New acquisition. Not rare, but beautiful condition with sharp dies both sides. Marcus Aurelius, with Salus feeding a serpent from a patera reverse. She's gonna fall off that sella.
Wow! If there were such as thing as a proof coin in ancient Rome, that would be it! No wonder the goddess is on the edge of her seat with excitement! I have a number of coins with SALVS or Hygeia on the reverse. This is one of my favorites: Maximinus I, AD 235-238. Roman Æ Sestertius, 26.7 mm, 18.01 gm. Rome, AD 236-238. Obv: MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: SALVS AVGVSTI SC, Salus enthroned left, feeding snake arising from altar. Refs: RIC-85; BMCRE-175, Sear-8338; Cohen-92.
Nice one! We usually see Salus appear to feed a snake from a patera, but on your coin she's holding what's typically described as a branch, poppy, or corn-ears. I've got the usual patera-holding Salus on this Caracalla denarius.
Mine's in lovely condition, but it has the most inept design. Celator didn't really understand what he was copying. Bing's Severus Alexander is a particularly impressive throne engraved in perspective.
Impressively sharp! Here is a Domitian Salus with snake that is not so sharp. Domitian as Caesar AR Denarius, 3.28g Rome Mint, 79 AD RIC V1084 (C2). BMC V265. RSC 384. Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS COS VI; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: PRINCEPS IVVENTVTIS; Salus, stg. r., resting on column, feeding snake out of patera
Let's make it a whole family of Antonine Salus reverse types: Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman AR denarius, 3.24 g, 18 mm. Rome, AD 161-175. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust, right. Rev: SALVS, Salus seated left, feeding from a patera a snake rising from an altar. Refs: RIC 714; BMCRE 147-150; RSC 195; RCV 5262; CRE 213. Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman AR denarius, 3.2 g, 18 mm. Rome, AD 161-175. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: SALVS, Salus standing left, feeding snake rising from an altar and holding scepter. Refs: RIC 715; BMCRE 141-145; RSC 197; RCV 5261; CRE 214. Lucilla, AD 164-169. Roman orichalcum dupondius, 11.49 g, 24.88 mm, 6:00. Rome, AD 166. Obv: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: SALVS SC, Salus standing left, feeding snake rising from an altar and holding scepter. Refs: RIC 1761; BMCRE 1186; Cohen 67; RCV 5521.
I love that Gordian III. Wonderful style on reverse. This thread has really inspired me to develop a sub-collection of Salus types.
Maybe dumb question. Why are they all feeding snakes on reverse. Also post 1 and 2 are great coins. Maximinus is one bad looking dude
Salus (the Goddess of general welfare) is the daughter of Aesculapius, the God of Healing, and snakes and him are associated with healing....hence why you see the snake in medical symbols today. One of Salus' duties was to take care of her dad's sacred snakes, hence why she is almost always seen feeding a snake.
@Sallent has provided a good answer to your question. You may also enjoy this thread about these snakes.
Wow, that is high grade all right!! A favourite Salus of mine, on a scarce middle bronze of Maximinus: But my absolute favourite Salus is on a beard. And on a different theme, here's an Aurelius from a couple years later. Sharp obverse die, nicely engraved:
Salus / Snakes: Roman Republic: Man Acilius Glabrio 49 BCE Salus Valetudo snake Craw 442-1a Roman Imperial: Hadrian 117-138 AR Denarius Salus stdg feeding Snake Roman Cartoon Era: RI Leo I 457-474 CE AE 4 10mm Salus Emp stdg hldg Globe and Standard
Some days I say 'cute little snake'. Other days I realize that a stack of dots is really about all you can expect on this scale so this is not really fine style. Some snakes have more head details than others. I have very few later period Rome mint Septimius coins but always liked this one. Sure it is only VF but you get points for 'cute snake' right???
That is a cute snake. I understand the small scale places limits on how much detail a sake may have, but I find Gordian III denarii have the most detailed snakes on their Salus reverses, complete with scales, and eyes, and some facial details. I'm in the market for a duplicate of the one I have, as I love that reverse so much that one is not enough.
