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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, post: 3860579, member: 99554&quot;]We all have in our collections coins featuring the famous recurring symbol : the <b>cornucopia.</b></p><p>It is a representation of abundance, fecundity, fertility and happiness. Derived from the latin <i>cornu</i> meaning “horn”,&nbsp; and <i>copiae</i> meaning “plenty”, it has long been used as a common harvest symbol associated with a plentiful bounty. What’s his origin ? Once again we have to turn to the mythology to find an explanation. It seems that there are 2 possibilities :</p><p><br /></p><p>1) Amalthea (a goat and the nurse of Zeus ) accidentally broke off one of her horns. Zeus felt terrible for her and so he promised that the horn would always bring her what she need.</p><p>2) Another version actually makes it the horn that Heracles snatched from Achelous (when he was transformed into a bull) during his victory over the river god.</p><p>Anyway one thing is for sure ; The <b>cornucopia</b> appears, in the fifth century BC, as an attribute of the god Hades. The infernal ruler is represented with this object a dozen times on vases of the time. The interior of a cup discovered in Etruria, dating from the years 450-400 BC, is one of the best illustrations.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://f.hypotheses.org/wp-content/blogs.dir/705/files/2017/01/1-672x372.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>From the 4th century BC, the <b>cornucopia</b> seems to change ownership. For the first time, on a relief of Asclepeion Athens, Tyche is represented holding a <b>cornucopia</b>. This type of representation developed strongly in the Hellenistic period then in Roman times.</p><p>This ornament appears on a variety of antique monuments, both sculptural and numismatic.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://thumbor.thedailymeal.com/bNNhbMAUGLRZafo6IoF-Vara4do=/774x516/https://www.thedailymeal.com/sites/default/files/slides/godwithcornucopia_istockmzacha.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>A statue of a Greek god holding a cornucopia</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://furnishyourcastle.com/assets/img/500x500/676/1.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>Roman sculpture, ancient bronze statue of winged cupid combed with a corymbe type toupee, holding a horn of plenty or <b>cornucopia</b>, ring of suspension in the back. Period: 2nd century AD.</p><p><br /></p><p>In Roman coinage, many gods and personifications are represented holding the <b>cornucopia</b> : Abundantia, Liberalitas, Aequitas, Moneta, Aeternitas, Africa, Annona, Asia, Ceres, Concordia, Fecunditas, Felicitas, Fides Publica, Fortuna, Roma, Salus etc...It usually appears in two positions; one with the mouth or opening facing upwards and one facing downwards, depending on the deity being portrayed.</p><p><b>QUIZ</b> : one country of South America and two States in the USA have a <b>cornucopia</b> on their flags.&nbsp; Can you name them ?</p><p><br /></p><p>Now here is the <b>challenge</b> : how many different coins can we find with the cornucopia ? <b>Please show us your babies !</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>2 examples in my collection :</p><p>Nerva Dupondius</p><p>Fortuna holding cornucopia</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1021643[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Marcus Aurelius Sestertius</p><p>Annona holding cornucopia</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1021644[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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