Snakes on coins and art in ancient times

[expat]

In early and later Christianity the snake or serpent was viewed as an evil incarnation of the Devil. The book of Genesis says the snake tempts Eve to disobey God. The ancient Greek and Roman cultures saw it interlinked in Pagan religeousness as representing symbols and tools of healing and fertility.

Post your offerings of snakes and serpents

Faustina II AE As, Rome 161CE. 26mm, 12.85gr.
RIC 1671, Cohen 201, Sear 5303
• Obverse Legend: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA
•  Type: Bust of Faustina II, draped, diademed, hair elaborately waved in nearly vertical lines and fastened in a low chignon at back of head, down cheek, curls, right
. • Reverse Legend: SALVTI AVGVSTAE S C
•  Type: Salus, draped, seated left on low seat, feeding from patera in right hand snake coiled round altar.

[Ryro]

CILICIA. Tarsus. Caracalla, 198-217. 18,78 gr - 33,88 mm, 211-217. AYT KAI M AYP CЄYHPOC ANTΩNЄINOC CЄB ✱ / Π - Π Laureate head of Caracalla to left. Rev. ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑΝΗC CЄYΗ ΑΔΡ ΜΗΤ / TAPCOV / Δ / Ε Κ Herakles standing left, with lion's skin draped over his left arm and raising club far over his right shoulder, about to strike the Lernaean Hydra. Fine RARE

Alexander III 'the Great' (336-323 BC). AE 16,5 mm. Uncertain mint, circa 325-310 BC. Obv. Macedonian shield with thunderbolt on boss. Rev. Macedonian helmet between B and A. Below, serpent. AE. 4.40 g. 16.50 mm. About VF/VF

[kirispupis]

Macedon, Koinon. Pseudo-autonomous
238-244 CE
Æ 26.44mm 10.61g
Obverse: ΑΛΕΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ, head of Alexander right
Reverse: KOINON MAKEΔONΩN B NEΩ, snake emerging from Cista Mystica
SNG Copenhagen 1361
 

 

Thessaly, Homolion
ca 350 BCE
AE 20mm 6.6g
Head of Philoktetes right, wearing conical pileos /
ΟΜΟΛ-IEΩN; serpent coiled right, grape bunch above.
Helly, Quelques 25; Rogers 257

 

Macedon, Koinon of Macedon
Pseudo-autonomous issue, time of Gordian III, 238-244 CE
AE 27 mm, 14.13 g, 6 h
Beroea
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Head of Alexander the Great to right, wearing lion's skin headdress.
Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΩΝ ΔΙC ΝΕΩ Olympias, as Hygieia, seated left, feeding serpent from patera held in right hand, and resting left elbow on back of throne.
AMNG 721a. RPC VII.2, 239

 

Caracalla
AR Denarius 17.75mm 3.10g
212 CE
Obverse: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right
Reverse: P M TR P XV COS III P P. Salus seated left, holding cornucopia and feeding serpent from patera
RIC IV 196 Rome

 

Julius Caesar AR Denarius.
Military mint travelling with Caesar, 49-48 BCE
Elephant advancing to right, trampling on serpent; CAESAR in exergue / Emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis (surmounted by wolf's head), and apex. Crawford 443/1; CRI 9; BMCRR Gaul 27-30; RSC 49. 3.26g, 20mm, 2h. 

[ominus1]

....every collection needs at least one snake coin in it  ^^

[CPK]

Unfortunately I don't have any snakes on coins, so what about snakes with coins? 😄

This is Rolf, he's about 7 years old now, along with a coin from his native geographical area:

[MrMonkeySwag96]

 

 

Edited July 14 by MrMonkeySwag96

[MrMonkeySwag96]

2 hours ago, CPK said:

Unfortunately I don't have any snakes on coins, so what about snakes with coins? 😄

This is Rolf, he's about 7 years old now, along with a coin from his native geographical area:

How often do you boop your snek’s snoot?

[jdmKY]

More snakes

Added bonus - this quinarius of Octavian is mis-struck and shows 3 snakes on the reverse, rather than the usual 2!

