A coin from my collection to honor the start of the New Year: Geta (as Augustus). AR denarius, Rome mint, struck 211 CE; 3.15g. BMCRE C13–4, Hill 1296 (S2), RIC 79 (S), RSC 197. Obv: P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT; man’s laureate head right, bearded. Rx: TR P III – COS II P P; Janus standing front, holding reversed spear and thunderbolt. EF. According to Wikipedia: [Janus]... is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces, since he looks to the future and to the past. It is conventionally thought that the month of January is named for Janus (Ianuarius), but according to ancient Roman farmers' almanacs Juno was the tutelary deity of the month. In regard to this specific coin of Geta, BMCRE says, "[t]he 'Janus' with thunderbolt and sceptre is certainly a fanciful expression of the duality of the Empire." The thunderbolt is the usual attribute of Jupiter, so the authors are referring to a duality between Jupiter and Janus. But why is this the duality of the empire? Why can't a duality between Jupiter and, say, Venus, represent the duality of the Empire? Can't dualities be drawn between many things in regard to the Roman Empire? The authors don't bother to elucidate. RIC is no better. "A type Janus, holding thunderbolt, suggests an interesting association of Janus and Jupiter." The authors don't bother to explain the significance of the association, why it should be suggested, or what makes it interesting. So much for the standard references. This coin of Geta was struck in 211 CE, which was a watershed year for both the Empire and the Imperial family. On this coin, Janus is holding a reversed spear, not a scepter as described by both BMCRE. The downward pointing spear symbolizes the peace which resulted from his victories. It was struck after the death of Septimius Severus at York during the campaigns in Britain, where "victories" were declared, and at which point Geta and Caracalla took up joint emperorship. The Janus with thunderbolt and reversed spear type could thus represent: By the authority of Jupiter, the transition from the joint reign of Septimius, Caracalla, and Geta to the joint reign of Caracalla and Geta, and which will be consummated during peacetime, but occurred during wartime and could be attributed to it. The dual emperorship of Caracalla and Geta only, with Jupiter's thunderbolt representing their authority, the down-turned spear their propensity to make peace. An honorific of Septimius, who was deified after his death. This would have been intended to serve the dual purpose of helping to elevate Geta's standing in the eyes of the soldiers, who revered Severus and for whom the two brothers were vying to gain favor. Janus with thunderbolt and down-turned spear might then represent the transition of Septimius's authority from the realm of man to the realm of the gods. On this coin, Geta's portrait shows him with forks in his beard resembling those of his father; Geta would have hoped that his physical resemblance to Septimius would also suggest to the soldiers that he had similar qualities of character. This coin is a type chosen by Geta but not Caracalla, and it could be that the figure of Janus, with the pose and attributes typically associated with Jupiter could represent a transition of authority from the senior Severus to Geta, who was positioning himself as "the new Severus." Considering both the portrait and reverse type together in this light, the coin is visual evidence of the two brothers' ongoing rivalry at this time, despite the admonition of their father to "be harmonious." The transition of the Empire, or the British province, from wartime to peacetime under the dual authority of Janus and Jupiter at a time of major transition. Jupiter is in essence lending Janus his attributes, thereby granting him the authority to oversee this transition. The return of the Imperial family from Britain to Rome after the conclusion of a war and a statement of their continued authority under Jupiter: a new beginning for the Empire resulting from a convergence of these events. Please post your Janus coins, or anything you feel is relevant. And Happy New Year!
Very nice coin, and interesting writeup! Anonymous AE as, after 211 BCE. 37.4g, 35.5mm. Happy New Year!
A couple of my favorites that feature Janus: Roman Republic Æ as(30 mm, 27.09g). SAFRA(Spurius Afranius?), moneyer, 150 B.C. Rome mint. Laureate head of bearded Janus, I above / Prow right; above, SAFRA; before, dolphin; below, ROMA. Crawford 206/2; Sydenham 389; Babelon Afrania 2 AR Denarius(19mm, 3.86g). Marcus Furius Lucii filius Philus, moneyer, 119 BC, Rome mint. Laureate head of Janus;around, M·FOVRI·L·F, Border of dots. / Roma (wearing Corinthian helmet) standing left, holding sceptre in left hand and crowning trophy with right hand; above, star; behind, ROMA upwards; the trophy is surmounted by a helmet in the form of a boar's head and flanked by a carnyx and shield on each side; in exergue, (PHI)LI. Crawford 281/1, Sydenham 529, RSC Furia 18, BMCRR (Italy) 555
Roman Republic Anon AR Didrachm Quadrigatus Janus 225-215 BCE Cr 28-3 Sear 31 Roman Republic Anon Quadrigatus AR Drachm 216-214 BCE Janus ROMA Jupiter Victory Quadriga LEFT Cr 29-4 Sear 35 Scarce
Always happy to show this one off: Anonymous. Circa 225-217 BC. Æ Aes Grave As (63mm, 266.40 g, 12h). Libral standard. Rome mint. Head of bearded Janus; – (mark of value) below; all on a raised disk / Prow of galley right; | (mark of value) above; all on a raised disk. Crawford 35/1; Thurlow & Vecchi 51; Haeberlin pl. 10, 1-16, 4; HN Italy 337; Sydenham 71; Kestner 111-5; BMCRR Rome (Aes Grave) 1-16. Ex. CNG eAuction 163, lot 211 (2007); Ex. Triton XVI, lot 753 (2013); Ex. CNG Coin Shop (2013). I've mentioned this elsewhere before, but anyone interested in the mythology of Janus should read this essay: Rabun Taylor, "Watching the Skies:Janus, Auspication, and the Shrine in the RomanForum" in Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome, Vol. 45 (2000), pp. 1-40. Available through JSTOR and maybe elsewhere. I have a copy if anyone wants me to send it along, though it will have to wait until after the holiday break. I really can't recommend this essay highly enough. An interesting take on the prow series, which I find convincing, comes from Antonio Morello, summarized here by Andrew McCabe: http://andrewmccabe.ancients.info/Corvus.html
Thank you! This is something I'm interested in reading. If you can send me the copy after the break I'd appreciate it very much. Thanks for sharing your coin and information, and Happy New Year.
@benhur767 - This is a nice article and appropriate for the beginning of a new year. Thank you for taking the time to write it for us. The coin you posted is cool and so are all the other Janus coins posted. I hope other CTers will have time now or right after the new year to come post theirs, too. I am going to find and read the article referenced by @Nicholas Molinari. Thanks for the reference. Happy New Year everyone!
I just looked and he has it on academia.edu: https://www.academia.edu/17557277/W...Auspication_and_the_Shrine_in_the_Roman_Forum
WoWiE! I love the silver Janus! I know the next coin I am looking to acquire. That being said here is my lone Janus. In such bag shape it could easily be described without the "J" (sorry to offend sensibilities. The joke pretty much told itself).
I love these Republican Janus denarii with Roma in quadriga on the reverse (I assume it's Roma). They even look great worn down. The high silver content is pretty apparent.
