Happy Lupercalia! Lupercalia was a Roman holiday spanning February 13th to 15th where two powerful families (the Fabia and Quinctia) gathered at the Lupercal cave (where Romulus and Remus were raised by the She-Wolf, hence the holidays name). They sacrificed goats and a dog, fashioned loin clothes and “whips” out of the resulting leather, and ran the streets, near naked (maybe even fully naked), whipping people. It must have been quite the sight! Being whipped was desirable as it was said to help childbirth and fertility. Plutarch says: “Many of the noble youths and of the magistrates run up and down through the city naked, for sport and laughter striking those they meet with shaggy thongs. And many women of rank also purposely get in their way, and like children at school present their hands to be struck, believing that the pregnant will thus be helped in delivery, and the barren to pregnancy.” - Found on Wikipedia An interesting fact, this holiday was also where Mark Antony presented Caesar with a diadem near the end of his life. In honor of the holiday, here are some of my coins containing wolves. Constantine the Great 330-335 AD O: Helmeted bust of Roma left, URBS ROMA R: She Wolf with Romulus and Remus, Two stars above with 3 dots in between Trajan 98-117 AD Quadrans O: Trajan Bust Right, IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG R: She-wolf crouching right, SC in exergue Feel free to post your coins containing wolves!