[Sulla80]

[CPK]

1 hour ago, MrMonkeySwag96 said:

How often do you boop your snek’s snoot?

Had to look that one up, LOL. Weirdly, he doesn't seem to like it. 😁

[Victor_Clark]

 

Constantine I
A.D. 327
Ӕ nummus 19mm 2.6g
CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG; laureate head right
SPES PVBLIC; Chi-rho atop standard of 3 medallions impaling snake, in left field A.
in ex. CONS
RIC VII Constantinople 19

[happy_collector]

MYSIA. Cyzicus. Faustina Junior.
Augusta. 169-175 AD. Diassarion 
Obv: ΦΑYϹΤЄΙΝΑ ϹЄΒΑϹΤΗ Draped bust of Faustina Junior to right.
Rev: ΚYΖΙΚΗΝ / ΝЄΩΚΟP Demeter standing in biga drawn by coiling serpents to to right, holding torch in each hand.
25 mm, 11.34 g, 7 h
RPC IV.2 online 11201 var. (reverse legend).
Leu Numismatik. 2021

Edited July 14 by happy_collector

[shanxi]

another Cistophoric Tetradrachm

Mysia, Pergamon
Cistophoric Tetradrachm
Obv.: Serpent emerging from cista mystica with raised lid, all within ivy wreath with fruits.
Rev.: Bow case between two coiled serpents; to left, monogram of Pergamon; to right, NI
Ag, 29mm, 12.26g
Ref.: SNG France 1709

 

 

and another biga:

M. Volteius M.F.
AR Denarius, 75 BC
Obv.: Head of Liber right wearing wreath of ivy and grapes
Rev.: M. VOLTEI. M.F. in exergue, Ceres in biga right driven by two serpents; rudder behind.
Ag, 18mm, 3.9g
Ref.: Crawford 385/3, Sydenham 776, Volteia 3

 

 

Edited July 14 by shanxi

[MrMonkeySwag96]

19 hours ago, CPK said:

Had to look that one up, LOL. Weirdly, he doesn't seem to like it. 😁

Ball pythons tend to not like having their snoots booped because they’re “head shy”. Some people find it adorable whenever they hide their head after being booped. 

 

[HipShot Photography]

I shot this tetradrachm for a customer a month or so ago, and I've been looking for one like it for my collection.  

 

Another snake coin. 

tetradrachm

 Size in milimeters 27

Coin date 76 - 67 BC

Obverse: Cista mystica with serpent all within ivy wreath

Reverse: Bow case with serpents, TH and monogram above, thyrsos right, ΠΡΕ left

[Dafydd]

Here are some interesting "snake coins".

PESCENNIUS NIGER. 193-194 AD. AR Denarius (2.82 gm). Caesarea in Cappadocia mint.
SALUS STG R, FEEDING SNAKE HELD IN HER ARMS. ALTAR AT FEET.  17 mm 2.5gm

 

v

 

Victorinus SALUS FEEDING SNAKE RISING FROM ALTAR AND HOLDING SCEPTRE

 

L. Roscius Fabatus

Hd of Juno Sospita. r clad in goats skin, control symbol behind.
L.ROSCI below ( partial)
Maiden standing feeding snake erect before her, control symbol behind. FABATI in ex.
  

 

Edited July 15 by Dafydd
typo

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

My favorite snake in the collection - an Egyptian Cobra. I was told a funny story about the snakes of Egypt in Armant, a remote village 20 miles from Luxor that nobody goes to (ancient Hermonthis). I was talking to two fellaheen in the temple of the war god Montu (from which the town takes its name, even in Arabic) when they mentioned that snakes were a sign of good luck, especially if they decide to climb into one of the prevalent water pots that dot the town. This is filtered Nile water used by average folks who refresh themselves with dippers of cool water on hot days. If you see a cobra in a pot that means it is especially drinkable and fortuitous. I partook of the water. These ceramic pots are so thick with a narrow neck (almost like an amphora) that they keep the water cold. I wonder if this old wives' tale is a remnant of Greco-Roman times.

