Iran falus of Hamadan / bull

[saro]

I have it with me since a long time; this one shows a bull and the full mintname / no date
10,62g / diam. 23mm

[capnbirdseye]

Another good one saro, I do like these coins with animals on but rarely see them for sale

[Figleaf]

An intriguing series. I suppose the zebu has symbolic value. Would the goat also have a symbolic value?

Peter

[saro]

No real idea ?
We can find many animals on iranian coppers, this is a non exhaustive list..:
Bird (unidentified) - Bull + Bull & fish - Camel -  Eagle (attacking stag) - Elephant - Fish (1 or 2) - Goose - Hare - Horse - Goat - Lion + Lion attacking stag - Peacock - Pigeon - Snake & Dragon - Dragon .
and the more symbolic " Lion & Sun.

If members have some other ones, pictures are welcome 

[Figleaf]

At a glance, I see three classes of animals.

1) Those that symbolise (royal) power - including Persian, Chinese and Indian symbols:

Bull + Bull & fish -  Eagle (attacking stag) - Elephant - Fish (1 or 2) - Lion + Lion attacking stag - Peacock - Snake & Dragon - Dragon and the more symbolic Lion & Sun.

2) Those that are popular food:

Bird (unidentified) - Goose - Hare - Goat - Pigeon

3) Those that are transportation:

Camel - Horse

There is apparently a regal streak - not mindlessly copying other people's symbols, but adding elements such as an attacked stag or a snake - and a popular streak, where the animals may be symbols of, or it least referring to, wealth. Since the missing animal is a donkey, I wonder if one of the horses might actually be a donkey. No, chicken are not missing. In that part of the world, pigeons are often preferred over chicken. Pigs and dogs are taboo.

Peter