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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,845 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
This might seem a strange question, but we were visiting with friends tonight who collect statues and other items of giraffes.
It got me wondering if any Roman coins, especially those that commemorated games at which animals were featured such as of Philip I, depict a giraffe?
Any thoughts on this? Paul Bulgerin
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
I have no idea, but I found this interesting: Quote:
"Camelopard" is an archaic English name for the giraffe deriving from the Ancient Greek for camel and leopard, referring to its camel-like shape and its leopard-like colouring. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1609 Posts |
I didn't search particularly long or hard for this, but: There were results for roman / byzantine mosaics of giraffes, although no coins that I could find.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
234 Posts |
This looks like a giraffe on this coin  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Acsearch.info turned up nothing.
Salonina RIC 15 is a doe, although it can admittedly look like a giraffe on some specimens.
I can't find the original source, but Wikipedia (citing Gibbon) made special mention that Commodus outraged the Romans by slaying a giraffe in the arena--they were believed to be to gentle and helpless to be subjected to the horrors of the arena.
That's probably why we don't see any on gladitorial-themed coins, although I'm still a bit surprised that the giraffe seems to be absent, while we have animals like elephants and hippos.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
I know that Gallienus had his "Zoo" coins. Not sure if any were Giraffes. You can do quick search to find out.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Did a search on several of the archives, lots of animals real and mythical but no giraffes.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
Thanks for your efforts.
I thought that if perhaps Gallienus or Philip I had a giraffe coin I could get it as a gift for our friends.
Paul Bulgerin
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,845 |
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Posted 04/05/2018 06:08 am
