Magnificent and not-so-magnificent Mars

they write that it is not the god Mars, but "an astrological representation of the planet Mars." Many examples noted of manuscripts, metalworks and ceramics, have the same figure riding on a ram and they say that the ram is "simply a representation of the planet's day house, Aries." This idea of an astrological representation was first suggested in 1875 by Lane-Poole.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Mars? I have a few........

Mars walking, standing, or even flying.

Vitellius denarius, Mars, Concensus Exercituum. Tarraco or Lugdunum.
Somewhat corroded but a very dear coin to me as it was the first coin I found a very long time ago.


Lucius Verus Sestertius, Mars standing. Rome Mint.


Antoninus Pius Sestertius, Mars walking.

 

Antonius Pius AE As, Rome. Mars descending upon Rhea Silvia.




Marcus Aurelius denarius, Rome. Mars standing.

 

Hostilianus Antoninianus, Mars Propugnator, Rome.



Severus Alexander sestertius, Rome. Mars Ultor.

 

Crispus

 

I do agree @Roman Collector ... I have always noted that as you move later in the Empire, coin designs denigrate... just an opinion, but I am not a big fan of the Later Empire

I actually have a BUNCH of Mars coins... but here are a couple...


Roman Republic Anon AR Didrachm 280-275 Mars-Horse FIRST Silver coin that Rome minted.



Roman Republic Anon Ca 240 BCE AR Drachm 16mm 3.0g Rome Helmet Hd Mars r - Horse’s hd sickle Craw 25/2 Syd 25 RSC 34a Rare


Roman Republic Anon AE Litra 241-235 BC Mars Beardless Horse Head BRN Craw 25/3 Sear 594


Roman Republic Veturius 137 BCE AR Den Mars X Oath Scene pig Sear 111 Craw 234-1



Larinum Frentani 210-175 BCE AE Quincunx 22mm 9.8g Mars or Athena corinthian helmet- Galloping Horseman spear sheild tbolt 5 pellets NH Italy 625 BMC 2 SCARCE

 

My favorite Mars coin is a quite different example from the usual Emesa style of Septimius Severus.

 

i thought this was a mars reverse, but wasn't sure until another peep posted theirs on another thread of Caracalla..

 

Mars attacks !


Elagabalus, Denarius Rome mint, ca AD 218-219
IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right
MARS VICTOR, Mars advancing right
3.49 gr
Ref : Cohen # 109v, RCV # 7526, RIC # 123



Severus Alexander, Denarius Rome mint, AD 225
IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, Laureate and draped bust right
P M TRP IIII COS P P Mars advancing right, carrying spear and trophy
3.19 gr
Ref : RCV # 7898 (75), C # 260



Hostilian, Antoninianus Rome mint, AD 251. Issued as Caesar with Trajan Decius
C VALENS HOSTIL MES QUINTVS N C, radiate and draped bust right
MARTI PROPUGNATORI, Mars advancing right, holding spear and shield
2.74 gr
Ref : RCV # 9556, Cohen # 15, RIC # 177b



Claudius Gothicus, Antoninianus IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate and draped bust right
MARS VLTOR, Mars advancing right, holding spear and standard
3.49 gr
Ref : Cohen #160



Quintillus, Antoninianus Mediolanum mint, AD 270
IMP QUINTILL[VS AVG], radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
[M]ARTI PACI, Mars standing left, holding olive branch and spear
2.8 gr
Ref : RCV # 11447,



Constantine the Great, Follis Trier mint, 1st officina
IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust of Constantine right
MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI, Mars walking right, holding spear and shield. S A in field, PTR at exergue
7.40 gr, 26 mm
Ref : RC #3864, Cohen #368

Q

 

Constantine the Great - Follis
Obv:– IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG. Laureate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– MARTI CONSERVATORI. Helmeted bust of Mars facing right
Minted in Trier (unmarked). A.D. 310 - 313
Reference:– RIC VI Trier 881



Constantine the Great - Half Follis
Obv:– CONSTANTINVS AVG, Laureate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– MARTI CONSERV, Mars helmeted, in military dress, spread cloak, standing, right, holding reversed spear, left hand leaning on shield
Minted in Trier (// PTR). A.D. 310 - 311
Reference:– RIC VI Trier 897 (S)



Aurelian - Antoninianus
Obv:– IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
Rev:– MARS INVICTVS, Mars, naked, holding spear, standing right receiving globe from Sol, standing left holding whip in left hand
Minted in Cyzicus mint, 10th emission, officina 3; start to mid 275 CE. (G // XXI).
Reference:– RIC 357 Bust Type F. La Venera 10718. Estiot RIC temp #3076, citing 12 examples

 

Although Ares is the Greek counterpart to Mars, I did not realize they are viewed very differently. Ares was seen as destructive and destabilizing while Mars represented the power of the military to secure peace.


Thrace, Philippopolis. Domitian AE22. Ares
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIIII CENS PERP P, radiate head right.
Rev: ΦIΛIΠΠOΠOΛITΩN, Ares, in full armor, stg. l. with shield at his feet.

 

WOW!! So many wonderful posts!!!

 

I like base metals, so I have this one. Looks much more appealing in hand.


Vespasian, 69 – 79 AD
Æ Sestertius, Rome Mint, 33mm, 20.00 grams
Obverse: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG P M TR P P P COS III, Laureate head of Vespasian right.
Reverse: S C, Mars advancing right holding spear and trophy.
References:
RIC247

 

I thought I'd share one of 'Ares', a Didrachm of Bruttium--- and that peculiar Republican of Mars that I often post