Mars and his titles

Mars was most often regarded as the god of war. On coins he is usually portrayed in military dress with a helmet, shield, and spear. Legends often give him a title. This one has the legend MARTEM PROPVGNATORVM (Mars, the defender).


Trebonianus Gallus, 251-253
Struck 251 at Antioch
21-20 mm. 3.82 grams
IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS PF AVG
RIC 84
Sear 9637.

Mars comes with quite a few other titles. Can you show us one?

 

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How about Mars with no special titles? That's right, Trajan be like:"Yo Mars, get yourself on my coin, you've been paid! Don't you be asking for any special titles or anything like that. I won't take no lip from no "War God." I'm the freaking Imperial Spanish stud and that is how I roll!"

Yeah, Trajan was cool like that. True story.



TRAJAN (98-117 CE)
ROMAN EMPIRE
AR Denarius (2.30g., 18.73mm)
Rome Mint, (114-116 CE)
IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC; laureate, draped bust right.
PM TRP C-OS VI PP SPQR: Mars advancing right carrying spear and trophy.
Notes: Stuck on a broad flan.
RIC 337; RSC 270

 

QUINTILLUS
AE Follis
OBVERSE: IMP CM AVR CL QVINTILLVS AVG , radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: MARTI PACIL, Mars walking left, holding olive branch, reversed spear and shield. X in left field
Struck at Rome, 270 AD
2.8g, 19mm
RIC V-1 Rome 25 corr

PROBUS
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, radiate & cuirassed bust right.
REVERSE: MARS VICTOR, Mars advancing right, bearing trophy & spear. Mintmark III
Struck at Lugdunum, 277 AD
5.1g, 23mm
RIC 37, III

 

Gallienus (253 - 268 A.D.)
AR Antoninianus
O: GALLIENVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right.
R: DEO MARTI, Mars in temple.
Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint, 258-259 A.D.
21mm
3.45g
RIC 10

Reverse Die Clash


L. Valerius Flaccus, (108 - 107 B.C.)
AR Denarius
O: Winged and draped bust of Victory right, X below chin.
R: LVALERI / FLACCI (downwards on left), Mars walking left, spear in right, trophy in left over shoulder, apex left, head of grain behind.
Rome
20.0mm
3.89g
SRCV I 183, Sydenham 565, Crawford 306/1, RSC I Valeria 11

Mars and the apex recall that the moneyer's father held the office of Flamen Martialis. Crawford concludes the office of moneyer may have been consider a career substitute for aedileship and the grain on the reverse advertises the moneyer would have distributed grain had he been elected Aedile. -- Roman Republican Coinage by Michael H. Crawford

 

Opposite to war, Marti Pacifero preaches peace with an olive branch. Antioch mint- second edition,RIC 85.

 

How about this one with VIRTVTI EXERCITVS (To the Glory of the Army):

Roman Imperial: Maximinus II Daia (310-313) Æ Follis, Kyzikos (RIC-52)

Obv: GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB C; Laureate head right.
Rev: VIRTVTI EXERCITVS; Mars advancing right with spear and trophy over shoulder; Γ in field; MKV in exergue

 

Mars Pater - Septimius Severus Eastern


another Pater but from Rome


Mars Pacator Septimius Severus Rome

 

And MARS VLTOR (Mars the Avenger):

Roman Imperial: Severus Alexander (222-235) AR Denarius, Rome (RIC-246)

Obv: IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG; Laureate and draped bust right
Rev: MARS VLTOR; Mars advancing right, holding spear and shield

 

WOW, all those 'titles' seem to have already exhausted my limited supply...Are there others???

 

Well, there's also 'Droopy Drawers' Mars

 

Hmmm, I think someone needs diaper change.

 

And a type like the OP, but of Caracalla:

 

Gordian III AR Antoninianus. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, his radiate and cuirassed bust right / MARS PROPVG, Mars hastening right, holding shield & spear. RIC 145, RSC 155.

 

These two obverses are apparently Mars ...




Mars and Marvin have very similar helmets ... both are very cool



ummm, I think that's all I've got

 

Very nice. It stands for Mars Propugnatori (Mars the Defender or Champion)

 

thanks! did not know that one...

 

NP. The following book comes in handy when translating the Latin legends and it is free:

A Dictionary of Roman Coins, Republican and Imperial by Charles R. Smith

 

I have hundreds of Mars coins (just don't ask!). I could make this a VERY boring thread. I will add a couple and then back off to let others carry on a bit...

Probus
Obv:– IMP C PROBVS • P • F • AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust right
Rev:– MARTI VICTORI AVG, Mars standing left, holding laurel-branch and spear; to left behind him, shield
Minted in Lugdunum (II in exe) Emission 7, Officina 2. Summer A.D. 281
Reference:– Bastien 320 (5 examples cited). RIC 89 Bust type F

 

Probus
Obv:– PROBVS P F AVG, Radiate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– MARTI PACIF, Mars walking left, holding olive-branch, spear and shield. Billowing cloak behind shield
Minted in Rome (RQΓ in exe) Emission 7 Officina 3. A.D. 282
Reference(s) – RIC 177 Bust type F
Weight 4.22 gms
Size 23.22mm

Part of the AEQVITI series of Rome (Q)

 

A subtle difference in depictions here rather than title.

Vespasian denarius
Obv:- IMP CAES VESP AVG P M, Laureate head right
Rev:- TRI POT II COS III P P, Mars, helmeted, naked except for cloak round waist, advancing right, holding spear in right, and aquila over left shoulder
Minted in Rome January - June A.D. 71 (RIC II (New) dating)
Reference:- RIC II (New) 39 (Rated R). RIC II (Old) 38 corr. (Rated C) (doesn't mention aquila)