I can not find an explanation for this. If what little I have found is correct, when the coinage or reliefs show the emperor with someone behind them holding a wreath over their head it was symbolic of the gods bestowing authority to the emperor. I can not confirm this but its what some have told me. Any confirmation or correct explanation would be greatly helpful.
Victory, or Nike, was the Greco-Roman goddess of victory, and is very often depicted as being in the act of crowning the conquering general/emperor with a wreath, honoring his victories in war.
GORDIAN III, AD 238-244 AE As (25.10mm, 8.47g, 12h) Struck AD 242/3. Rome mint Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate and draped bust of Gordian III right Reverse: VIRTVS AVGVSTI, Gordian, in military attire, seated left on cuirass, holding spear, crowned by Victory standing left behind him and receiving branch from Mars or Virtus standing right before; two standards in background, S C in exergue References: OCRE IV 326, RCV 8809 A very rare type, possibly commemorating Gordian's successful campaign against the Sassanid empire and the defeat of Shapur I at the Battle of Resaena in 243.
…or later in the empire, sometimes it was still Victory crowning people (as in the reverse on the first coin of Arcadius) but sometimes it was the big G him/herself (as on the obverse of the second coin with the hand of God coming down to bestow a diadem).
VICTORY/NIKE CROWNS... ... Elagabalus while he steps on bound captives (Dacians, most likely): ... Jovian while he helpfully holds her up: ... or trophies (with captives tied to them): ... the winning horse: .... Dolphinboy: ... the name Lysimachos! BUT WHAT IF THERE'S NO ONE & NOTHING TO CROWN?! Victory/Nike flies around looking for anywhere to hang her wreath... To the right... To the left ... apparently even when pregnant! SOMEONE MUST TAKE THE WREATH!!
Similar but not Nike- this is Orient! Roman Empire Valerian I (AD 253–260) Samosata, Turkey (Submerged by the Ataturk dam. AD 1992) AR Antoninianus (s. AD 255/6) 22 mm x 4.22 grams. Obverse:Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG Reverse.The Orient standing right, presenting wreath to Valerian, standing left and holding scepter. RESTITVT ORIENTIS Reference: RIC 287. C. 189. Note: Dark toned. Nice portrait.
"Victory" has been a coin that has been in my mind since the last couple threads this year. I really couldn't pass this one up. This one in no reflection really take up the AE antoninianus appearance. Maximianus AE Aantoninianus (292-295) IMP CMA MAXIMIANUS AVG Maximianus facing right. CONCORDIA MILITUM Jupiter present Victory to Maximianus with E mint mark, XXI in excurge. I can't find this attribution, any help?
I will look it up a little later. Thanks The dealer had it labeled as RIC 595 and I couldn't find it.
