I have these two sestertius of Severus Alexander and have questions about the portrayal of these two. RIC 549, legend is ANNONA AVGVSTI, with what is the normal imagery of a grain of corn over a modius with a rudder: Then RIC 642, legend is PROVIDENTIA AVG, but the imagery looks like Annona with a grain of corn over a modius and holding a cornucopia. My copy of ERIC II lists the reverse type of both coins as Annona, but the CNG auction I bought the second coin from listed Providentia as the type. Now, my understanding is the common Providentia reverse has a rod over a globe. Is there a definitive answer as to the goddess portrayed on the second coin? One more question, the dating in ERIC II on the first coin is 222-231 while on the second coin it's 231-235. Is this sole based on the legend, IMP SEV ALEXANDER AVG versus IMP ALEXANDER PIUS AVG, because neither coin has any clear dating reference I know of.
You've asked some good questions. First, it has to be understood that Annona and Providentia are allegorical deities. That is, they are personifications of ideals, much like our representations of Liberty and Justice. They do not have narratives like the various Greek gods appropriated by the Romans. They are, in a sense, somewhat artificial. Annona, for instance, was a creation of Imperial religious propaganda. Annona is frequently seen with grain ears, a modius, cornucopia, and sometimes a rudder and/or prow. Why a rudder and/or prow? Because among other things, she represented the transport of grain by sea into Rome. So now you can see why RIC would call the figure on the second coin Annona despite the inscription PROVIDENTIA. The inscription declares the foresight of the emperor while the figure represents the specifics, in this case, feeding the populace. I'll have to return to this post a bit later...tbc
Thanks John, that makes a lot of sense and helps clarify some of what I have been reading online. On the dating of the coins, it appears both legends have reverse types with more specific dating to those ranges. Did anything happen during his reign in 231 that would account for the change of obverse legend? Another question, what does the rod over the globe for Providentia represent?
Anyway, back to my post: as you've stated, the personification Providentia is frequently portrayed with a baton and globe, or at least holding a globe. It would be nice and clean if every reverse that had the inscription PROVIDENTIA showed a figure with baton and globe, but this is not the case. In fact, during the Severan dynasty, the inscription PROVIDENTIA is combined with the figure of Annona more often than with the figure of Providentia. This is not conversely true of coins with the reverse legend ANNONA, however. To my knowledge, the personification Providentia never appears on reverse types inscribed ANNONA. Therefore, I conclude that coins inscribed ANNONA refer specifically to the figure on the coin, whereas coins marked PROVIDENTIA refer to the figure on the coin when the figure is actually Providentia, but to the foresight of the emperor when the figure is Annona. As to how we categorize the reverse types, I think it's easiest to go by the inscriptions, so we can call coins Annona and Providentia types by their legends, regardless which personification appears on the Providentia types. Does any of that make sense? This is all off-the-cuff.
Yes, makes sense and is very informative, thanks for taking the time. As to how to classify the coins I may disagree with you, I need to think more about it. My personal preference would be to have an actual Providentia figure with rod and globe for the type, instead of this hybrid Providentia legend portraying Annona. Although I guess this just means I need one more Severus coin for my set, which on second thought doesn't bother me at all!!!
The baton is a symbol of royalty and power, the globe is the world. It signifies the emperor's rule over the world.
And don't forget the dated types, either. Here is a denarius that is no longer in my collection, Elagabalus. I call this Laid-Back Providence, as she's leaning on a column. Late Severan Dynasty coins generally have wonderful artistry, excellent craftsmanship, and they're abundant. I think everybody should own a few dozen.
Same here, but who is Annona and who is Providentia? And just what do they represent? Just jokes my coin friends. Just jokes. Good explanation JA
Sometimes people get caught up in the inscriptions rather than the iconography and the overall message. Both of these representations are Annona. One specifically spelled out, but the other with the legend "PROVIDENTIA". The first is a specific message, the second perhaps a bit more difficult to understand to our modern English speaking minds. However, it is fortunate (Latin again) that Providentia (or providence) has roughly the same meaning now as then. In this case, the concept of providence is being conveyed as Annona. Not surprising as all great cultures only exist as long as they can eat and their stomachs are full.
My favorite Annona. She's got it all--a modius stuffed with grain, grain in her hand, a cornucopiae, and a ship to carry it all across the sea to Rome! Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161 Roman orichalcum sestertius; 23.16 g, 29 mm Rome, AD 142 Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, laureate head right. Rev: ANNONA AVG S C, Annona standing right, between modius and prow, holding corn ears and out-turned cornucopiae Refs: RIC 597; BMCRE 1228; Cohen 37; RCV 4147; UCR 502.
Here's Annona with the Providentia legend, obverse legend IMP ALEXAN_DER PIVS AVG, issued 231-2. Her hand is resting on an anchor rather than a rudder. Thanks for the explanation, @John Anthony! Denarius (RIC 252) sestertius (RIC 645) AE as (RIC 647)
