Bulls/hit hard on Parade

[Marsyas Mike]

Not part of the design, here's a somewhat stylized bucranium as a control/mint symbol on the reverse of a Macedonian Philip II:

Macedonia Kingdom Æ 15  Philip II (c. 359-336 B.C.) Uncertain Macedonia mint Head of Apollo, hair bound with taenia, right /  ΦIΛIΠΠOY, naked youth on horse right; bucranium below.  SNG ANS 847; SNG Cop. 604.  (5.46 grams / 15 mm) eBay May 2020 

[dougsmit]

If bull includes bucranium, I can add the less often seen option for Caracalla as Caesar where a bucranium was included in the priestly implements reverse. 

[kapphnwn]

Septimius Severus Ae 27 195-196 AD Tyana Obv Head right laureate Rv Bull standings right SNG von Aulock 6542 var 13.66 grms 27 mm Photo by W. HansenI have always been impressed by the reverse on this coin. That bull must have been absolutely  massive. He has a relatively small head compared to his massive neck and shoulders. 

[DonnaML]

12 minutes ago, kapphnwn said:

Septimius Severus Ae 27 195-196 AD Tyana Obv Head right laureate Rv Bull standings right SNG von Aulock 6542 var 13.66 grms 27 mm Photo by W. HansenI have always been impressed by the reverse on this coin. That bull must have been absolutely  massive. He has a relatively small head compared to his massive neck and shoulders. 

Could it be an aurochs?

[Justin Lee]

Here's my bull contribution... Or depending on the way you look at it, some have said its an elephant?? 

Sicily, Messana, The Mamertinoi

Circa 288-278 BC, AE Quadruple Unit

Series I struck circa 288-285 AD

Obverse: APEOΣ, Laureate head of Ares right; helmet head behind.

Reverse: MAMEP-TI-NΩN, Bull butting left.

References: Särström Series I, Group A; Calciati I pg. 91, 1; SNG ANS 399; SNG Copenhagen 428; SNG Morcom 623

Size: 27mm, 17.51g

Ex: CNG Auction 447, Lot 20 (7/3/2019);

CNG Mail Bid Sale 67, Lot 287 (9/22/2004);

From the Tony Hardy Collection

[kapphnwn]

In reply to @DonnaML I do not believe it is an aurochs. I always thought the animal looked like a representative  of one of the humped backed breeds which appear to originated in India possibly a Zebu. However I am no expert on cattle domestic or otherwise. 

Photo from Wikipedia Looking at the pic of this animal I can see a number of similarities to the coin. The overall appearance the size of the head in relation to the neck. The hump and the overall shape and angle of the horns. The one area that is dissimilar is that the image on the coin does not have the folds of skin which appear to be hanging from the neck and chest as can be seen on the photograph. Otherwise to two are very close.

My coin again Here for comparison 

Edited July 5, 2022 by kapphnwn
additional info

[shanxi]

A more dynamic humped bull:

 

Pisidia. Termessos Major
1st century BC
Obv.: Draped, laureate bust of Artemis right, quiver behind shoulder
Rev.: Humped bull butting left on ground line, TEP
AE, 13 mm, 2.26g
Ref.: BMC 268, 1; SNG France 2102.

[Prieure de Sion]

You and all your bulls. Now I got hungry just looking at the coins. I'm going to fire up the grill and throw a good beef steak on it.

[Sulla80]

India, Kushan Empire, Vima Kadphises, circa 100-127/8, Ae tetradrachm, main mint in Begram

Obv: Vima Kadphises standing facing, head left, sacrificing over altar to left; trident to left, tamgha and club to right

Rev: Siva standing facing, holding trident in right hand; behind, the bull Nandi standing right; Buddhist triratana to left