There are two reverse varieties of this denarius of Julia Maesa, one with the star in the field at right (RIC 271) and one with the star in the field at left (RIC 272). Anyone know the significance of this? They are supposedly (RIC doesn't indicate otherwise) both from the Rome mint, so I don't think they are mint marks. @dougsmit -- do you know? And if they are officina marks, why don't other denarii of Maesa have them?
And we see the same thing on this denarius of her daughter, Julia Soaemias, but with Venus standing, not Felicitas.
Interesting @Roman Collector ... I really do not collect these, but you had me searching mine! STAR: RI Julia Soaemias 218-222 CE AR Den Venus Caelestis star RIC IV 241 NO STAR: RI Julia Maesa AR Denarius Pudicitia 3.1g 19mm Sear 2183
Yes! For the Aquilia Severa issues, anyway. According to RIC (which, I know, is not the be-all and end-all), the star on the Julia Paula is only on this issue and only in the left field (RIC 311): But this one of Julia Aquila Severa has varieties with star in left field (RIC 225--my example below), star in right field (RIC 226), and without star (RIC 227):
I am sure there is meaning the the presence or lack thereof of a star, but as to placement in the right vs. left field, I wonder if perhaps a star isn't just a star?