Since it was 114 in the shade it is wise to stay hydrated, something all Egyptians know how to do. You can tell from the nose who this emperor is. Meanwhile on the back of the coin is the snake Agathodaemon, representing good luck and a fortuitous harvest.

 

 

 

And, a Napoleonic depiction of the town

 

Edited July 15 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[LONGINUS]

Great post, @expat ! There are some great serpents here. 🐍

This group contains several Gorgons, each proudly displaying their snakes.

 

 

 

[Alegandron]

SNAKES


Makedon Alexander III the Great AE17 5.6g 325-310 Alex-Herakles lion skin - B A bow case club Coiled SNAKE Price 385



RR Man Acilius Glabrio 49 BCE Salus Valetudo snake Craw 442-1a Sear 412



Mysia Pergamon Tetradrachm 12.4g 26mm Cista mystica with serpents - snakes KP 85-76 BCE



RProv AE18mm 4.3g Elagabalus CE 218-222 Thrace Philippolis Snake tripod Moushmov 5423

[Michael Stolt]

Lucilla. Æ (17.5mm 3.89 g) Miletopolis, Mysia ca. AD 166-169. ΛOVKIΛΛA CEBACTH, Diademed and draped bust right / MЄIΛHTOΠOΛЄITΩN, Asklepios standing facing, head left, leaning on serpent-entwined staff. RPC IV.2 1653 (temporary).

Lucilla. Æ (24mm, 10.54 g, 7h). Smyrna, Ionia, under Arizilos, strategos, ca. AD 175-177. ΛΟΥΚΙΛΛΑ CEBACTH, draped bust right / CTP APIZHΛOY CMYPNAIΩΝ, Hygieia standing, right, feeding serpent from patera. RPC IV.2 255 (temporary).

Ma'nu VIII, Philoromaios, with Lucilla. AR Drachm (17mm, 3.02 g, 6h). Edessa, Mesopotamia ca. AD 167-169. ΛΟΥΚΙΛΛΑ ϹΕΒΑϹΤΗ, diademed and draped bust of Lucilla right. / ΒΑϹΙΛЄΥϹ ΜΑΝΝΟϹ ΦΙΛΟΡωΜΑΙϹ, Hygieia/Salus seated left, feeding from patera serpent arising from altar and holding cornucopiae. RPC IV.3 1827/4 (this coin).

Lucilla. BI Tetradrachm (23mm, 12.14 g). Alexandria, Egypt. Dated RY 9 of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (AD 168/9). ΛOVKIΛΛA C ANT ΘV, draped bust right. / Asclepius standing facing, head left, sacrificing from patera in right hand over lighted altar, leaning on serpent-entwined staff to right; L Θ (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 9533 = RPC IV.4 Online 3113.4 = Figari & Mosconi 927 (this coin); K&G –; Emmett 2471.9 (R5).

Edited July 17 by Michael Stolt

[DonnaML]

A number of ancient coins depicting snakes/serpents -- is there a difference between the meaning of those two terms? Write-ups omitted to save time and space, but feel free to ask if you want me to identify any of them.

 

Plus an example of the official Queen Anne Coronation medal, which was recently discovered to be based on a design by Isaac Newton:

England, Anne, Official AR Coronation Medal, 1702, by John Croker (from design by Isaac Newton). Obv. Bust of Queen Anne left, draped, crowned with fillet, hair bound with ribbon, ANNA D:G: MAG BR: FR: ET. HIB: REGINA. / Rev. Anne as Pallas Athena, standing right on hill with rays of sun shining upon her, holds bundle of three thunderbolts upraised in her right hand, and, in her left hand, a shield with aegis of Medusa’s head; at her feet to the right, symbolizing her enemies Louis XIV of France and the Jacobite “Old Pretender” James “III,” a Hydra in the form of a two-headed, four-armed serpentine monster (two arms wielding clubs and the other two wielding large stones), fallen to its back, with its lower body covered in scales and eight snakes rising from it in place of legs, one head facing Pallas and the other turned to the side; VICEM GERIT. ILLA. TONANTIS. around [“She is the Thunderer’s viceregent”]; in exergue, INAVGVRAT XXIII AP MDCCII [“Crowned 23 April 1702”]. 35mm., 15.67g. Eimer 390 & Pl. 48 [Eimer, C., British Commemorative Medals and their Values (2^nd ed. 2010)]; MI ii, p. 228/4 & Pl. cxv, no. 4 [Medallic Illustrations of the History of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. II  p. 228, No. 4 (1885, reprinted 1969; Plate volume 1911, reprinted 1979)]; Wollaston p. 8, no. x & ill. 10; see also pp. 70-72 [Henry Wollaston, British Official Medals for Coronations and Jubilees (1978)]; Mitchiner 4966 (ill. p. 1707) [Michael Mitchiner, Jetons, Medalets and Tokens, Vol. 3, British Isles circa 1558 to 1830 (1998)]. (Mintage: Gold 858, Silver 1,200, Bronze number unknown. See Wollaston p. 16.) Purchased from Noonans Mayfair Auction 283, 15 Nov. 2023, Lot 1251.*

