I was lucky enough to pick up this coin at the recent Stack's auction, what attracted me to this coin was two things the first being the amount of work the cellator did filling the whole surface with temple and the second I love these type like Nero's Triumphal arch where historians and collectors are given an idea what the structure looked like as there is not much more evidence besides the coins. The Temple of Concordia at the northern end of the Forum in Rome was unusual in that its width was greater than its length. We do not know precisely when the temple was originally built, but its unorthodox design was likely due to space limitations. The temple was restored after the revolt of the Gracchi in 121 BC, and again under Tiberius in 10 AD. Tiberius Æ Sestertius.(33mm, 25.5gm) Rome, AD 35-36. The Temple of Concordia: Concordia seated left on throne, holding patera and sceptre, above altar within hexastyle façade set on podium; entrance flanked by statues of Hercules and Mercury; pediment decorated with statues of Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, and Victories in acroteria; wings of transverse cella with windows behind; pediments decorated with statues / TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST P M TR POT XXXVII around large S•C. RIC 61; C. 69; BMC 116; BN 100. NGC graded Choice Fine. Stack's Jan NYINC, lot 22114. This great temple, of which little survives, was located on the northwest side of the Roman Forum. It was dedicated to the goddess Concordia and its festival day was July 22. A temple to the goddess was vowed by Camillus in 367 BC on the occasion of the Licinian-Sextian laws expanding the civil rights of the plebs. At first, only an altar seems to have been built. The first temple was constructed in 121 B.C. by L. Opimius, who, as consul, killed the tribune C. Gracchus. In the Republic, it symbolized harmony between the social classes; in the Empire, between members of the imperial family. The senate often met here. Tiberius restored the building. Its design was unusual in having its façade on the long side. My coin illustrates the temple, And Literary sources mention that many works of art decorated the building, making it a veritable “temple-museum.”
Fascinating coin and informative write-up! It was a pleasure to read. I see the coin depicts a cult-statue of Concordia seated left, holding a patera. This is a VERY common motif on coins of Roman empresses. Here are Sabina and Faustina I for starters:
Excellent acquisition for your architectural collection, AA. Congrats! What a wonderfully busy temple, too, with the statues of all those gods and goddesses. Here's Concordia on the obverse of a denarius of L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. ROMAN REPUBLIC. L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. AR Denarius. 3.96g, 18.9mm. Rome mint, 62 BC. L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus, moneyer. Crawford 415/1. O: PAVLLS (sic) LEPIDVS CONCORDIA, diademed and veiled bust of Concordia right. R: TER / PAVLLVS, Trophy; to right, L. Aemilius Paullus in toga standing left; to left, three captives (King Perseus of Macedon and his two sons). Notes: Rare variant, with Paullus’s name on the obverse spelled PAVLLS instead of PAVLLVS. Crawford notes this error on only 1 obverse die out of 240 he recorded for the issue. The reverse die is notable for the unusually detailed rendering of the type's scene, with even the ties of the bindings around Perseus's wrists clearly visible.
Thanks everybody for your comments and Concordia coins some great coins on display, here's two more of my favorite Concordia coins. Vitellius. 69 AD Publius Fonteius P.f. Capito AR silver denarius. Struck 55 BC or later. P FONTEIVS CAPITO III VIR CONCORDIA, laureate, diademed, & veiled head of Concordia right. Reverse - T DIDI to left, VIL PVB to right, the Villa Publica: building consisting of two stories, each with a row of columns, to which gates are attached; the lower columns are surmounted by arches, the upper ones by a sloping roof; IMP below. Cr429/2b, Syd 901a. 18mm, 3.6g.
Great coin and very interesting write-up, @Ancient Aussie. Here’s my only Concordia reverse. Marcus Aurelius, AR denarius, (18mm, 2.99g), IMP M AVREL ANTONINVS AVG, Bust of Marcus right/ Rev. CONCORDIA AVG TR P XVI, Concordia seated left holding patera. RIC35
Nice architectural piece! IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS V TR PPP Laureate head right CONCORDIA AVG Concordia seated left, annulet below, star in Exergue 3.41g Ephesus 74 AD RIC 1464 (R2)
Here's one with Concordia standing: Severina Augusta A.D. 274-275 Billon Antoninianus Siscia mint Obv: SEVERI-NAE AVG Rev: CONDORDIAE M-ILITVM - Concordia, standing left, holding two ensigns XXI in exergue; S in right field RIC 13 22mm, 4.1g.
Love the architectural types of Imperial Rome. Here is my specimen of the Tiberius coin. Tiberius (Augustus) Coin: Brass Sestertius (no legend) - Hexastyle temple with flanking wings; Concordia seated inside, holding patera and cornucopiae; Hercules and Mercury stand on podia; Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Victories and other figures above pediment. TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST P M TR POT XXXIIX - Legend surrounding large S C Exergue: Mint: Rome (36-37 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 27.11g / 35.5mm / 6 Rarity: Scarce References: RIC I 61 BMCRE 116 Cohen 69 Provenances: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Acquisition/Sale: CNG Internet 424 #414 $0.00 07/18 Notes: Jul 21, 18 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
Nice Gary I've noticed you have a soft spot for architecture after that fantastic video you produced, by the way your coins attribution has correct legend but incorrect RIC number, should be 67 not 61, Stack's had mine around the wrong way too they had it down as 67 and is 61 a year earlier than yours.
If you like architectural types you should try to find Marvin Tameanko's book, Monumental Coins: Buildings & Structures on Ancient Coinage. Marvin died a few years ago but his book is still available on Amazon. He was a really nice guy.
My coins of Sabina, Lucilla, Julia Paula, Aquilia Severa, Sallustia Orbiana, and Otacilia Severa all have Concordia on the reverse. Here's my Otacilia Severa (seller's image): The description of this coin in my catalogue is as follows: Otacilia Severa (wife of Philip I) AR Antoninianus, 246-248 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Diademed and draped bust right, on crescent, M OTACIL SEVERA AVG/ Rev. Concordia seated left holding patera and double cornucopiae, CONCORDIA AVGG. RIC IV-3 125(c), RSC IV 4, Sear RCV III 9147 (ill. p. 173). 22 mm., 4.5 g.
Thanks for the correction. I'm glad you liked the video. How did you know it was mine? I have other videos concerning Ancient Rome on my channel.
You posted the video on CT a couple of years ago, here it is again others that have not seen it might like a look as well, great work Gary.
Thanks Aussie for the compliment. I have other Roman videos on my YouTube channel such as : "Ancient Rome-Then and Now" in two different versions-a short one and a long one, "A Gallery of Roman Amphitheatres", "Ludus Magnus", "The Assassination of Julius Caesar", and "The Animals of The Colosseum and The Circus Maximus" (on Roman coinage). I make no money off of my videos. I get satisfaction in making them and hopefully, others enjoying them. My YouTube name is tmachine12001. I also have a short video concerning Caligula and "Circus Maximus-Then and Now". Thanks again Aussie.
