being a co-ruler of the most powerful state at the time, he could have been like me or any other everyday young guy today. I'm sure I'm thinking way too deeply about my new coin so I won't get upset if you roll your eyes and sigh .

My post wouldn't be 100% complete without a photo of my aforementioned birds of course



Please post your coins depicting birds and/or photos of actual birds!

 

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Great coin and great birds!

 

Bird is the word...I'll try this again.. same as b4, Ptolemy(l,ll) late 3rd or early 2nd cent. bc., Perseus, 179-178 bc and now i'll include Titus, 76 ad, eagles all, plus as a bonus a bag o birds

 

looks like a crow rather than aquila

 

I don't have any ancient by I have these

 

My coin followed by my birds

The zebra finches in the photo are professional actors who are playing the role of my birds.

 

Flock of wild turkeys on my front yard yesterday.

 

No, it looks like a turtledove. Er, Turteagle? Teagle?



I have oodles of eagles. Others in my flock include an ibis and a few owls. I'd like to have a raven-- there are several raven options out there.

HADRIAN
AR Denarius. 18 mm, 2.95 gm. struck CE 134-138, Rome
Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right
Rev: AEGYPTOS; Aegyptos reclining left holding sistrum; ibis standing right at feet
Ref: RIC II 297

 

L Papius Denarius Serratus

Obv:– Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin tied under chin. Behind head, owl
Rev:– Gryphon running right; in ex., L. PAPI.; in field, crow with open wings or eagle
Minted in Rome from . B.C. 79.
Reference(s) – RSC Papia 1. RRC 384/1. RCTV 311.
Symbol variety – RRC 76. Babelon 76. BMCRR 12

These birds are the symbols of Minerva

 

SICILY, KAMARINA
Æ Tetras
OBV: Helmeted head of Athena left
REV: KAMA, owl standing left, head facing, grasping lizard; three pellets in exergue
Struck at Kamarina, Sicily, 420-405 BC
2.9g; 15.2 mm
Calciati 33; BMC 40; SNG ANS 1229; SNG Cop 169

MACEDONIA, Eion
AR Trihemiobol
OBVERSE: Goose standing right, head reverted, lizard downward to left above
REVERSE: Quadripartite incuse square
Struck at Eion, 460-400 BC
.66g, 11mm
SNG ANS 273-284

AEOLIS, KYME
AR Hemiobol
OBVERSE: Eagle's head left, KY to left (M beneath the head, nearly off flan)
REVERSE: Quadrapartite incuse square of mill-sail pattern
Struck at Aeolis, 450BC
.46g, 7mm
SNG Cop 32

AEOLIS, KYME
AE 11
OBVERSE: AΡIΣT-ANΔΡOΣ, eagle standing right
REVERSE: K-Y, one-handled vase
Struck at Aeolis, 300-200BC
1.36g, 11mm
Sear #4187; SNG Copenhagen 41-3

SIKYONIA SIKYON
AR Hemidrachm OBVERSE: Chimaera standing left, with heads of snake, lion & goat, raising forepaw, ΣΙ below REVERSE: Dove flying left
Struck at Skyon, Fourth Century BC 2.6g, 17mm
SNGCop 57, BMC 111
Ex Doug Smith

THRACE, ISTROS
AR Drachm
OBVERSE: Facing male heads, the left inverted (Polydeuces Castor and Pollucs (AKA Dioskuri)
REVERSE: Sea-eagle left, grasping dolphin with talons; ISTRIH above, Q between wing and tail, K beneath dolphin
Struck at Istros, 400-300BC
5.3g, 19mm
AMNG 434

ATTICA ATHENS
AR Tetradrachm
OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Athena right, in crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor & a spiral palmette on the bowl; eye in profile
REVERSE: AQE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig & crescent behind
Struck at Athens 350-300 BC
16.9g, 22mm
Sg2537

ATHENS ATTICA
AR Tetradrachm
OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Athena right
REVERSE: Owl standing right, head facing, on overturned amphora; to left, eagle standing right on thunderbolt; Gamma on amphora, ΗΡΑ in exergue; all within laurel wreath
Struck at Athens Epigene-, Sosandros and Eume(nes)-, magistrates 127/26 BC
16.8g, 30mm
Thompson 477a

 

Here are my "bird" coins. I was surprises to find I had 4 "bird" coins out of my meager collection. There is one raven and 3 eagles.

