A interesting theme, the founding of the city of Rome and eventually the Roman Empire did start here. So according to the legend this is the source, the whole thing started here with the vendetta between those Geminis and the upbringing by a She-wolf. Obv. IMP C M OPELIOS SEVER MACRINVS Rev. C G I H / PAR Love the story and this large Sestertius made out of Orichalcum as well (nearly 32 mm). Did not find a second example of this coin in this condition and not even one close, checking the registers do I get the impression that this Sestertius minted from Mysia - Parium is rare, found one identical coin of the same dies. There are other and more breathtaking coins with this theme as well (for example the Antonius Pius Sestertius, Hadrian Aureus), what is your favorite Romulus & Remus coin?
Imagine if Remus had survived out of the two twins, the Reman empire, the Reman numerals, Remance languages and so on!
Sex. Pompeius Fostlus. (137 B.C.) AR Denarius O: Helmeted head of Roma right; jug behind. R: The shepard Faustulus discovering the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus; three birds in branches of fig tree behind. Rome 19mm 3.6g Sear 112; Crawford 235/1c; Sydenham 461a; Pompeia 1a.
2 of the VRBS ROMA from my collection, one being a very interesting unofficial imitation Same image on a banknote from Romania - 5.000.000 Lei from 1947
SHE-WOLF RR Anon AE Sextans 217-215 BCE She-Wolf Twins Eagle Syd 95 Cr 39-3 S 609 Scarce SHE-WOLF (on my desk)
She-Wolf...hmm,...couldn't they just say "wolf" & we could infer which kind? And maybe the wolf identifies as "gender neutral" (I don't know what the current term for that is...) & would object to being called "she"...
Nice paper press over there, it's a very appealing theme. Good example of the anonymous sextans, it's certainly scarce!
Want to say thank you for sharing all these She-wolf Gemini coins, in ancient times did they find them certainly a very fascinating theme as well. There are just so many varieties: Provincial, Republican, Imperial Sestertius, Imperial aureus, Celtic / barbarous, autonomous reigns, recent ages medaillon's, etc.
Another Pius with laureate head, and on reverse she-wolf standing right within cave, suckling twins Remus and Romulus. VRBS ROMA - Thessalonica VRBS ROMA - Heraclea
More and more attractive coins are being placed here, hope that a proud owner of a Aureus is watching as well, there are some astonishing examples in gold or maybe another (secretly hidden) exemplar of my Sestertius minted in Mysia - Parium as well? Personally do I find the following Sestertius very appealing, a Antonius Pius and the used material is Orichalcum as well. Not in collection (not yet).
A photo I took in Rome in 2008: Anonymous, Roma w/wolf & twins (Crawford 287/1) Philip I wolf & twins Constantine I, VRBS ROMA:
I was lucky enough to go to Rome on a family jaunt many years ago. I was 9 the first time we travelled through Germany, France, and Italy. I walked in the fountain used for the movie "Three Coins in a Fountain" which was also a song. My father had to do some quick talking to keep me out of some type of detention program. They didn't and probably still don't like Americans that think they own everything. I was 9 years old. I saw the statue of Romulas and Remis. We went down in the catacombs. My sister dared me to stick my arm in one of the openings that were used for burial. I went up the Tower of Pisa. (This was 1856) We were able to walk on the outside walkway then. Boy, did I have a ball. We travelled in a 1950 Studebaker Commander 4 Door Sedan. We went on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea. We were quickly rushed off the beach when my father found out it was a topless beach. I was too young to understand what the hubbub was about. There were so U.S. Navy ships off the coast. I'm sure they were getting an eye full. Anyway, Italy is my favorite country aside from the U.S. We went to a museum and saw many things that I was too young to appreciate. Thank you for your coins. They brought back many special memories.