Hello Everybody, I just picked up this fantastic Republican denarius (minted by M. Volteius in 78 B.C.) that depicts Jupiter on the obverse and, much more importantly, the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the reverse. Here it is: Roman Republic, 78 B.C. Marcus Volteius Obv: Laureate Jupiter facing right Rev: Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Legend "M - VOLTEI M F" The temple, which is depicted with 4 columns (in reality, it had 6; this was an act of artistic shorthand by the moneyer) was constructed during the late Roman Kingdom and early Republic by Tarquinius Superbus, the last Roman King (he started the project). It sat atop of the Capitoline Hill, and housed shrines to Jupiter, Minerva, and Juno. Unfortunately, the original temple was lost to a fire during the early 1st century B.C, however it was rebuilt. Historians today know about the design of the original temple based off of a few fragmentary historical texts as well as coins such as the one above! This is my favorite temple coin in my collection; feel free to share any of yours (make sure to include some history as well )!
The temple of Venus and Roma, which was built during the reign of Hadrian, was damaged by fire in A.D. 307 and restored by Maxentius. A large series of coins with the reverse legend CONSERV VRB SVAE (Defender of his city) feature the temple. Maxentius A.D. 307- 308 25mm 6.1g IMP MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. CONSERV VRB SVAE; Roma seated in hexastyle temple holding globe & sceptre; Sol holding globe flanked by river gods [?] in pediment; Victories with garlands as acroteria; H in left field. In ex. RP RIC VI Rome 204 Workshop not in RIC All the mints under control of Maxentius issued these; but Carthage changed it up a little by replacing Roma with Carthage. Constantine I A.D. 307 26mm 6.9g CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate head right CONSERVATORES KART SVAE; Carthage standing facing, head left, holding fruits in both hands, within hexastyle temple with plain pediment. In ex. PKΔ RIC VI Carthage 61 You can still visit what is left of the temple.
This is supposed to be the Eastern-most temple in the Roman Empire, being in Mesopotamia: RI Philip II 244-249 sinister left Nisibis Mesopotamia-farthest EAST Temple Tyche river god Mygdonius -
VOLUSIAN AE30 OBVERSE: AVTOK K G AFIN GAL OVEND OVOLOCCIANOC CEB, radiate and draped bust right REVERSE: ANTIOXEWN MHTRO KOLWN D-e, SC below, Tyche seated facing within tetrastyle temple, the river-god Orontes swimming beneath her, ram leaping right above Struck at Syria-Antioch, 251-253 AD 17.1g, 30mm SNGCop 295
Great catch! I love coins with architecture, including temples. The sestertius of Trajan shows the grand entrance to the Capitoline constructed during his reign. On better examples of this type you can clearly see the details on each panel. Mine is a budget example.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garni_Temple I don't know whether or not it is depicted on any ancient coins.
Hi All, I posted mine a while back. See https://www.cointalk.com/threads/my-first-temple-coin.370730/#post-5159959 - Broucheion
