Julia Domna denarius pickup

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Gam3rBlake, Dec 5, 2021.

  1. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Today I won this denarius of Julia Donna and it’s my first denarius in MS condition. ^_^.

    I love that it has the Palladium on it.

    In Greek & Roman mythology the Palladium was a cult image of great antiquity on which the safety of Troy and later Rome was said to depend. A wooden statue (xoanon) of Pallas Athena that Odysseus and Diomedes stole from the citadel of Troy and which was later taken to the future site of Rome by Aeneas.

    Rome possessed an object regarded as the actual Palladium for several centuries; it was in the care of the Vestal Virgins nearly all this time.

    41845F8B-2F77-408A-9E82-899C6F54123C.jpeg
    48CC7428-8B77-428D-AEE5-5CC64C89FD88.jpeg

    Julia Domna (AD 193-217). AR denarius (19mm, 3.07 gm, 6h). NGC MS 4/5 - 4/5. Rome, AD 211-217. IVLIA PIA-FELIX AVG, draped bust of Julia Domna right, seen from front, wearing helmet-like wig of plaits with large chignon at back of head, a single lock of her own hair across cheek / VE-S-TA, Vesta standing facing, veiled head left, palladium in right hand, scepter in left. RIC IV.I (Caracalla) 390. Lustrous toned flan.

    From the Ed's Treasures Collection
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2021
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  3. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Here's my version of the coin:

    Domna VESTA standing with Palladium and scepter denarius.jpg
    Some other interesting Domna Vesta types:

    Domna VESTA seated with Victory and scepter denarius.jpg
    JULIA DOMNA, AD 193-217.
    Roman AR Denarius, 3.66 g, 18.2 mm, 1 h.
    Rome mint, AD 195.
    Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right.
    Rev: VESTA, Vesta seated left, holding palladium in right hand, transverse scepter in left.
    Refs: RIC 582; BMCRE --; Cohen 223 var. (aureus); RCV --; Hill 187; CRE 415.
    Notes: Ex-Perron collection 1960; ex-A.K. collection; ex-CNG lot #614, Triton XX.

    This one is actually very rare. See if you can spot what distinguishes it from the example above:

    Domna VESTA seated without scepter denarius.jpg
    JULIA DOMNA, AD 193-217.
    Roman AR Denarius, 2.23 g, 16.8 mm, 1 h.
    Rome mint, AD 195.
    Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right.
    Rev: VESTA, Vesta seated left, holding palladium.
    Refs: RIC --; BMCRE 93; RSC --; RCV --; Hill 188; CRE --.

    Another similar one. What's different about it?

    Domna VESTA seated with Palladium and scepter denarius.jpg
     
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  4. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Nice!

    It’s hard for me to tell the differences between some because some of the details are worn down.
     
  5. happy_collector

    happy_collector Well-Known Member

    Nice pickup, @Gam3rBlake. Great portrait of Julia Domna. :)
     
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  6. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Thanks! :)

    She looks kind of pissed off LOL.
     
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  7. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Oh wait I think I got it!

    Is it the staff in the left hand present in two of them but not in the middle one?
     
  8. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Yes.

    Now also look at the obverse legends.
     
  9. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    another Julia Domna Vesta:

    P1160287cleaned (2).jpg
     
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  10. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

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  11. Numisnewbiest

    Numisnewbiest Well-Known Member

    I have the same coin, too, but it's certainly not "mint state"...still very pleasing, and I love the portrait - I really think this is how she would've looked in the last couple years of her life, when this coin was minted.

    JuliaDomna.png
     
  12. Deacon Ray

    Deacon Ray Artist & Historian Supporter

    Great addition to your collection, @Gam3rBlake . I have three Julia Domna denarii but none with Vesta on the reverse. I purchased these because I liked the portraits.

    JD1.jpg
    JD2.jpg
    JD3.jpg

     
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  13. savitale

    savitale Well-Known Member

    Great coin! Personally I think she needs a new stylist though ...
     
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  14. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I just saw this, and think it's a wonderful coin. The Palladium does make it special.
     
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  15. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Yesss!!

    I love the Palladium because in mythology it came from Troy after the Trojan War which is such a legendary event even if it wasn’t exactly as Homer wrote in the Iliad.

    I’m sure it was based on or inspired by an actual historical event.

    But still the Trojan War influenced the Greek world for centuries. Alexander the Great modeled himself after Achilles.

    So for this coin to have the Palladium on it gives me a sort of emotional connection to the Trojan War.

    As I’m sure the original intention of putting it on the coin was. :)
     
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