My Fascination with a Small Bull from Thurium

I’ve always had a soft spot for ancient coins featuring animals, and recently, a small AR Triobol from Thurium completely captivated me. Holding this coin, with its incredible detail and centuries of history, reminded me why I collect—it’s never just about the metal, but the stories these tiny artworks preserve.

Discovering the Thurium Bull

This particular Thourioi coin, struck around 443–400 BC, was a real eye-opener. It’s remarkably small—just 11 mm across and weighing 1.174 grams. On the front, you’ll find Athena’s head in an Attic helmet crowned with an olive wreath. Flip it over, and there’s a powerful bull standing left, head lowered, with a fish tucked in the exergue below. References like HN Italy 1777 and SNG ANS 1116 place it perfectly, but here’s something interesting: while sellers often list it as 12.5 mm, my calipers consistently showed 11 mm. I’ve noticed this kind of thing before with other coins, so I always double-check measurements myself. A good pair of calipers saves you surprises!

Bull Coins in My Collection

Finding that Thurium piece got me digging through my own collection of bull-themed coins. Each one has its own character. Here are a few favorites:

• Gela, Sicily AE Trias (420–405 BC): A solid 3.55g, 17mm coin showing a bull standing right, with its mark of value below. I love how the river god on the reverse plays off the bull. Jenkins references confirm it.
• Carthage AE (216–215 BC, Sardinia mint): Roughly 3.3g, featuring Tanit and a bull. It has a wonderfully rugged feel, noted in CNP 377a.
• Syracuse AE 22 under Hieron II (275–269 BC): Persephone paired with a bull facing left—a stunner with crisp details. I also have the scarcer AE 15 variant where the bull faces right.
• Carian HemiObol from Hydissos (~450 BC): A true miniature marvel at just 0.3g and 6.7mm. Its confronting bull foreparts pack so much personality into a tiny space (SNG Aulock 6669).
• Roman denarius, L Thorius Balbus (105 BC): Weighing 3.896g, with Juno sporting a goat skin on the obverse and a charging bull reverse. Sear 192 / Crawford 316-1. This one always feels cinematic to me—proof that coins spark personal memories!

Grading and Preservation Tips

When handling these beauties, I’ve learned to look closely. Take my Thurium Triobol: it has a lovely tone with traces of find patina, some light roughness, and a small flan flaw on the reverse. Based on handling pieces like this, here’s what I watch for:

• Patina tells tales—natural toning adds character and value, but roughness might hint at wear or past damage.
• Break out the loupe! Flan flaws or tooling marks can affect both authenticity and grade.
• For bull coins, the animal’s posture matters. A lowered head or a fish motif (like our Thurium friend) often carries cultural weight that makes the coin more desirable.

Market-wise, rarities like that AE 15 Syracuse command attention, so I keep tabs on auction results to gauge fair prices.

Collecting Insights and Personal Joy

Building a themed collection around bulls has brought me real joy. I remember being gifted a similar coin at a coin show years ago—nothing fancy, but steeped in history. Moments like that remind you the connections we make in this hobby are priceless. If you’re starting out, try accessible pieces like the Thurium Triobol first, then chase the rarities. Always verify your references, savor the hunt, and remember—every coin has a story. And with this theme? Well, it’s no bull!