Diana Lucifera

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, Nov 9, 2018.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Diana, the twin sister of Apollo, was not only the goddess of the hunt and of childbirth, but she was also identified with Luna, the moon. As the goddess of the moon, she wears a long robe which reaches down to her feet, a veil sometimes covers her head, and above her forehead or on her shoulders she bears the crescent of the moon. In her hand she typically appears holding a torch -- symbolic of moonlight -- as on many Roman imperial coins depicting her as Diana Lucifera ("Diana, the light-bearer").

    Here are a couple of my Diana Lucifera coins. Let's see yours!

    Here she represents the deified Faustina II in the heavens:

    Faustina Jr SIDERIBVS RECEPTA Sestertius.jpg
    Faustina II, AD 161-175.
    Roman orichalcum Sestertius, 23.66 g, 30.2 mm, 12 h.
    Rome, AD 176-180.
    Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: SIDERIBVS RECEPTA, Diva Faustina, as Diana Lucifera, draped, wearing crescent on shoulders behind neck, standing right, holding lighted long torch.
    Refs: RIC 1715; BMCRE 1584-88; Cohen 215; RCV (4th ed.; not in 5th) 1530.

    Lucilla DIANA LVCIFERA sestertius.jpg
    Lucilla, AD 164-182/3.
    Roman orichalcum Sestertius, 25.93 g, 30.0 mm, 6 h.
    Rome, AD 164-166.
    Obv: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing right, holding transverse torch in both hands.
    Refs: RIC 1735; BMCRE 1143-45; Cohen 17; RCV --.

    Plautilla DIANA LVCIFERA denarius.jpg
    Plautilla, AD 202-205.
    Roman AR denarius, 3.76 g, 20.2 mm.
    Rome, AD 205.
    Obv: PLAVTILLA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and drape bust, right.
    Rev: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing left, holding flaming torch with both hands.
    Refs: RIC 366; BMCRE 420; RSC 13; RCV 7070; CRE 427.
     
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  3. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Julia Domna 3.jpg
    JULIA DOMNA
    Fouree Denarius
    OBVERSE: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right
    REVERSE: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing left, holding long torch with both hands
    Struck at Rome, 211-217 AD Struck under Caracalla
    3,1 g; 18,3 mm
    RIC 373A [Caracalla]
     
  4. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Nice !

    Diana Lucifera is a (small) sub-set of mine (I have too many I guess)

    [​IMG]
    Faustina Jr


    [​IMG]
    Julia Domna


    [​IMG]
    Plautilla


    [​IMG]
    Gordian III

    Q
     
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  5. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

  6. ken454

    ken454 Well-Known Member

    nice ones RC... i have one of these :D
    Julia Domna

    RIC4-373A.jpg
     
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  7. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

  8. red_spork

    red_spork Triumvir monetalis

    My only "lightbringer", on a denarius of P Clodius M.f. Turrinus
    Cr494.23.JPG
     
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  9. Jwt708

    Jwt708 Well-Known Member

  10. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

  11. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    Spectacular!!! Thank you for posting that beauty...
     
  12. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Excuse me, but you're not the only moon goddess in town, Diana Lucifera! :p

    Caracalla - x6 Antoninianus Oxen Biga 2588.jpg CARACALLA
    Scarce. AR Antoninianus. 5.19g, 24mm. Rome mint, AD 215. RIC 245c; BMCRE 121. O: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: P M TR P XVIII COS IIII P P, Luna in biga of oxen galloping left, fold of drapery billowing in semicircle around head.
    Ex stevex6 Collection

    Luna in her ox biga, heralded by Hesperus, from the Parabiago Plate.
    00Luna.jpg
     
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  13. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    My only Diana Lucifera:

    (Yours is very nice @red_spork !)

    upload_2018-11-10_6-51-52.png
    RImp P Clodius Mf Turrinus AR denarius 20mm 3.6g Rome 42 BCE Laureate hd Apollo R lyre - Diana Lucifera torches Cr 494-23 CRI 184 Syd 1117

    And, I agree with @zumbly , we should NOT forget Luna!

    RR Anon 189-179 BCE AR Den Roma Luna Biga S 69 Cr 158-1.jpg
    RR Anon 189-179 BCE AR Den Roma Luna Biga Sear 69 Craw 158-1

    RR Furius Purpurio 169-157 BCE Roma Luna Biga Linear Frame murex shell.jpg
    RR Furius Purpurio 169-157 BCE Roma Luna Biga Linear Frame murex shell Craw187-1
     
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  14. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Very cool, @zumbly , and I like how it depicts a scene also found on the Parabiago patera! Lovely RR examples, @Alegandron and @red_spork !

    No, we can't forget LVNA LVCIFERA! Here's one of Caracalla's mama, where Luna has the good fortune of having a horse-drawn biga:

    Domna LVNA LVCIFERA denarius.jpg
    Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
    Roman AR denarius, 3.07 g, 20.6 mm, 12:00.
    Rome mint under Caracalla, AD 215.
    Obv: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: LVNA LVCIFERA, Luna in biga of horses, galloping left, drapery billowing behind head.
    Refs: RIC 379c; BMCRE 10; Cohen 105; RCV 7101; Hill 1477.
     
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2018
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  15. Jochen1

    Jochen1 Well-Known Member

    The same type as Antoninian from my Collection, RIC 329(a).
    julia_domna_379(a).jpg
    Roscher (Ausführliches Lexikon der griechischen und römischen Mythologie, Leipzig 1884-1937, online too) writes: Diana was the patroness of the biga race, Sol the patron of the quadriga race in the Circus maximus, following mythological beliefs.

    It would be nice to hear something about the meaning of the biga with oxen. May be that the horns of the oxen are an allusion to the horns of the crescent?

    Best regards
    Jochen
     
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  16. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    Congratulations on those very nice coins. And by the way Mr.Jochen, it’s a pleasure to have you here at CT. Your reputation precede you.Looking forward to see sample of your impressive collection !
     
  17. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Lovely coin, Jochen! I, too, would like to know about the oxen biga.
     
  18. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    Great variety of Dianas and Lunas bearing torches. Here are some more:
    Roman republican AR denarius
    P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus, Rome 42 BC
    Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right, Lyre behind
    Rev: Diana Lucifera standing right, holding two long torches, MF in left field, P CLODIVS in right field


    IMG_2420.jpg

    IMG_2412.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2018
  19. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    My Corinthian stater has a control mark described as Artemis Phosphoros, who I suspect must be the Greek forebear/counterpart of Diana Lucifera?

    Greece (Corinth): silver stater; Pegasus and Athena, ca. 345-307 BC
    [​IMG]
    NGC AU; Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5.


    Original FORVM description:
     
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  20. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

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  21. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

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