A Roman New Years with a denarius that celebrates beauty

Here are my examples of Domna coins with this reverse type:



Denarius, Rome mint, RIC 536


Sestertius, Rome mint, RIC 842


Denarius, Eastern mint, RIC 633

 

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Might as well toss in my Domna Venus


Julia Domna
Augusta, CE 193-217
AR denarius, 17 x 19 mm, 2.72 gm
Rome mint; struck under Septimius Severus, circa AD 193-196
Obv: IVLIA DOMNA AVG; draped bust right
Rev: VENERI VICTR; Venus standing right, back facing, leaning upon column to left, holding palm frond and apple
Ref: RIC IV 536 (Septimius Severus); RSC 194
Formerly slabbed; NGC net grade XF
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/you-know-you-should-buy-the-coin-when.324654/

Athena may not be the first goddess who comes to mind when thinking "beauty" but if we're talking shapely butt, thighs, and legs... she's hard to beat on this coin (just ignore her hoofs ):


KINGS OF MACEDON, Antigonos II Gonatas
277/6-239 BCE, struck after 270 BCE, Amphipolis mint
AR tetradrachm, 31mm, 17.06 g
Obv: head of Pan in center of Macedonian shield, lagobolon over shoulder; shield decorated with stars within crescents
Rev: BASILEWS ANTIGONOU, Athena Alkidemos walking left, brandishing thunderbolt and shield; helmet left, EMP monogram right
Ref: SNGCop 1200v, EMP (maybe); R. Martin, "A Third-Century B.C. Hoard from Thessaly at the ANS," ANSMN 26, 536 (same obv. die).
ex Demetrios Armounta Collection

 

This is a Denarius that I feel celebrates beauty... the reverse seems so serene and relaxing to me...


RR Anon AR Denarius 115-114BCE Rome mint 19.52mm 3.82g ROMA X Seated r on shields spear birds she-wolf Romulus Remus Cr 287-1 S 164

EDIT: And Roma does not have to show her As...

 

And ignore the weird M.C. Escher thing going on with her upper body! Does she hold the shield in her left or right hand? Sometimes I see one, sometimes the other.

I have always admired that Antigonos II tetradrachm of yours, @TIF . I'm happy you showed it again.

 

Beautiful coins for sure. Here's my Saloninia with that same Venus from behind. The artwork's gone a bit abstract (or sloppy) by this time:



Salonina Antoninianus
(wife of Gallienus)
(256-257 A.D.) Cologne Mint
SALONINA AVG, diademed, draped bust rt. on crescent / VENVS VICTRIX Venus from back, naked to waist leaning on column holding palm & apple.
Göbl 904c; Cunetio hoard 735 (Not in RIC).
(2.79 grams / 23 x 21 mm)

 

Thank You @Deacon Ray @Cucumbor and @TIF for the detective work on the interesting die match. These were minted in her first years as an Augusta, it must not have been easy. In fact there is little about her life which could have been easy.

 

I have a Julia Titi with the same Venus reverse, butt (pun intended) I'm not so sure it's a celebration of beauty





Even though they show male heads, those two are :

M. Plaetorius M.f. Cestianus. Denarius Rome mint, c. 69 BC
Male head right (Mercury ?) with flowing hair. Behind symbol
M·PLAETORI – CEST·EX·S·C Winged caduceus
18 mm, 3,86 gr
Ref : RCV #344, RSC Plaetoria # 5, Sydenham # 807, RBW # 1453, Crawford # 405/5
From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli collection



Syracuse Hiketas 288-279 BC
Head of Zeus hellanios right
ΣΙΡΑΚ ΟΣΙΩΝ. Eagle left, wings open, star and A in field
8.95 gr, 23 mm
Ref : Sear # 1212

Q

 

A die match means that you and I are Julia Domna denarius cousins I've always been moved by JD's sad eyes on our particular version. Her eyes were the first feature that I recognized.

My apologies, Mike! If I haven't said it already—HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

I know I've said it before but it's great to see old friends return to the Forum who have been away for a while. I'm really glad to see @LaCointessa back with us!

 

Oh Wow!! That's the coolest graphic design! and the warmest welcome back! Thank you, @Deacon Ray !!! I love it - I am otherwise speechless at the moment...which for me is rare! Happy New Year!!

 

best wishes for 2019/ great coin

 

Wonderful OP coin @Mike Margolis!
Very fitting for the new year. Just like Janus, one cheek representing the past year and the other cheek representing the year ahead!...I guess the hole in the middle represents where all of the new years resolutions I won't be doing go

My coin, despite being a "rough" ebay find, is fun to look at. For having such skinny legs my Venus has a ghetto booty! (If you're not sure what that is, don't Google it at work

 

I'm glad you like it! It has an intentional baseball team lettering appearance. To keep this coin related—here's Providentia on the reverse of Marcus Aurelius holding a softball—not!

 

Yes! Yes! I said that out loud to myself - that it looked sort of 'basebally" and I really enjoy that. And I also remarked that it reminds me of my favorite bubble gum, (when I was a kid), too.

G-d certainly has blessed you with tons of talent, @Deacon Ray !!

P.s. That's funny about Providentia throwing out the first ball!!

 

Don’t encourage him—he'll never leave!

Oops—did I say that out loud?
​

Just kidding @LaCointessa! Thank you for the kind words!​

 

Some of mine (Eastern Domnas)





and an Alexandrian

 

This is not my best but it is the one that I bought over 50 years ago and did not sell when hard times took my first collection. I saved it beause it was overstruck on another coin (Commodus?).



These are obverse duplicates and Eastern and are the only ones I have seen with either reverse legend.


Finally, I would love to upgrade my worn sestertius from the (IMO) best dieset used for these.

 

Yes and that Sestertius is a beauty!

 

@Deacon Ray! Look!! I put your art as my screensaver!! Thank you again!

 

It is good to have you as a new cousin @Deacon Ray ! - related by way of an 1800 year old coin. Interestingly enough I heard by way of a note on 23 and Me that I have a first cousin- actually two since he has a sister, that I did not know about. Got a note from him on New Years day!