From a time too long ago for collective human remembrance to this day, there has existed a close bond between most of humanity and the horse. Today, we ride for pleasure and will sometimed own our won animals if we can afford their upkeep. What young girl has not sat in class and drawn and dreamed of a magnificent beast that would be her companion through good times and bad, always willing at a moment's notice to carry her away on her back out of the reach of danger or a time of sad and painful trial such as only those young girls who have experienced the tragedy of growing up can speak? Or what boy has not dreamed of leading a cavalry charge, or, as the Imperial Legate or just a tribune, rode into the legionary camp bearing orders from the Emperor Himself giving him command of the legion that was sure to win glory and booty for himself and Rome? From the quiet wish for a couple to get away to the mountains for their fiftieth anniversary to the young, hotblooded vaquero itching to throw a rope around the neck of the rankest old bull in the herd, the horse has held fascination for the human throughout history
And so too, the variety of ways the horse is portrayed throughout history has proved a never - ending source of study, discussion, and enjoyment amongst students of art and collectors as well. This is nowhere more true than in the case of coins. An image of a horse or mounted rider can be made to neatly fill the square space that constitutes the actual canvas presented by a round coin on which an image can be rendered. There is even a little "fudge room" in the rim area for horse's tail, nose, or rider's head. The beast can stand on the line defining the exergue and fill the flan. How convenient for the artist!
Pegasus in Flight on a Stater of Corinth
Didrachm of Calabria with Boy Riding Dolphin
Carian Islands Small Copper Coin With Prancing Horse
Horse's Head of Carthagenian Style on Small Copper AE 22 Size coin
Head of Horse on Carthagenian Coin, Late Third Century B. C.
Highly Stylized Image of Horse on Silver Unit Coin of Boudicca, Queen of The Iceni
Celtic Silver Unit of the Iceni or Brigantes Tribe
Celtic Silver Unit From Gaul With Stylized Horse Reverse
Celtiberian Copper Coin With Portrait of Warrior on Horseback
Celtiberian Copper Coin, AE 27 Size With Mounted Rider Reverse
Mounted Castor and Pollux on a Roman Republican Denarius
Victory Driving Quadriga Right on a Republican Denarius of M. TVLLI
Victory Driving Quadriga Right on a Republican Denarius of L.IVLI.BVRSIO
Victory Driving Biga Right on a Republican Denarius of C. PVLCHER
Victory Driving Biga Right on a Republican Denarius of D. SILANVS
Victory Driving Biga Right on a Republican Denarius of T. CLOVLI
RomanRepublican Denarius With Equestrian Statue on Three Arched Bridge
Castor Standing and Holding Reins of Horse on a Denarius of Geta
Mounted Emperor Caracalla on the Reverse of a Denarius
Equestrian Portrait of Emperor Gordianus III on the Reverse of a Denarius
Equestrian Portrait of Emperor Philip I on the Reverse of an Antoninianus
Pegasus in Flight on the Reverse of an Antoninianus of Gallienus
Antoninianus of Gallienus With Centaur Reverse
Radiate of Probus with Emperor on Horseback Right Riding Down Captive
Radiate of Probus with Emperor on Horseback Right Riding Down Captive
Radiate of Probus with Sol in Quadriga Facing with Four Horses Prancing and Rearing
Radiate of Probus with Sol in Quadriga Facing with Four Horses Prancing and Rearing
Radiate of Probus with Sol in Quadriga Left
Radiate of Probus with Emperor on Horseback Right Spearing Fallen Enemy
Radiate of Probus with Emperor on Horseback Left Spearing Fallen Enemy
Radiate of Probus with Emperor on Horseback Right Spearing Fallen Enemy
Radiate of Probus with Emperor on Horseback Right Spearing Fallen Enemy
AE 25 of Troas With Horse Grazing Reverse