Janus was the roman god of the beginnings. So today is HIS day.He also had his own « temple ». I only wish that the gate will stay closed all 2019 year ! Here is my only example of a Bifrons of Janus and another one on Nero with the temple.
M FURIUS Lf PHILUS ROMAN REPUBLIC AR Denarius OBVERSE: Laureate head of Janus; M•FOVRI•L•F around REVERSE: Roma standing left erecting trophy, gallic arms around, ROMA to right, PHLI in ex. Struck at Rome, 119 BC 3.81g, 18.35mm Crawford 281/1, Syd 529, BMCRR (Italy) 555, Furia 18
Happy Janus day, Janus ! Republic, Didrachm (Quadrigatus) Rome or other italian mint, c 215-211 BC Laureate janiform head of Dioscuri ROMA in relief in linear frame at exergue, Jupiter, holding thunderbolt in right hand and scepter in left, in fast quadriga driven right by Victory. 6,69 gr - 20-21 mm Ref : RCV #33, RSC # 24 D. Junius L.F. Silanus, As - Rome mint, 91 BC No legend, Head of Janus D SILANVS L F, Prow of galley right 12.08 gr Ref : RCV # 738 Q
Kronos also seems appropriate for the day CILICIA, Flaviopolis. Domitian Æ 1/3 Assarion, 17 mm, 3.2 gm. dated CY 17 (89/90 CE) Obv: ΔΟΜЄΤΙΑΝΟC ΚΑΙCΑΡ; laureate bust of Domitian right, with slight drapery Rev: ΦΛΑVΙΟΠΟΛЄΙΤωΝ ЄΤΟVC ΖΙ; veiled, bearded and draped male bust of Kronos right; harpa to right Ref: RPC II 1760
Thank you for this thread @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix . Great coins! ROMAN JANUS AR: Pre-Reform AR Heavy Denarii: RR Anon AR Heavy Denarius Quadrigatus Didrachm 225-215 BCE Cr 28-3 S 31 Early-issue during 2nd Punic War (purer silver) RR Anon AR Heavy Denarius Quadrigatus Didrachm 215-213 Janus Roma Relief tablet S 32 Cr 28-3 Mid-issue during 2nd Punic War (debased silver) RR 225-214 BCE Anon BILLON Heavy Denarius Quadrigatus-Janus Didrachm Janus-Jupiter gallopng quadriga r 18.2mm 4-1g Cr 28-3 S 33 Late-issue during 2nd Punic War (Billon silver) Heavy Quinarii: RR Anon AR Heavy Quinarius Quadrigatus Drachm 216-214 BCE Janus ROMA Jupiter Victory Quadriga LEFT Cr 29-4 S 35 RR Anon AR Heavy Quin Drachm Half Quadrigatus 225-212 BCE 3.1g 18mm Janus Jupiter in Quadriga L Victory ROMA Cr 28-4 S 35 SCARCE Post-Reform AR RR M Furius LF Philus AR Denarius 119 BCE Janus Sear 156 ROMAN AE RR Anon AE As after 211 BCE Janus I Prow Cr 56-2 Sear 627 RR Atili Saran AE As 148 BCE Janus ROMA Prow S 399 Cr 214-2a RImp Pompey 42-38 BCE AE As Janus Prow Magnus S 1394 Cr 479-1 GREEK JANIFORM Troas Tenedos late 5th-early 4th C BCE AR Obol 8mm 0.60g Janiform hd female-male - Labrys within incuse square SNG Ash 1235 HGC 6 387
Beardless laureate Janiform head of the Dioscuri XVI monogram below right chin, control letter R below left chin C FONT (NT in monogram) galley left ROMA below Rome 114-113 BC Sear 167, RRC 290/1 3.88g Ex-Calgary Coin This type honors the naval exploits of Publius Fonteius Capito, who was praetor in Sardinia in 169 BC. The obverse relates to the origin of the Fonteia gens, which claimed as its founder Fontus, the son of Janus, in whose honor the Fontinalia was held on October 13. 119 BC M. Furius L. f. Philus M FOVRI L F Laur. head of Janus ROMA to right PHILI in ex (PHI in monogram) Roma standing left crowning trophy with carnyx and shield on each side, star above Roma Commemorates the victories over the Allobroges and the Arverni in Gaul in 121 BC by CN Domitius Ahenobarbus and Q. Fabius Maximus only a few years earlier Ex-Baranoesky Roma
Not Janus, but janiform. Greece (Mysia, Lampsakos): silver diobol; janiform heads and Athena, ca. 4th-3rd century BC
Remind me what the significance of the temple doors being open or closed was. Was it something to do with war? I forget.