*See https://stuarts.exeter.ac.uk/isaac-newton-and-queen-annes-coronation-medal/: “The reverse depicts Anne as Pallas Athene, striking down a double-headed monster. Recent scholarly consensus has been that the monster is a Hydra representing domestic faction. But [the Master of the Mint, Isaac] Newton, in his own notes on the design, describes it as a symbol of ‘any Enemy with which Her Majesty hath or may have War’. In other words, the monster presents the double threat posed by Louis XIV and James Francis Edward Stuart, the Old Pretender. The motto looks back to William and Mary. By describing Anne as a ‘Thunderer’, Newton explains that he was alluding to the coronation medal of 1689, which likewise portrayed William as a thundering Jupiter. In a sentence, Newton explains that the coronation medal ‘signifies that her Majesty continues the scene of the last reign’.” See also the discussion at https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/35474, as well as these notes to Spink’s auction description of a specimen of the Queen Anne official coronation medal sold on 31 May 2023 (available at https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=11019352 ) :

“Croker's official coronation medal had until very recently been thought the conception of Royal court painter Sir Geoffrey Kneller. However in 2015, a manuscript was reviewed at the National Archives which contained sketches and notes by Sir Isaac Newton, then Master of Her Majesty's Mint. This would confirm that in fact it was he who was responsible for the iconography. This discovery illuminated the reasoning behind the unusual iconography. Newton explained that the scaly, two-headed Hydra was an allegory of the ‘double Catholic threat’ Anne faced at the time of her coronation - King Louis XIV of France, and James Francis Edward Stuart, son of James II, who was a rival claimant to the throne.

It would be the first time that a monarch had been portrayed as a mythical figure on a Coronation medal. [But see references above to the possible depiction of William III as Jupiter hurling James II as Phaethon from his chariot, on the reverse of the William & Mary coronation medal.] The use of allegorical personification is intriguing and begs the ultimate question, why did Anne not feel as though she could be portrayed as herself? Why had she accepted the attributes of the Greek goddess Pallas? Newton explains that even though the new Queen had physical infirmities, such that she was too weak even to walk to her own Coronation much less hurl a thunderbolt, she was strong willed, had a robust foreign policy and expected to defend her kingdom. Having Pallas on her medal, immediately communicated a message of courage and boldness. Newton also explained that by describing Anne as a 'Thunderer', he hoped to hark back to the previous Coronation medal of William and Mary, where a thundering Jupiter featured, demonstrating her continuity of the Protestant rule. No fewer than 1,200 of these silver medals were distributed at the Abbey.

Anne's infirmity at her Coronation was the result of her struggle with gout (induced by a predilection to brandy). As a result, she was carried in the procession upon an open sedan chair by the Yeomans of the Guard. She had a respect for splendour, a taste for ceremony and a strong will to rule. Her vigour and determination were shown when, on arriving at the Abbey, she descended and walked down the aisle to the altar, despite the pain she must have suffered. She wished to convey her relevance to her subjects and to imbue a strong sense of propriety. This act has also led some to compare her to Elizabeth I, not only as they align in terms of their staunch Englishness and Anglican faith, but also in their ability to rise to the occasion despite debilitating physical infirmities. Clearly her presence made an impact as Anne's coronation ceremony was described by one commentator as ‘more magnificent than any in England’, with another detailing how she gave ‘obliging looks and bows to all’ and how the diamonds in her hair ‘at the least motion brill'd and flamed’.”

