My first and only Deo Volkano coin: Volkano, or Vulcan as we call him, was the Roman god of fire; both, the constructive fire of the smithy, and the destructive fire of volcanoes. He was a early Roman deity who the Romans took over from the Etruscans. He is said to have been worshipped in Rome since the time of Romulus, or Titius Tatius. At that time, above the Comitium (from the verb coire, to assemble) on the area Volcani there was a Volkanal, where business of state between the two kings, Romulus and Tatius, and their councilors had been transacted for a while. Quoted from Rodolfo Langiani, “New Tales of Old Rome”, p. 13. Very few Roman coins show Vulcan, who is typically depicted wearing a pileus and holding attributes referring to the blacksmith's trade, such as a hammer and pincers. He appears on several coins of the Republic; however, by the Imperial period, he is scarcely represented on Roman coins. The antoniniani minted during the reign of Valerian and Gallienus is the last time the god Volkano appears on Roman imperial issues. This coin was one of small group of coins from 259-260 AD, issued in the names of the emperor Valerian, his son and co-ruler Gallienus, and Gallienus' wife Salonina. Antoninianus, Gallia Transalpina, Lugdunum 258 AD 3.78 g RIC V.1, 5, RSC 50.c; Kampmann 88.24; Sear 9934; MIR 36, 884d. According to Göbl/MIR36, the mint is Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne) mint, 2nd emission, 258 – 259 AD. Ob.: VALERIANVS PF AVG Radiate and cuirassed bust of Valerianus I to r. Border of dots. Rev.: DEO VOLKANO Vulcan, draped, standing to l. wearing pileus, in tetrastyle temple with triagonal pediment, holding hammer in r. hand and pincers in l. Anvil at feet. Border of dots. Please share you Vulcan coins or anything relevant you like to share
Fantastic coin cmezner, I have not seen to many of that type and yours is a beauty, great pick up. I have an early spanish Vulcan from the republican times. Spain, Malika Æ Half Unit. 2nd century BC. Head of Vulcan right, wearing conical cap; Neo-Punic MLK' and tongs to left / Tetrastyle temple with pellet in pediment. ACIP 794; SNG BM Spain 385. 3.46g, 17mm, 5h.