Temple of Janus doors / gates OPEN: Rome at WAR Temple of Janus doors / gates CLOSED: Rome NOT at War (does not mean peace...) WIKI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Janus_(Roman_Forum)
You may find janiform figures in other coin cultures, too. Here are two Iranian coins, local AE coins of Bishapur, a town in the southern Persian province Fars. Probably the images suggest a local religion focus. They are from about 685-710, shortly after the demise of the Sasanian empire. Maybe it shows the longing of local mint authorities for Persian government, with the Xusro head looking left and right and the Xusro II crown on the fable animal. AE pashiz, Bishapur, 690-710? Obv. Xusro-II inspired head, but Janus-like double, with frontally depicted winged crown. Surrounding text. Rev. a fable animal, a Gopadshah with the body of a zebu and a human head, with a Sasanian winged crown Xusro II-style. Surrounding text. 19.5 mm. 1.25 gr. Gyselen Type 6, obv. nr. 3; rev. nr. 8. Zeno 204925 (this coin). Album 44? Studia Iranica 9 (2), 1980, 165-54. The second coin, smaller, is from the same period, but the mint is unknown. AE pashiz, time of 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan to al-Walid I ibn 'Abd al-Malik. AH 65-96 / AD 685-715. Uncertain mint. Obv. Janiform bust with Sasanian crown. Rev. Circle containing something, uncertain lettering or symbols in outer margin (‘Fire altar with ribbons and attendants; uncertain lettering or symbols in outer margins between star-in-crescents’). 15 mm, 0.78 gr. Cf. Gyselen Type 106 and 125 (for obv.); Walker, Arab-Sasanian –; Album –; CNG E-356, lot 652.
Another C Font Denarius: 19 x 20 mm, 3.66 g; Lazio, Rome 114 - 113 BC moneyer Caius Fonteius Ref.: RRC 290/1 (type); Ghey, Leins & Crawford 2010 290.1.26; Sear5, 167; For this type M. Crawford estimates 142 coins with this obverse and 177 with the reverse. Obv.: Laureate, Janiform head of the Dioscuri; on left control mark H; Below neck pellets for H-value • • • • • • On right, denominational mark X (crossed)=XVI. Border of dots Rev.: C·FONT (NT as monogram) // (ROMA) galley traveling to right with helmsman and three rowers to left; acrostolium on prow of the galley; border of dots
Here is a Republican as with Janus on the obverse. It's one of my favorite acquisitions from 2018: Roman Republic, As (uncial standard), 169–158 BC, moneyer: C. Cluvius Saxula, Rome mint. Obv: head of Janus, I above. Rev: prow right, C·SAX (ligated) above, ROMA below. 35 mm, 25.98 g. Ref: Crawford 173/1. And another Lampsakos diobol with a female janiform head: Lampsakos, Mysia, diobol, ca. 400–300 BC. Obv: Janiform female heads. Rev: Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet, ΛΑΜ around, fly right. 10mm, 1.2g. Ref: SNG France 1190; Baldwin 1924, group B, type I,19. Ex Savoca. Happy New Year to all of you!
Here's an inverted Janus coin, not with two faces, but one face and two bodies. I was much surprised to discover it. What's the function of an owl with two bodies? AE13 Athens, 340-317 BC. Obv. Helmeted head of Athens to the right. Two-bodied owl peering at you, above Eleusinian ring. Α / Θ – Ε (= Athens). Kroll 41. HGC 4, 1736. 13 mm, 1.95 gr.
I have the same question on mine also: Athens 340-317 BCE BC AE 12 Athena attic helmet R- Double bodied Owl with head facing E olive sprigs kalathos RARE BMC 224
My only Janus: Republican Rome Anonymous, After 211 B.C. AR As, 33 mm x 35 grams Obv.: Laureate head of Janus Rev.: Prow right, I above, ROMA below
For those of you who would like to read the most complete article about JANUS that I ever found, here's the link. Forty pages of amazing research ! http://www.academia.edu/17557277/Wa...Auspication_and_the_Shrine_in_the_Roman_Forum
Here's a Janus I purchased in 2018. Happy New Year all! Roman Republic Æ as(12.02g, 27mm, 12h), anonymous, semuncial, circa 91-86 B.C.. Rome mint. Laureate head of bearded Janus; I above / Prow right; above, ROMA and before, I. Crawford 339/1c; McCabe group M1 Ex Ashwill0324, eBay, 6/21/2018, ex Roma Numismatics e-Sale 4 lot 507, ex Andrew McCabe Collection