One of my most recent acquisitions is Julia Soaemias, mother of whom I like to call "Caligula II": Elagabalus. She was nearly as hated as her son and was killed along with him. Don't think I've seen Cupid on a Roman coin until I found this one. Julia Soaemias AR Denarius Obv: IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG, draped bust right Rev: VENVS CAELESTIS, Venus seated left, holding scepter, extending her hand to Cupid standing before her Rome mint, struck 220 AD RIC 243 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Soaemias (seller's photos)
Interesting Coin... I haven't seen many Cupid references before on coins, which makes me wonder if Cupid was worshiped as much as I have read about.
Nice, dont see her posted here too often. Mine: Julia Soaemias (218-222 A.D.) AR Denarius O: IVLIA SOAEMIAS AVG Draped bust right. R: VENVS CAELESTIS Venus diademed seated left on throne, apple in right, scepter in left, child at her feet. SRCV 7720 RIC 243 RSC 14 3.6g 19.6mm
The scarcest reverse type too. Its one I would love to own. But few come to market and when they do they are expensive. There is one on ebay now but its too rough. I also like how this reverses all have a older looking bust type too.
Thanks guys and nice coins posted! If anyone else has Julia Soaemias coins, feel free to post them here
Frank Robinson 1999 $79. I suppose that would double today? I observe that in many cases where the obverse is considered desirable, the scarcer reverses don't sell for as much more as one might think. With a common obverse (Domna, Maesa) there will be more difference for a rarity while spending really big on Soaemias means you are going for a quinarius or, at least an antoninianus. Trivia: what explains a denarius of Soaemias selling for over $10,000? Answer: It was overstruck with a Regalianus: http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=428343 Try to imaging having a kid like E and you will understand why her late coins look old. This was struck about the time she probably realized that her mother was about to change grandsons and there was nothing she could do to survive it.
Now I read that Juno was an early type for her so the old portrait might be from the cutter not knowing what she looked like quite yet. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=50568.5;wap2
Cool links and I didnt know it was an earlier type too. Still its one I would like to have but the one on ebay is just too rough. Barely 2g in weight and real bad surfaces.
