Snake

AE 15, 2.97g. 1st century B.C. Stylized Celtic head to right. Rev. Man-headed Pegasus; two serpents and torque around. Scheers_. De LaTour_ Castelin_. Delestree/Tache 2357. Superb green patina and an exceptional type.

Provenance/Pedigree:
Ex: Künker, Auction 312, Osnabruck, October 8, 2018, lot 1972

AR Stater, 7.64g. 28mm. c.530-500 B.C. Tripod on ornamented base with feet terminating in lion's feet; three handles; two snakes rising from bowl.  Rev. Incuse tripod with the snakes, handles, and base rendered in relief.   SNG ANS 233.  HN, Italy 2075. Antike Kunst , 1967, pl. 52,450 (this coin).  Fine old collection toning.

Provenance/Pedigrees:
Ex: Naville, Ars Classica, Lucerne, Auction XII, October 18, 1926, lot 560.
Ex: Kricheldorf, Stuttgart, Auction XIII, September 23, 1963, lot 27.

AE 25, 10.12g. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Philip to right.  Rev. Apollo leaning on snake entwined column to left; he holds bow in left hand; tripod and prize crown to left;  Greek abbreviated inscription,"Pythi" in field referring to the Pythian games.  SNG ANS 888. Remarkable quality.

The Pythian games referenced here on the reverse originated at Delphi in honor of Apollo whose temple and oracle were located there.  Other cities copied these games and referred to them on their coins.

Provenance/Pedigree:
Ex: Gemini VI, NY, Auction, January 9, 2011, lot 816

AE 36 Large bronze,  28.76g.  Gordian III, 238-244 A.D.   Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Gordian to right.  Rev. Demeter driving biga of winged serpents to right over waves; she holds a long torch.  RPC on-line VII.2, 20406 (this coin illustrated). Dark green and brown patina.  Very rare; only one other considerably inferior example in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston is listed by RPC. 

Provenance/Pedigrees:
Ex: Bank Leu, Zurich, Auction 30, April 28, 1982, lot 433
Ex: E J Waddell, Auction II, New York, September 12, 1987, lot 376.
Ex: James Fox collection, CNG, Auction 40, December 4, 1996, lot 1633.
Ex: Triton XV, New York, January 3, 2012, lot 1415.

AE 26, 10.36g. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Septimius to right. Rev. Draped bust of Hygeia to right holding serpent; BMC 7. SNG Levante_. SNG Paris_ a few light cleaning marks. Dark bluish-green patina.

Provenance/Pedigrees: 

Ex: Leu Numismatik, Zurich, Auction 2, May 11, 2018, lot 520

AE Drachm, 25.56g. 34mm. Dated year 18=133/134 A.D. Laureate and draped bust of Hadrian to right. Rev. Triptolemos wearing elephant headdress driving biga of winged serpents to right; he holds grain for sowing in the fold of his chiton. Köln 1143. RPC 5920.10(this coin). Dattari-Savio, pl. 91, 1849(this coin). Brown patina. The details on the reverse including the grain and the elephant headdress are unusually clear.

Provenance/Pedigrees

Ex: Dattari collection, 1849.

AR Denarius, 3.16g. 18mm.  Rome, 121 A.D. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG.  Laureate and draped bust of Hadrian to right.  Rev. P M TR P COS III SAL AVG. Salus seated to left feeding snake rising from altar.   RIC II.3.378.  BMC 316. Toned with underlying luster. 

Provenance/Pedigree:
Ex: Empire Coins, New York, Auction 10, May 6, 1989, lot 236
Ex: Ried Redlich collection