Apollo coins of Gallienus' Zoo

The Apollo Coins of Gallienus' "Zoo"

Chiron & Achilles
Greek vase from the 5th century BCE

Diana and Apollo were often honored as protectors of health. Perhaps their appearance an the majority of the coins in the Zoo series refers to a plague? It's also possible that pleas for health would have been references to the wound Gallienus received during one of the battles against Postumus.

Coins of the "Zoo" series show an animal relating to the deity mentioned. In some cases the connection is obvious, such as the various prey animals on Diana's coins. For others we have to turn to specific mythical stories such as Jupiter and the Amalthean goat, or the cattle of Sol.

The centaurs on Apollo's coins offer more of a challenge. Apollo's closest relation with a centaur is through Chiron. The wise and peaceful centaur Chiron had been taught by the twins Apollo and Artemis, and he was known for his skill in medicine, music (esp. playing the lyre), and hunting. Later Apollo gave his infant son Asclepius to Chiron as a pupil. Chiron teaches Asclepius the art of healing, which Asclepius excells at, eventually being raised into the pantheon of gods. Chiron taught many other figures from Greek history, such as Jason, Hercules, and Achilles.

The first of these coin designs show the centaur walking left, holding a globe and a rudder (most references call this a "trophy", a generic term probably meaning they couldn't make it out.) The globe and rudder would normally be atributes of Fortuna, the goddess of luck or chance. Gallienus made large issues of coins bearing the legend "FORTUNA REDUX" - fortunate returns, perhaps referring to his constant travels while fighting to keep the Empire together.

Why would a centaur be holding these? The globe indicates the world, or the extent of the authority of the Roman Empire (the sphere of Roman rule.) The rudder refers, unsurprisingly, to steering and as such is commonly seen on coins as an attribute to a god or personification steering the course of events.

Perhaps then this Apollo-related centaur can be seen as wisdom and peace guiding the Roman world. While the "wisdom" has been debated, the peacefulness of the Roman Empire at this time is surely but a wishful thought.

The centaur shown drawing a bow is even more of an enigma. While tales of violent centaurs abound, these are most often connected with the "Battle of the Lapiths" or with Hercules. Unlike the other centaurs, Chiron was the son of Kronos, king of the Titans - this help explain the dramatic difference in character. This design is perhaps best read as the centaur Chiron in his role of learning archery from Apollo, the god of this skill (among many other things!)

In the Hodges Library of the University of Tennessee is a reconstruction of a centaur's burial site, The Centaur Excavation at Volos. To quote from the page, "Brought to UT by Professors of Art and Biology, under the aegis of the University Studies Program, this controversial reconstruction has provided the catalyst for countless discussions of biological possibilities, mythological realities, history, culture, and the nature of beliefs." I highly recommend further reading through there - this is a fascinating and thought-provoking journey into "what if?"

Census Information

Type	Legend	Obverse	Cunetio	Göbl
Centaur w/bow	GALLIENUS AVG	head	162	209
Centaur w/bow	IMP GALLIENUS AVG	head		3
Centaur w/bow	GALLIENUS AVG	cuir bust	2	19
Centaur w/globe & rudder	GALLIENUS AVG	head	246	210
Centaur w/globe & rudder	GALLIENUS AVG	cuir bust	2	13
Centaur w/globe & rudder	IMP GALLIENUS AVG	head	1	2
Gryphon standing left	IMP GALLIENUS AVG	head	89	118
Gryphon standing left	IMP GALLIENUS AVG	draped bust		6
Gryphon standing left	GALLIENUS AVG	head	42	44
Gryphon standing left	GALLIENUS AVG	Draped bust		1
Gryphon seated left	GALLIENUS AVG	head		2
Gryphon seated left	IMP GALLIENUS AVG	head	1	66
Gryphon standing right	GALLIENUS AVG	head		2
Gryphon standing right	IMP GALLIENUS AVG	head		6

Of the 549 Apollo coins found in the Cunetio Hoard, 251 (46%) were of the "centaur w/ globe" type, while 166 (30%) were of the "centaur w/ bow" type. The remainder, 132 (24%), were the gryphon type. None of the Apollo coins in this hoard show a winged horse, so mention of this in other references might represent an engraver's or attribution error.

Centaur with bow & arrow

The centaur & bow type was minted in both Rome and Siscia.

Obv: GALLIENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICON SAVG - Centaur walking right drawing a bow. Z in exergue.
The arrow pokes through the reverse legend between the N and S, typically for this type.
RIC.163, VM.19/1, SR.2944, RSC.72, CT.1378, Göbl.735b (194 examples)

Obv: GALLIENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICONSAVG - Centaur standing right drawing a bow. Z in exergue.
A less common variety, both forelegs are on the ground. Notice that they squeezed the S in the reverse legend before the arrow, unlike the more typical legend break.
RIC.163, VM.19/1, SR.2944, RSC.72, CT.1378, Göbl.735b

Obv: GALLIENV[SAV]G - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICO[NSA]VG - Centaur walking right drawing a bow. Z in exergue.
Multiple die cracks on obverse.
RIC.163, VM.19/1, SR.2944, RSC.72, CT.1378, Göbl.735b

Obv: GALL[I]ENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICON SAVG - Centaur walking right drawing a bow. Z. in exergue.
The dot in the exergue is probably just a mistake.
RIC.163, VM.19/1, SR.2944, RSC.72, CT.1378, Göbl.735b