For an article on this subject by the discoverer of Newton’s notes on the Anne coronation medal, see Joseph Hone, “Isaac Newton and the Medals for Queen Anne,” Huntington Library Quarterly, University of Pennsylvania Press, Volume 79, Number 1, Spring 2016, pp. 119-148 (available at https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/56/article/612988/pdf ) (I do not have access to this article and have not consulted it).

[zadie]

I love snakes on coins :]

 

 

1. Promagisterial Cistophori. P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther as Proconsul of Cilicia. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Laodicea on the Lycus, 56-53 BC. Anaxagoras son of Artemidoros, magistrate. Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within wreath / P·LENTVLVS·P·F - PRO·COS. Two serpents entwined by a bow case. In the left field, ΛΑΟ. In the exergue, ΑΝΑΞΑΓΟΡ[ΑΣ] / ΑΡΤΕΜΙ[ΔΩΡΟΥ]. 26 mm, 12.03 g. Stumpf -; Metcalf -. Unpublished. One of only two known: cf. Nomos, Web 16. Lot 872 (Hammer 600 CHF). Overstruck on a previously issued cistophor from Laodicea.

2. Promagisterial Cistophori. C. Atinius Labeo Macerio. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Ephesus, 122-121 BC. Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within wreath / C·A͡TI[N·C·F]. Two serpents entwined by bow case; In the left field, EΦΕ, dated ΙΓ = 122-121 BC. 27 mm, 11,97 g. Stumpf 1b (same dies); Metcalf 701-704.

3. Promagisterial Cistophori. Gaius Fabius Hadrianus as Proconsul in Asia. Demeas, magistrate. AR Cistophoric Tetradrachm. Pergamon 55-53 BC. Serpent emerging from cista mystica; all within wreath / C·FABI·M·F·PROCOS. Two serpents entwined by bow case; In the left field, monogram of Pergamon. In the right field, Asclepius' staff. ΔΗΜΕΑC in exergue. 12.18 g. Stumpf 28; Metcalf 114 (This coin, O2R/14). Ex NAC Auction 59, April 2011, Lot 799.

[TIF]

Ssssso many sssssnakes in this thread-- some wonderful rarities, some specular in condition (and photography!), and in all types of roles, big and small!  Looking through my coins, it's almost hard to find one without a snake 😁.  Here's an assortment, starting with one I hadn't shown before even though I bought it a year or three ago.  Just photographed it today.
 

Puppet-headed snake (Glykon)

BITHYNIA, Nicomedia. Tranquillina, Augusta, 241-244
Diassarion.  AE 22 mm, 5.01 gm, 1 h
Obv:  CΑΒΕΙΝΙΑ ΤΡΑΝΚΥΛΛΕ, Diademed and draped bust of Traquillina to right
Rev: ΝΙΚΟΜΗΔΕΩΝ ΔΙC ΝΕΩΚΟ-Ρ/Ω-И; Coiled serpent (Glykon) with bearded head to right
Ref:  BMC -. H. Güney: Unpublished Coins of Nicomedia, in: NC 176 (2016), -. RG -. RPC VII.2 online -. Apparently unpublished; now RPC VII.2, 2039A (one example, this specimen).

Isis-headed (and breasted) snake:
 

EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian
RY 10 (90-91 CE)
Æ obol, 20.50 mm, 5.56 gm
Obv: laureate head right
Rev: Isis-Thermouthis (or Demeter-headed uraeus) standing right, torch held in coils of tail; LI in right field
Ref: Geissen 376 (this coin cited); RPC 2593.2 (this coin); Dattari-Savio Pl. 18, 483 (this coin); Dattari 483 and Pl. XI (this reverse illustrated).

