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A brass coin of Plautilla from Pautalia with a coiled serpent on the reverse. Coin Type: Brass AE29 of Plautilla, 202-205 CE
Mint and Date: Pautalia, 202-205 CE
Size and Weight: 27mm x 29mm, 14.78g
Obverse: ΦOYΛ ΠΛAYTIΛΛA CЄBA
Draped bust right, wearing a stephane. Hair separated into horizontal rows of locks and with a large nest of braids at the back.
Reverse: HΓ CIKIN KΛAPOY OYΛΠIAC ΠAY
Serpent in four coils, head right, bearded and with a forked tail.
Exergue: TAΛIAC
Ref: Varbanov II (English) 5294; Ruzicka 774 (Severeanu, ex Knechtel).
Provenance: scintergold (eBay), July 2007.
BW Ref: 007 033 113
Click on the picture for a larger scale view of the coin

Note 1: This scarce coin is the second documented example, the first being listed by Ruzicka as being in a private collection, and not illustrated by him. (Ruzicka, Leon; Die Münzen von Pautalia; Sofia, 1933.) The reverse legend names the governor, Sicinnius Clarus. Thanks to Curtis Clay for this information.

Note 2: This coin was illustrated in a short article, based on my "Monsters on Ancient Coins" page, which appeared in the Summer 2009 issue of Remus, the magazine for Young Friends of the British Museum. The other coins illustrated there belong to the Museum and have much better-looking monsters than mine, but they did not turn up as good a snake as this one.

The content of this page was last updated on 6 June 2009.