Lucifer on the way...sort of (Julia Domna with Diana Lucifera reverse)

I've been looking for a real female portrait for my collection for a while. Sure, I have Roma on some of my coins, and also female goddesses, but I wanted a real living Roman princess or empress.

I've almost pulled the trigger several times over the last 4 months, but ultimately passes on several due to minor gripes (poor centering, weak strike, too much wear, ugly portrait, etc.)

Well, I finally found one that I could get behind. Look at that portrait of Julia Domna, and that nice reverse with Diana Lucifera. The tonning is the icing on the cake.

What do you guys think?

 

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That's a VERY lovely denarius of Julia Domna---far better than the two I have of her...and I love that reverse!!

 

The portrait looks like my M-I-L. All kidding aside, it's a very nice coin. Well struck good details remaining.

 

It's a nice example. Notice the scowl like her son, Caracalla?

Got over 44 of her as of now, but these are the ones I have taken pics of and kept. Rest is usually for trade or whatever else.


Julia Domna (194 - 217 A.D.)
AR Antoninianus
O: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, Diademed and draped bust right, resting on crescent.
R: VENVS GENETRIX, Venus seated left holding hand out, and scepter.
Rome
4.5g
23mm
RIC 388a, RSC 206a


Julia Domna (193 - 217 A.D.)
AR Denarius
IVLIA DOMNA AVG; Draped bust to right.
VESTA; Vesta seated left, holding palladium and scepter.
Rome Mint, 193 - 195 A.D.
3.3g
17mm
IC IV-1 Rome 538


Julia Domna (194 - 217 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right.
R: VENUS FELIX (Venus the Fortunate), Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple in right hand and drawing drapery from shoulder.
Rome Mint, 196 - 211 A.D.
3.4g
18mm
RIC IV 580, BMCRE V 85, RSC III 198


Julia Domna (194 - 217 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right.
R: CONCO-RDIA, Concordia seated left, patera in extended right, cornucopia in left.
Laodicea ad Mare (Latakia, Syria) mint, 196 - 202 A.D.
2.8g
19mm
RIC IV 637, Cohen 21

 

very nice!

 

JULIA DOMNA
Fouree Denarius
OBVERSE: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right
REVERSE: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing left, holding long torch with both hands
Struck at Rome, 211-217 AD Struck under Caracalla
3,1 g; 18,3 mm
RIC 373A [Caracalla]

And my favorite Julia Domna:


JULIA DOMNA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IVLIA DOMNA AVG, draped bust right
REVERSE: VENERI VICTR, Venus standing right, naked to waist, leaning on column to left, holding palm and apple
Struck at Rome, 194 AD
2.5g, 17mm
RIC 536

 

I think you bought yourself a nice coin .

For some reason I've picked up a couple of Domnas myself in the past few days. This is the one that came home with me last night.

 

That is a truly lovely coin. She looks so happy and innocent on your coin, while in mine she comes off as a serious, calculating, and dangerous woman. I also love that toning in yours too. The depiction of Pieta on the reverse is excellent.

 

Thanks. I was just baffled that nobody else cared to bid on it.

Julia Domna portraits come in a range of styles that vary greatly. Doug probably has a page of them somewhere...

 

Fabulous OP coin.
Mine is better in hand.

 

Great coins, everyone!

Julia Domna is a very interesting historical figure and I intend to eventually buy several of her Imperial issues.

In addition to many interesting reverse types, her portraits are particularly varied. In her youthful portraits, she has a small, sometimes slightly upturned nose. In later portraits she has a large hooked nose and looks severe.

The following coin recently came to auction and I almost bid on it just for the very unusual portrait. Look at her nose and lower face-- how unusual, not only for a Domna portrait but for any portrait of ancient times.

 

Nice coin and coins. With so many Julia Domna Denari coins, its ok to be picky. I also need to add some more Julia Domna coins to my collection.

 

That is a very nice Domna from the later period of mother. There is also a Diana Lucifera issue from the earlier period when Septimius still lived.
Rome mint


Laodicea mint

 

ok so heres my only Domna, so far...


Julia Domna Denarius. Rome mint: AD 198. IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right /
MATER DEVM, Cybele, towered, enthroned left between two lions, leaning on drum
and holding branch & scepter. RIC IV 564, RSC 123.
20.52mm 3.8g

 

Wow, Sallent that is a very slick OP-addition (congrats, lawyer)

Ummm, my only Julia-D example is this pretty antoninianus ...

 

Awesome coin Sallent. Another winner! The portrait has a very pleasant style.

 

I've always liked this version of Diana Lucifera. This one reminds me of what I imagine Lucifer might look like.

GALLIENUS
Billon Antoninianus
OBVERSE: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: LVNA LVCIF, Diana walking right holding torch in both hands, PXV in ex.
Struck at Antioch, 260-268 AD
3.8g, 20mm
RIC VI 609

 

My only Diana.


Lucilla (164 - 183 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, Draped bust right.
R: DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing left holding torch with both hands.
Rome
17.5mm
3.4g
RIC 762 RSC 14

 

You know, I don't focus on Imperial, and I don't have many Empresses... HOWEVER, somehow I have these Julia Domnas...


AR Denarius Vesta Palladium


AR Denarius VENER VICT Venus... hey, she's got As...


AR Denarius Felicitas Issus Horus


AR Denarius Vesta Palladium ... AGAIN!


AE As Hilaritas


Julia Domna...FOUREE!

This is all @Mat , @John Anthony , and @dougsmit 's collective fault for me having these...

 

The second Vesta Palladium looks like a Doug Smith image and it is a very nice coin. They all are for that matter.