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Topical Collections: Ancient Animals - Bears


Autonomous Issue, AR Obol, 490s-470s BC, Mantinea
(No legend)
Bear head left
(No legend)
Acorn within incuse square
0.99g
BMC 5 var.; SNG Cop 243; Traité I 1242
Ex John Jencek, May 2006; Ex LHS Numismatiks Auction 96, Lot 1450, April 2006; Ex BCD Collection


Autonomous Issue, AR Obol, 490s-470s BC, Mantinea
(No legend)
Bear head right
(No legend)
Acorn within incuse square
0.85g
Possibly unpublished
Ex John Jencek, May 2006; Ex LHS Numismatiks Auction 96, Lot 1450, April 2006; Ex BCD Collection


Spain-Ursone, AE26, 150-100 BC
VRSO
Helmeted head of Athena right
MAR[C Q] (MAR ligate)
Bear seated right
26mm x 27mm, 12.44g
Villaronga 7; Alvarez Burgos 1979
Ex Melqart Coins, Private Sale, October 2001


Spain-Ursone, AE29, 150-100 BC
[VRSO]
Helmeted head of Athena right?
[MARC] Q
Bear seated right
29mm x 31mm, 12.15g
Villaronga 7; Alvarez Burgos 1979
Ex Bill Blank Collection, Private Sale, June 2007


Autonomous Issue, AE20 Potin, 80-20 BC, Celtic-Remi Tribe
(No legend)
Bucranium facing
(No legend)
Bear standing right, attacking snake
De La Tour 8351; Mon XV 1301
Ex Ancient Imports, 2003


Hadrian, AE17, Mysia-Hadrianothera
[ADR]IANOC-AVGOVCTOC
Bare head of Hadrian right
ADRIANOQHRITWN
Bear head left
von Fritze, "Die antiken Munzen Mysiens", Berlin 1913, p.199, 565-6
Ex Moneta, March 2001; Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. Munzhandlung Catalog 366, Auction 25, Lot 583, October 2000

According to von Fritze, the bear depicted is apparently the she-bear Hadrian killed in a famous hunt, whereupon he founded on that site, the city of Hadrian's Hunt (Hadrianothera) as referenced to vita Hadriani 20, 13.


Geta, AE17, Moesia Inferior-Nikopolis ad Istrum
L AVK GETAC
Bare head, draped, cuirassed bust right
NIKOPOLITWNROC ISTR
Bear head facing
Both coins Ex Tzvetomir Boev, one from Yahoo and one from eBay and both coins appear to have been minted from the same pair of dies

Terracotta redware, Indus Valley Region

Ex Time Machine, NYINC Show, January 2006

At one time, this magnificent lead applique bear head was affixed to a jar or vessel as a fitting.  It is 45 x 50 mm and is estimated to be from circa 500 BC.  It found a home in our collection from an eBay auction in January, 2002.

This translucent, orange intaglio is the first I had ever seen depicting a bear.  Acquired from the Time Machine in January, 2002, it will eventually find its way into a ring so I can take him everywhere.

This pottery bear is from the Han Dynasty of China (206 BC - 220 AD) and may originally have been part of a larger entertainment scene.  He stands 6.6 cm high, 5 cm wide and 5 cm deep.  This piece was acquired via eBay in September, 2003.

This is a fragment of Roman North African terracotta red ware, dating c. 4th-5th century AD.  Ex Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., November, 2003. 

This is another fragment of Roman North African terracotta red ware. 

This is an ancient metal bear head, unidentified for purpose thus far. 

 
Last modified: July 14, 2008