I love Antonine women on coins; I actively collect Faustina I and II, Lucilla and Crispina. I got this one from Frank's latest auction. The coin depicts Juno Lucina, the "bringer of light," the goddess who helped newborn children see the light of day and is especially associated with childbirth in the Imperial family. As the goddess of childbirth, Juno Lucina is typically portrayed with or holding children. A variety of objects may accompany her, such as a patera and scepter -- attributes of Juno -- or more frequently, a flower, as is the case with this coin. The flower recalls the circumstances by which Juno conceived Mars. Ovid relates the story that Juno, angry that her husband Jupiter had given birth to Minerva on his own, decided to do the same thing herself and become pregnant without her husband. She consulted with the goddess Flora, who touched Juno with a flower from the fields of Olenus. Juno thus conceived and gave birth to Mars. Juno Lucina appears seated and standing on many coins of Lucilla, including denarii, sesterii and dupondii/asses, although none of Lucilla's children appear on coins because she was banished to the Isle of Capri and executed by her brother Commodus and thus fell into disrepute. Juno Lucina appears also on the coinage of Lucilla's mother, Faustina II, and her sister-in-law, Crispina. Post anything you feel is relevant! Lucilla, AD 164-169 Roman AR denarius; 3.42 g, 18.1 mm, 1 h Rome, AD 166 Obv: LVCILLA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right Rev: IVNONI LVCINAE, Juno enthroned left, holding flower and child wrapped in swaddling clothes Refs: RIC 770; BMCRE 339; Cohen 41; RCV 5486; MIR 34; CRE 252.
One of these days I need to give the FSR auction format another try. Everyone here seems to enjoy them so much. Nice new lady, RC! I don't have a ton of Imperial women but Lucilla is among them. The portrait thoroughly enchanted me, as did the appropriately modest (and artistic) portrayal of Pudicitia Lucilla Empress CE 163-169, wife of Lucius Verus AR denarius, 19 mm, 3.25 gm Obv: LVCILLA AVGVSTA; draped bust right Rev: PVDICITIA; Pudicitia, veiled, standing left, with right hand preparing to draw a veil across her face (or had she just drawn the veil off her face?), left hand at side Ref: RIC III 780
Let me add my best Lucilla denarius, with the Venus standing reverse, and with yet another different hairstyle (RIC III 784).
very nice portrait coin of her. i would guess that she was a very pretty lady, held in high esteem by the celators.
Gorgeous Denarius @Roman Collector ! I have one of these too. RI Lucilla AR denarius Juno seated flower child in swaddling clothes Seaby 36
