Oh, the Roman senate. Bunch of blue blooded, rich, power hungry, advice giving snobs. As you all are familiar with the Roman senate personified on coins. I wanted to run this by you. The Roman's where kind of big on personifications. They personified places, God's, you name it. Heck they kinda did the personification of Roma to death on their Republic coinage. Don't get mad. Just saying. So when I saw this interesting little personification that gave the distinct impression of a Flavian empress I had to have it. But I am left with many questions and would love your feedback and opinions. What Flavian woman is being portrayed? Or does the senate just change with the modern hairstyles? I only have one other personified senate from the provinces. Are there more? Is the senate androgynous? Lydia, Apollonis Æ16Pseudo-autonomous issue, time of Titus to Domitian, circa AD 79-96. ΘEON CVN[KΛHTON], draped female bust of the Senate right, with the features of Julia Titi or Domitia(?) / AΠΟΛΛΩ[ΝΙΔEΩΝ], tripod. RPC II 950; SNG von Aulock 2900; SNG Copenhagen 21; BMC 17-8. 2.51, 16MM, 12h. Sadly I only have 1 of the 3 Flavian ladies: Julia Titi (Daughter of Titus)AE DupondiusEmpress. 10.76 grams 27mmRome AD 279-80Obv IVLIA IMP T AVG F AVGVSTADraped bust of Julia right hair in bunRv CERES AVGVST S CCeres standing left holding corn ears and long torchSear 2615 RIC Titus 177 Former: fvrisus.rvfvs Post those Tities, Domitias, Domitilas, Flavian gals, personifications or whatever you feel!
Interesting topic, @Ryro. On this one below, I think Senate has more than a passing resemblance to A-Pi. PHRYGIA, Synnada Pseudo-autonomous issue Rare. AE27. 9.79g, 26.8mm. PHRYGIA, Synnada, time of Antoninus Pius, circa AD 138-161. Kla. Attalos, Prytanis. RPC Online Temp #2223 (4 spec.); BMC 17. O: IЄPA CVN-KΛHTOC, Draped bust of Senate left. R: ЄΠI ΠPVTANЄΩC KΛA ATTAΛOV CVNNAΔЄΩN, Athena standing left, holding patera, resting arm on shield with spear beside her.
On this coin, the senate is personified as a young man. The style of the portrait reminds me of the (rather androgynous) depictions of Apollo on other Greek and Roman Provincial coins. Mysia, Pergamon, pseudo-autonomous issue, AE18, ca. 40–60AD. Obv: ΘЄΩΝ ϹVNKΛHTON, draped bust of the Senate r. Rev: ΘЄAN PΩMHN, turreted bust of Roma r. 18mm, 2.83g. Ref: SNG France 1964 ff.; RPC 2374.
Yesterday a comparable coin came in, that I bought because of Apollo's spiky hair. But yes, an androgynous young man personifying the Senate on the other side. AE Lydia, Apollonis. Pseudo-autonomous issue circa 100-150 AD. IEΡA CYNKΛHTOC, draped bust of the Senate right. AΠOΛΛΩNIΔE, head of Apollo right. 25 mm, 2.25 gr.
Here's one that I wish I knew more about. I've seen at least two other similarly defaced examples. Mysia, Pergamum. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Defaced. MYSIA, Pergamum. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Circa AD 40-60. Æ 20mm, 3.4g O: Turreted and draped bust of Roma right; ΘЄAN PΩMHN. / Draped bust of Senate right; ΘЄΩΝ ϹVNKΛHTON - RPC I 2374; SNG France 1964-71.
The Senate has wild, unkempt hair on this issue from Smyrna, struck during the time of Commodus. Time of Commodus Quasi-autonomous AE 26.1 mm, 8.01 g, 5 h Ionia, Smyrna, Strategos Kl. Stratoneikianos, AD 182-184 Obv: ΙЄΡΑ ϹVΝ [ΚΛΗΤΟϹ], draped bust of Senate, right Rev: CΤΡ•CΤΡΑΤΟΝЄΚ[ΙΑΝΟV СΜVΡΝΑΙΩΝ], Winged Nemesis of Smyrna, advancing right, plucking chiton and holding bridle Refs: RPC IV 278 (temp); Klose XV B a; SNG Cop. 1304. I wish it showed more portrait detail, but these coins are found well-worn and even the plate coins to SNG Copenhagen ... ... and RPC ... ... are so worn as to obscure the Senate's portrait detail.
Here the Senate is depicted as a tall and handsome man with a feminine streak in the lips and hair. But probably the Greeks and Romans didn't see it our way, it probably was just as logical as the sand you walked on. AE23 Traianus 98-117. Phrygia, Grimenothyrae. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Loukios Tullios Per., epimeletes. Obv: ΙЄΡΑСΥΝΚΛΗΤΟС. Bareheaded and draped bust of the Senate right. Rev: ЄΠΙΜΤΥΛΛΙΓΡΙΜЄΝΟΘΥΡЄΩN. Mên standing left, holding pine cone and sceptre. 23 mm, 6.15 gr.
One of my recent acquistions, an AR Denarius of Octavian depicting the Curia Julia, a new Roman Senate House, that was constructed in Rome under Caesar and Octavian. It was completed circa 29 BCE. The base structure, without the colonnade and rooftop statues, still stands in Rome today. Rome. The Imperators. Octavian, 44-27 BCE. AR Denarius (3.92g; 20mm). Italian Mint, Summer 30-29 BCE. Obverse: Octavian’s bare head, facing right. Reverse: Roman Senate House; IMP CAESAR on architrave. References: RIC 266; HCRI 421; BMCRR 4358; Julia 161. Provenance: Ex Heritage Auction 3063 (16 Jan 2018) Lot 33381; Spink Num. Circ. Vol LXXVIII, No. 6 (June 1970), inv. #6871, pl. 11.
Not provincial, and not pretty, but here is an Antoninus Pius denarius with the Genius of the Senate on the reverse: Antoninus Pius Denarius (c. 140-143 A.D.) Rome Mint ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TR P COS III, bare head right / GENIO SENATVS, Genius of the Senate standing left, holding branch and rod. RIC 61a; RSC 398. (2.68 grams / 18 mm)
I have this popular version as well... HERMOCAPELIA, LYDIA: TIME OF HADRIAN 117-138 AD O: Bust of Senate. R: Turreted head of Roma. SNG Cop 165. 17 mm, 2.5 g
I've always found this coin interesting. Senate is most often depicted androgynously but on this type is clearly a woman. The hair style is really what sets it apart and is quite distinct. I have always felt it represents an actual individual, and comparing it to other coinage portraits I feel it should be attributed to Domitia or Julia Titi. My example is below:
Wow! Thanks everyone. Not only did I get many of my questions answered I got to see some wonderful coins. Is the senate androgynous? You bet your sweet Bowie/Annie Lenox loving keister! Are there more versions of these? Yup. Thanks to my CT buddies I've plenty examples above. Does the senate change hairstyles with the times? Does the pope wear a funny hat and poop in the woods And the last question (which was my first), which Flavian woman is being portrayed? Thanks for the excellent example and wonderful Flavian hair @Ken Dorney! If you had to pick one, which do you think? When creating this thread I had forgotten that I have a provincial Domitia: Between my 2 examples. I'm leaning towards Domitia. But have seen plenty of Tities with the same hair. Making it seem that this is one mystery that will remain. And a new mystery has presented itself with @Nemo's coin which is defaced on both sides. Can you damnatio a personification...and if so, what's the point??
