Pudicitia is the personification of chastity and modesty. Because these were considered to be feminine virtues, this personification appears as a reverse type for coins of many Roman empresses from the Antoninine period onward. Be that as it may, she first appeared as a reverse type on many coins of the emperor Hadrian. She is depicted veiled, typically seated (though she appears standing), and she often holds a scepter. Four types were issued for Julia Domna featuring Pudicitia. Two of them feature Pudicitia seated left, head and torso facing, and holding a scepter -- one issued under Septimius Severus and one issued under Caracalla. Two of them feature Pudicitia seated left, without a scepter -- one from Rome and the other from an eastern mint formerly thought to be Laodicea. Post your coins featuring Pudicitia or anything you feel is relevant! Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 2.81 g, 18.8 mm, 1 h. Rome, AD 196-211. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia veiled and stolate, seated left, head and torso facing, right hand on breast and left hand resting on chair and holding scepter. Refs: RIC 575; BMCRE 72-73; Cohen/RSC 170; RCV 6603; Hill 1165; CRE 382. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 3.40 g, 17.8 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 196-211. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia, veiled and draped, seated left on throne, right hand on breast, left arm at side. Refs: RIC 576; BMCRE 74; RSC/Cohen 168; RCV --; Hill 701; CRE 384. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 3.17 g, 19.3 mm, 1 h. Eastern mint (formerly attributed to Laodicea), AD 196-202. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia, veiled and draped, seated left on throne, right hand on breast, left arm at side. Refs: RIC 644; BMCRE 613-16; Cohen 168; RCV 6602; CRE 385. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Issued under Caracalla. Roman AR denarius, 3.20 g, 17.6 mm, 7 h. Rome, AD 211. Obv: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia veiled and stolate, seated left, head and torso facing, right hand on breast and left hand resting on chair and holding scepter. Refs: RIC 385; BMCRE 19; Cohen 165 (error); RSC 172a; RCV 7105; Hill 1298; CRE 383; ERIC II 210. Notes: Ex E. Button, Frankfurter Münzhandlung 114, lot 619, Dec. 5, 1967. Ex CNG Triton XX, lot 614 E053, Jan. 9, 2017.
Nice collection. I can add three Faustina II denarii with Pudicitia Faustina II AR-Denar, Rome Obv.: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust right. Rev.: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia standing facing, head left, drawing veil and holding hem of skirt Ag, 3.24g, 16.7x18.7mm Ref.: RIC III 507a, CRE-206 [C] Faustina II AR-Denar, Rome Obv.: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust right, pearl diadem. Rev.: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia standing facing, head left, drawing veil and holding hem of skirt Ag, 3.12g Ref.: RIC III 507b, CRE 206 var. (pearl diadem) Ex collection Hannelore Scheiner Ex Künker eLive Auction 44, lot 111 Faustina II AR-Denar, Rome Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA AVG P II F, draped bust right. Rev.: PVDI- CITIA, Pudicitia standing left, sacrificing over lighted and garlanded altar Ag, 3.02g, 18mm Ref.: RIC III 508a, CRE-207
I have nohing to add but examples. Three from 'Laodicea'. I find it interesting that the earlier periods of the Eastern mints which I collect more extensively do not use Pudicitas but do have Pietas.