Serapis-headed snake:

EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
Regnal year 17
AE drachm, 33mm
Obv: laureate bust right
Rev: Serapis-Agathodaemon standing erect right
Ref: Dattari 2829; Emmett 1678.17
Ex Robert L. Grover Collection of Roman Egyptian Coinage, previously held by the Art Institute of Chicago (1982.1988, G.781)

Snake riding a horse:



EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian.  Regnal year 10, CE 90/91. Æ diobol (25mm, 10.86 g, 12h). AVT KAICAP ΔΟ ΜΙΤ CEB ΓΕΡΜ, laureate head right / Agathodaemon serpent, wearing the skhent crown (emblematic of upper and lower Egypt), on horseback galloping left; L I (date) below. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G 24.109; RPC II 2585; SNG Copenhagen 214; Emmett 277.10 (R5).

Ex Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex West Coast/Lloyd Beauchaine Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 41, 19 March 1997), lot 1110; Classical Numismatic Review Vol. XVI, No. 1 (January 1991), lot 316; Numismatic Fine Arts Fall Mail Bid Sale (18 October 1990), lot 2365.

Appearances: Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 39 (this coin). Obverse illustrated in Emmett as the header for the Domitian section, p. 24 (this coin); fully illustrated in Emmett, p. 26 (this coin, discussing the unusual reverse).  CalCoin, 54, No. 3 (Summer 2000): “The Snake and the Emperor in Roman Egypt,”  by Lloyd Beauchaine, 10-12, this reverse illustrated on Page 11 (Thank you, @Curtis JJ for bringing this CalCoin appearance to my attention!).

Serapis-headed snake riding a horse: (this is getting out of control 🤣)

EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
RY 23 (159/60 CE)
AE drachm; 31 mm, 16.59 gm, 12 h
Obv: [ΤI ΑΙ Α]ΔΡI [ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC CЄΒ ЄΥ]; laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right
Rev: [L] KΓ; Agathodaemon serpent with head of Serapis riding horse to right Ref: Dattari (Savio) 2831. Emmett 1444.23. K&G 35.820. RPC IV.4 online 14989
ex Rhakotis Collection


Snake sitting on a horse:

LYDIA, Philadelphia. Caracalla
Ioulianos, strategos
Æ 31, 16.7 gm, CE 198-217
Obv: AVT K M AVP ANTΩNЄINOC; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: ЄΠI CTPA IOVΛIANOV A ΠOΛ ΦIΛΑΔЄΛΦЄΩN; horse prancing left surmounted by serpent coiled left
Ref: BMC 85. Rare.
 

Flying snake (with a bonus snake on a stick):

THRACE, Pautalia. Caracalla
CE 198-217
AE29, 16.4 gm
Obv: AYT K M AY CEY ANTΩNEINOC; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev: OYΛΠIAC ΠAYTAΛIAC; Asklepios seated right on back of winged serpent
Ref: Varbanov 5007

Snake biga (showing two of many I'm delighted to own 😀😞

EGYPT. Alexandria. Trajan
AE drachm, 33.5 mm, 22.09 g
Uncertain regnal year
Obv: [AYT] TPAIANCE BΓEPM∆AKIK; Laureate bust of Trajan to right
Rev: Triptolemos in a chariot drawn right by two winged Agathodaemon serpents
Ref: Emmett 601; RPC III 4336.4


Roman Republic
Moneyer M. Volteius M.f., 78/75 BCE
AR denarius, 18 mm, 3.91 gm, 6h
Obv: Head of Bacchus or Liber right, wearing ivy wreath
Rev: Ceres standing in biga of snakes right, lit torch in each hand; crescent upward behind; in exergue, M•VOLTEI•M•F•
Ref: Crawford 385/3; Sydenham 776; Volteia 3.
Removed from slab, NGC Choice VF 5/5 - ⅘
Ex Phil Peck (“Morris Collection”)

Edited July 21 by TIF

[CPK]

Wow @TIF, you steal the show! I think my favorite is the Domitian snake cowboy, but they are all spectacular, and the photography is superb!

[TIF]

19 minutes ago, CPK said:

Wow @TIF, you steal the show! I think my favorite is the Domitian snake cowboy, but they are all spectacular, and the photography is superb!

Thanks, CPK!  The Domitian is my favorite too 😄.