Obv: G[ALL]IENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICON[SA]VG - Centaur standing right holding a wide-headed spear. Z in exergue.
A very odd variation! Unlike the normal reverse, the centaur clearly holding the shaft of a spear with both hands. One can imaging a celator looking at a master of the design, not understanding it entirely, and filling in what he thought was correct. Notice that all other coins of this variety have the leading hand holding the bow, while the rear hand draws back the bowstring and holds the arrow. (In one other case, the bow is relaxed and the centaur holds the arrow at the rear). In this case, both hands are clearly on the shaft, and there was not even an attempt to create a string for the "bow"!
RIC.163, VM.19/1, SR.2944, RSC.72, CT.1378

Obv: GALLIENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICON SAVG - Centaur walking right drawing a bow. Retrograde Z in exergue.
The lettering in the reverse legend is all correct, but the officina mark is reversed.
RIC.163, VM.19/1, SR.2944, RSC.72, CT.1378, Göbl.736b (15)

Obv: GALL[I]ENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICON SAVG - Centaur walking right drawing a bow. Z to left of groundline.
Oops! Another officina mark mistake. Looks like the engraver ran out of space in the exergue, and squeezed the officina into the left.
RIC.163, VM.19/1, SR.2944, RSC.72, CT.1378, Göbl.735b

Obv: GALLIENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICONSAVG - Centaur standing right holding a horizontal object.
Another odd variety. Unfortunately the exergue is off the flan, so we don't know which officina the celator was working for. The centaur is facing left - was he supposed to draw the globe and rudder, but was used to the other type? Did he reverse the centaur but try to draw the bow and arrow elongated (spear-like), as the example above? From what's shown, the centaur appears to be holding a pool cue! Nothing like it in any source I've found.
RIC.---, VM.--, SR.----, RSC.--, CT.----

Centaur with globe & rudder/trophy

This type seems to have been only minted in Rome. Though most references refer to the item cradled in the centaur's arm as a "trophy", it looks much more like the rudder commonly shown on many other Roman coins, often paired with a globe.

Obv: GALL[IENVS]AVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLL[INICON]SAVG - Centaur standing left cradling a rudder in his left arm and holding a globe in his outstretched right hand.H in exergue.
A less common variety, both forelegs are on the ground.
RIC.164, VM.19/2, SR.----, RSC.73, CT.1386, Göbl.738b

Obv: GALLIENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: [APOLLINICONSAVG] - Centaur walking left cradling a rudder in his left arm and holding a globe in his outstretched right hand.H in exergue.
Obverse struck from a worn die. Fascinating reverse - double struck, rotated 90 degrees between. But look closely at the centaur's forelegs - was the same die used both times? On the first (flattened) strike the foreleg is lifted slightly. In the second strike, the leg appears to be far more separated.
RIC.164, VM.19/2, SR.----, RSC.73, CT.1386, Göbl.738b

Obv: [G]ALLIENVSA[VG] - Head right with radiate crown, CON across head.
Rev: APO[LLINICON]SAVG - Centaur walking left cradling a rudder in his left arm and holding a globe in his outstretched right hand. Areas of flattening, plus hints of the radiate crown towards the top.H in exergue.
Interesting coin, a great example of flip-over double-strike.
RIC.164, VM.19/2, SR.----, RSC.73, CT.1386, Göbl.738b

Obv: GALLIENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOL LI NICONSAVG - Centaur walking left cradling a rudder in his left arm and holding a globe in his outstretched right hand. H in exergue.
Wavy lines are seen occasionally on this type, over the back of the centaur behind the rudder. Are these perhaps representing the water the rudder passes through?
RIC.164, VM.19/2, SR.----, RSC.73, CT.1386, Göbl.738b

Obv: GALLIENVSAVG - Cuirassed bust right with radiate crown.
Rev: [A]PO LL INICONSAVG - Centaur walking left cradling a rudder in his left arm and holding a globe in his outstretched right hand.
Rare variety with cuirassed bust, instead of just the head.
RIC.164, VM.19/2, SR.----, RSC.74a, CT.1387, Göbl.738u (4 examples)

Gryphon

Obv: IMPGALLIENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICONSAVG - Gryphon walking left. Delta (Greek D) in exergue.
RIC.165, VM.19/5sim (OL/4), SR.----, RSC.77, CT.1348, Göbl.718z (118 examples)

Obv: IMPGALLIENVSAVG - Draped bust right wearing a radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICONSAVG - Gryphon walking left. Delta (Greek D) in exergue.
Same dies as example in Göbl.
RIC.---, VM.19/5, SR.----, RSC.--, CT.----, Göbl.718aa (6)

Obv: [GA]LLIENVSAV[G] - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICONSAVG - Gryphon walking left. Delta (Greek D) in exergue.
The less-common obverse legend for this issue.
RIC.165, VM.19/5, SR.----, RSC.76, CT.1351, Göbl.718b (44)

Obv: GALLIENVSAVG - Head right with radiate crown.
Rev: APOLLINICONSAVG - Gryphon walking right. Delta (Greek D) in exergue.
Right-facing gryphons are very rarely seen in the "zoo" types. One of the very few types not found in the Cunetio Treasure.
RIC.166, VM.19/4, SR.2945, RSC.75, CT.----, Göbl.721b (44)

If you have an comments, questions, or corrections, please email me.
All coins from the author's collection. Not a commercial site, these coins are not for sale.

E-mail Jim

Coins of Gallienus' Zoo
last modified: 7 Mar 2006