 

Eagles:


Marciana, Augusta, c. AD 105-112/4(?), sister of Trajan
AR Denarius
Rome Mint, 112 AD.
2.72 g; 19 mm
Obv: DIVA AVGVSTA MARCIANA, diademed and draped bust right.
Rev: CONSECRATIO, eagle standing left, head right.
Refs: RIC II 743 (Trajan); BMC 650 (Trajan); Hill 562; RSC 4; RCV 3328.


Otacilia Severa, AD 244-249, wife of Philip I
AR Tetradrachm
Syria, Seleucis & Pieria, Antioch
Antioch mint, AD 245
12.23 g; 25.1 mm
Obv: ΜΑΡ ΟΤΑΚΙΛ CΕΟΥΗΡΑ CΕΒ, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: ΔΗΜΑΡΧ ΕΞΟΥCΙΑC ΥΠΑΤΟ Α, eagle on palm, left, tail right, SC in exergue.
Refs: McAlee 1088; Prieur 341; BMC 541

Peacocks:


Faustina I, Augusta AD 138-141, wife of Antoninus Pius
Roman AR Denarius
Rome, AD 147-161
3.10 g; 17.6 mm
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: CONSECRATIO, peacock walking right, head left.
Refs: RIC 348; BMCRE 473; Cohen 175; RCV 4594


Mariniana, died AD 253, wife of Valerian and mother of Gallienus
Rome mint, AD 253-257
3.04 g; 23.5 mm
Obv: DIVAE MARINIANAE, veiled and draped bust right on crescent.
Rev: CONSECRATIO, peacock standing facing, head left, tail in splendor.
Refs: RIC 3; RCV 10067; Cohen 3
Ex Harlan J. Berk

An owl:


Faustina II, Augusta AD 147-175, daughter of Antoninus Pius and wife of Marcus Aurelius
Roman Provincial AE 22
Thrace, Pautalia, AD 147-175
7.19 g; 21.7 mm
Obv: ΦΑΥCΤΕΙΝΑ CΕΒΑCΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: ΟΥΛΠΙΑC ΠΑΥΤΑΛΙΑC, Athena seated left, holding owl and spear, resting foot on stool, shield at base of chair.
Refs: BMC 10 var; Ruzicka 108; Moushmov 4112

 

WOW !! I love the variety of styles and 'artistic license'. @Pishpash posts remind me of the type I just have to have!!!

Well, this thread gives me another opportunity to post my Ptolemy II Tet

@Ancientnoob (wherever you are), I'm still posting your sellers photo

 

SICILY, Kamarina
Rare (with owl spreading wings). AE Tetras or Trionkion. SICILY, Kamarina, circa 420-405 BC. 3.39g, 14.8mm. Westermark & Jenkins Period 3, 204; CNS 40; HGC 2, 550. O: Helmeted head of Athena left; olive spray to left. R: [K-A-]MA, Owl standing facing, wings spread, grasping lizard; three pellets (mark of value) in exergue.
Ex Camerata Romeu Collection


Horned owl at Skansen, Stockholm. Some guy standing next to me was pulling out dead mice from his coat pocket to toss into this fellow's enclosure.

 

A flock of ravens.


Titus
AR Denarius, 3.40g
Rome Mint, 80 AD
RIC 131 (R), BMC 82, RSC 323a
Obv: IMP TITVS CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: TR P IX IMP XV COS VIII P P; Tripod with fillets; above, ravens, l. and r., and dolphin over wreath




Domitian
AR Denarius, 3.30g
Rome mint, 81 AD
RIC 5 (C), BMC 4, RSC 552
Obv: IMP CAESAR DOMITIANVS AVG; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: TR P COS VII; Tripod with fillets; above, ravens, l. and r., and dolphin over wreath

 

Did you notice how few show the bird in flight. Except for the Sikyon dove most seem to be sitting there posing.
Faustina II / Peacock


Septimius Severus Alexandria / eagle on thunderbolt


Divus Carus Alexandria / spread wings eagle


A gallery of my non-coin birds
http://www.pbase.com/dougsmit/birds

 

Smyrna, Leukai
Coin:
- Laureate head of Apollo left
ΜΗΤΡΟΔ... (magistrate) above, ΛΕΟ to left. - Swan standing left with open wings, head down
Mint: Leukai (BC 350-300)
Wt./Size/Axis: 1.25g / 11mm / -
Rarity: Very Rare
Acquisition/Sale: $0.00
Notes: Nov 15, 14 - Very rare and apparently an unpublished denomination.

 

Here is one of my many bird coins...

AV Stater ND 8.39g./ 21mm struck 50BC
Scythian Kings/ Koson
Kotison
obv. Three Lictors
rev. Eagle/ holding Wreath