One of my favorite deities. Here's my only Julia Domna Pudicitia - worn, on a heart-shaped flan: Julia Domna Denarius (196-211 A.D.) Rome Mint IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / PVDICITIA, Pudicitia seated left, veiled and right hand on breast; left arm at side. RIC 576; RSC 168. (2.97 grams / 18 x 16 mm) Here is Julia Domna's sister, Julia Maesa, in a rather compromised sestertius: Julia Maesa Æ Sestertius (Grandmother of Elagabalus) (218-222 A.D.) Rome Mint IVLIA MAESA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust right / PVDICITIA, Pudicitia seated right, holding scepter and drawing veil; S C in exergue. RIC 420 (Elagabalus); Banti 8. (16.64 grams / 29 mm) Pudicitia wasn't just for the lady coins. Here are some menfolk. Hadrian with a standing Pudicitia. The artwork on this one is really nice, I think: Hadrian denarius - RIC 176d Antoninus Pius as: Antoninus Pius Æ As (c. 145-147 A.D.) Rome Mint [ANT]ONINVS AVG PIVS PP, laureate head right / TR POT COS [III or IIII?] S C, Pudicitia facing, looking left, raising right hand, holding veil with left hand. RIC 702. (10.31 grams / 26 mm) Another fella, Trajan Decius from Antioch: Trajan Decius Antoninianus (249-251 A.D.) Antioch mint IMP CMQ TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right Officina mark single dot below / PVDICITIA AVG, Pudictia seated left, drawing veil and holding a sceptre. RIC 46b; Sear5 9382; RSC 98. (3.13 grams / 22 x 19 mm)
Very nice group, RC. I don’t have a Julia Domna with the Pudicitia reverse, but I do have one of her older sister. I always thought it was a little funny that so many coins featuring the personification of chastity and modesty were struck under Elagabalus. Julia Maesa, Augusta,AR Denarius (19.5mm, 2.96 g). Rome mint. Struck under Elagabalus, AD 218-220. Draped bust right / Pudicitia seated left, about to draw veil and holding scepter. RIC IV 268 (Elagabalus). CNG E-Auction 463.
Nice group, RC! I don't have any Pudicitia of Domna but would like one, preferably from earlier in her reign. Here's one from Lucilla. I adore this coin! Lucilla Empress CE 163-169, wife of Lucius Verus AR denarius, 19 mm, 3.25 gm Obv: LVCILLA AVGVSTA; draped bust right Rev: PVDICITIA; Pudicitia, veiled, standing left, with right hand preparing to draw a veil across her face (or had she just drawn the veil off her face?), left hand at side Ref: RIC III 780
My one PVDVCITIA is of Herennia Etruscilla: Herennia Etruscilla (wife of Trajan Decius) AR Antoninianus, 249-251 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. HER ETRVSCILLA AVG, Draped bust right, wearing stephane, crescent behind / Rev. PVDICITIA AVG, Pudicitia standing left lifting her veil and holding scepter. RIC IV-3 58b, RSC IV 17. 21.77 mm., 3.82 g. I know she's supposed to be lifting her veil, but it looks more to me like she's pointing a long-barreled revolver at her forehead.
Nice set @Roman Collector - here's another example of Julia Maesa - with scepter seated. Julia Maesa, Augusta, AD 218-224/5, AR Denarius, Rome mint Struck under Elagabalus, AD 220-222 Obv: IVLIA MAESA AVG, Bust of Julia Maesa, hair waved and turned up low at the back, draped, right Rev: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia, draped, seated left, drawing veil over face with right hand and holding sceptre in left hand Ref: RIC IV 268 (Elagabalus)
FAUSTINA II AE Dupondius. 11.5g, 26mm. Rome mint, AD 147-150. RIC III 1403 (Antoninus); BMCRE 1086; Cohen 179; Sear 4731. O: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, diademed & draped bust right. R: PVDICITIA S-C, Pudicitia standing left, holding out cloak in both hands.
An interesting set,@Roman Collector ! I don't have a Pudicitia of Julia Domna, but two for Herennia Etruscilla (a bit weakly struck) and Otacilia Severa: Herennia Etruscilla, Roman Empire, AR antoninianus, 249–251 AD, Rome mint. Obv: HER ETRVSCILLA AVG; bust of Herennia Etruscilla, diademed, draped, on crescent, r. Rev: PVDICITIA AVG; Pudicitia, draped, veiled, standing l., drawing veil with r. hand, holding sceptre in l. hand. 22mm, 4.13g. Ref: RIC IV Trajan Decius 58. Ex Frank S. Robinson, bargain list April 2020, lot 178. Otacilia Severa, Roman Empire, AE sestertius, 244–249 AD, Rome mint. Obv: MARCIA OTACIL SEVERA AVG; bust of Otacilia Severa, diademed, draped, r. Rev: PVDICITIA AVG; Pudicitia, draped, veiled, seated l., r. hand drawing veil and holding sceptre in l. hand; in exergue, SC. 31mm, 17.62g. Ref: RIC IV, Philip I 209.
