The women of the Roman Empire

I just picked up this Julie Maesa last week.


Julia Maesa Denarius.
Obv: IVLIA MAESA AVG, draped bust right.
Rev: IVNO, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter.
RIC 254, RSC 16, BMC 67
2.8g, 20mm

I'm thinking I might start a collection of the women of Ancient Rome. I'd love to see yours! Who do you find most intriguing?

(BTW, I know this coin is simple, but it's my first silver denarius!)

 

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Julia Domna is certainly one of the more notable women of ancient Rome


Julia Domna
AR denarius, 19.5mm, 3.17 gm, 6h. Rome mint
Struck under Septimius Severus, circa AD 207-211
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA; draped bust right
Rev: Fecunditas or Tellus (Earth) reclining left under tree, resting arm on basket of fruit and placing hand on celestial orb; standing before her are four children representing the Four Seasons
Ref: RIC IV 549 (Septimius Severus); RSC 35

Domna bio

 

Congratulations on your 1st denarius, I think you will find collecting empresses interesting. I only have a few.

Faustina Senior
AR Denarius
Mint: Rome
After 141 AD
Obvs: DIVA FAVSTINA, Faustina right diademed
Revs: AVGVSTA, Ceres holding staff and raising skirt
18mm, 3.1g

Helena
318 to 319 AD
Mint: Thessalonica
AE Follis
Obvs: HELENA N F, bare head right, waved hair, mantled.
Revs: Laurel wreath enclosing eight pointed star.
17x18mm, 3.05g

 

Julia Domna is fascinating, indeed, and I have dozens of coins with her portrait.

I also find Faustina Junior very interesting, both historically and numismatically. Here are some of my favorite Faustina Junior coins.

She had a lot of kids, which are celebrated on many coins:






She appeared on coins as a teenaged girl, minted by her father, Antoninus Pius:




And as a grown woman on coins issued by her husband, Marcus Aurelius:




She's on provincial issues galore!

 

For those of you with Amazon Prime video, this video streams free:

Mothers, Murderers and Mistresses: Empresses of Ancient Rome. 2013.

I'd give it maybe 3 of 5 stars. Worth watching if you're into the subject matter. A BBC production.

https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-Murderers-Mistresses-Empresses-Ancient/dp/B071Y46BK6

And yes, let's hear it for Julia Domna and her wicker basket hairdo.

 

Women? God save us.......except for Tiff.

 

Great coins all!

 

Not much is known about Aquilia Severa, but she's intriguing for being the Vestal Virgin whom Elagabalus decided to marry. The marriage, which the loony bin emperor intended as a representation of the union of the Syriac Sun god El-Gabal and the Roman goddess Vesta, did not last long... the conservative Romans were scandalized, and the emperor's grandmother Julia Maesa forced him to divorce his wife. After another short-lived marriage, he married her again.

AQUILIA SEVERA
2nd and 4th wife of Elagabalus
AR Denarius. 2.93g, 20mm. Rome mint, AD 220-222. RIC 226. O: IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG, draped bust right. R: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing left, holding patera and double cornucopiae; lit altar to left; star in right field.

 

I'll add a Julia Paula

Julia Paula denarius

Obv:– IVLIA PAVLA AVG, Bare, draped head right
Rev:– CONCORDIA, Concordia seated left holding patera, elbow rests on arm of throne, star in left field.
Minted in Rome.
Reference:– RIC 211. RSC 6a.

 

The only empress I have is Caracalla's wife, Plautilla:


Imperial Rome
Plautilla, r. 202-205 A.D.
Rome Mint, AR Denarius, 18.82 mm x 3.15 grams
Obv.: PLAVTILLAE AVGVSTAE. Draped bust right, hair coiled in vertical ridges and fastened in bun on back
Rev.: CONCORDIAE AETERNAE. Caracalla standing left, clasping hands with Plautilla standing right
Ref.: RIC IV-1 Caracalla 361, p. 269

 

Severina

Obv:– SEVERINA AVG, Diademed and draped bust right on crescent
Rev:– CONCOR-D MILIT, Concordia seated left holding patera and cornucopia
Minted in Lugdunum (BL). End A.D. 274 to early A.D. 275
Reference:– Bastien 2 (12). Cohen 5. RIC 1

 

Magnia Urbica

A scarcer example of a scarcer lady.

Obv:– MAGNIA VRBICA AVG, Draped bust right on crescent, hair brushed in straight lines, plait carried up the back to top of head and running under stephane
Rev:– VENVS GENETRIX, Venus standing facing, head left, apple upward in right hand, vertical scepter in left
Minted in Lugdunum (A in left field).
RIC V pt. 2, 337 var (not listed from this officina). Bastien -, Bastien Supplement -, Bastien Supplement II 613α (2 examples cited)
23mm, 3.16g

 

yeah TIF.. ancientcoinguru...pish... umm... prolly sum more here, you may have earned their scorn.. i'd keep that bag on for awhile...if i were you

 

..silver n gals... O silver n gals... that's a nice one, esp for a 1st. i find collecting the 7 hills gals a worthwhile endeavor

 

dear sir,
i collect roman empresses for their hairdress.you just started a wonderful hobby!
the most intriguing will be the vestal virgin,turned into the wife of elegabalus....
kind regards. rene hubert Belgium

 

I used to focus on the ladies for years, but have slowed a bit. Below is a link to all the empress coins I have.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=3727

 

Congrats on your first @Justin Lee !!! The 'Ladies' seem to be a bit neglected and so many can be purchased at very budget friendly prices.

Super posts guys!!! For variety, I'll go a bit further back in time: budget examples of Antonia and Agrippina Senior:

 

Fun thread:


RI Alexandria Livia, w Augustus Diobol CE 1-2 Æ 23.5mm 7.46g. Rev. Athena holding Nike Sheild ex Dattari-Savio Pl. 3 60-this coin RPC pag. 692-5-this coin


RI Julia Flavia Titi Diva 90-91 CE d-Titus concubine-uncleDomitian AE Sestert 33mm 20.4g - Carpentum mules SPQR - SC


RI Paulina w Maximinus I D before CE 235 AE sestertius 30.77mm 19.66g 2nd emiss of Maximinus I CE 236 Peacock RIC IV 3


RI Magnia Urbica 285 CE silvered Ant AE 23mm 3.4g cresent - Venus helmet scepter shield RIC 343

 

You're right about the hairstyles. It's interesting how elaborate they could be in those ancient times.

Faustina Minor
Julia Domna

 

welcome rene, i feel you will fit right in