A Pax on Your Coin

My latest arrival is not a beauty, nor a rarity. It's just an average, ordinary middle bronze struck by a dynasty striving to promote the 'business as usual' message.

Domitian as Caesar
Æ As, 11.05g
Rome mint, 73-74 AD (Vespasian)
RIC 669 (C). BMC - . BNF 699.
Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: PAX AVGVST; S C in field; Pax stg. l., leaning on column, with caduceus and branch
Acquired from Musa Numismatics, August 2019.

The propaganda value of Pax for the Flavian dynasty after the Civil War, the revolt of Civilis, and the Jewish War cannot be underestimated. In her various guises she is one of the most popular types on Vespasian's coinage and shows up quite frequently during the reign on the coins struck for both himself and his sons. This As struck for Domitian as Caesar shows Pax leaning on a column, which likely copies a well known cult image of the goddess.

Tellingly, less than 10 years later, Pax would not feature so prominently on Domitian's own coinage as Emperor.

Post your Pax coins!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Gotta love the Roman propaganda. Not much changed over the centuries.

Constantine I
Rome mint
312/313 AD
AE Half Follis
Obvs: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Revs: PACI PERPET, Pax standing left, holding olive branch and signum. XII to left, RS in ex.
17mm, 2.05g
RIC VI 356

 

Vespasian, Æ Dupondius
Gallia, Lugdunum, 71 AD
28 mm, 12.95 g
Ref.:RIC² Vespasianus 1143; Cohen 300;

Ob.: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III Radiate head right; globe at point of neck
Rev.: PAX AVG, Pax draped, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over lighted altar left, holding caduceus and branch in left hand; S C across field

​

 

A couple of PAX ones of Trebonianus Gallus, celebrating the peace he made with the Goths by paying them an exorbitant amount of money:


Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
Roman AR antoninianus, 3.90 g, 21.4 mm, 7 h.
Mediolanum, 2nd emission, AD 252-253.
Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: PAX AETERNA, Pax standing left, holding branch and transverse scepter.
Refs: RIC 71; Cohen 76; RCV 9639, Hunter 51; ERIC II 40.


Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253.
Roman AR antoninianus, 3.39 g, 21.3 mm, 11 h.
Antioch, AD 252.
Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right; ••• behind.
Rev: PAX AVGVS, Pax standing left, holding branch and transverse scepter; ••• in exergue.
Refs: RIC 86; Cohen 8; RCV 9641, Hunter 60; ERIC II 57.

 

I can't see the ••• on the obverse behind the bust

 

A Pax on thee, for I have none.

 

Sweet OP coin...

How about a Gordie?

 

Denarius of Hadrian 117 A.D. Rv Rax stg l. RIC 12 3.35 grms 18 mm

 

Carus, Antoninianus, (23 mm, 4.15 g), 283, Lugdunum,IMP C M AVR CARUS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust of Carus to Right/ Rev. PAX AUGG, Pax standing front, holding branch in her right hand and long transverse scepter with her left, B in left field. RIC 13


Maximianus, Silvered Antoninianus,
Lugdunum. (22mm., 3.53), Radiate and cuirassed bust R, Rev.- PAX AUGG, RIC V 399

 

A fun headline - here's a variant of @Shea19's Pax of Maximianus

Maximianus, first reign, AD 286-305, Antoninianus, Silvered AE, Lugdunum, 290-291
Obv: IMP MAXIMIANVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust of Maximianus to right. Rev.
Rev: PAX AVGG, Pax standing front, head to left, holding Victory on globe in her right hand and transverse scepter with her left
Size: 22mm, 3.25g
Ref: RIC 396

 

I like that portrait David. Nice pick up. Here is a pax for you on a common coin of Vespasian with an uncommon portrait.

 

PAX ATTACK


RI Carausius usurper in Britain CE 287–293 BI Ant 4.7g 24mm London radiate cuirassed - PAX AVG Pax stndg l branch scepter S—P RIC V 475



RI Allectus 293-296 CE AE Ant PAX



RI Victorinus 269-270 CE BI Ant Gallic Empire PAX

 

I've shown this poxy Pax a dozen times but here it is again...


Vespasian, 69-79 AD
sestertius, 35 mm, 25.2 gm
Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG PM TR P P P COS III, laureate head right
Rev: PAX [AVGVSTI], S-C; Pax standing left, branch in outstretched right hand, holding cornucopia in left arm.
Ref: RIC 243
From a mostly unimaged group lot, 2013.

 

Two pax :


Maximinus, Denarius - Rome mint AD 236
IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, Laureate and draped bust of Maximinus right
PAX AVGVSTI, Pax standing left, holding an olive tree branch
3.33 gr
Ref : Cohen #31, RCV #8310



Aurelian, Aurelianus - Serdica mint, AD 274-275
IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, Radiate and cuirassed bust of Aurelianus right
RESTITUT OR BIS, Pax with laurel wreath she gives to Aurelian. In field *, at ex. KA.A.
4.15 gr
Ref : RCV #11592, Cohen #192

Q

 

In keeping with the O.P. Flavian theme . . . a denarius with PAX seated . . .

Vespasian, Rome, ca. A.D. 75
Diameter: 18 mm. Weight: 3.8 gr.
Attribution: RIC II Rome 772. RSC 366.


Question: The theme of the denarius below is obviously "peace", so could the reverse female be a portrayal of Pax?

Vespasian, Ephesus, ca. A.D. 71
Diameter: 17 mm. Weight: 2.4 gr.
Attribution: RIC II Rome 772. RSC 366.

 

Nice coin, @David Atherton !

In chronological order:


Tiberius, Roman Empire, denarius, 15–18 AD, Lyon mint. Obv: TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVSTVS, laureate portrait right. Rev: PONTIF MA[XIM], Livia as Pax seated right on chair with ornately decorated legs, holding sceptre (or spear) and branch. 18mm, 2.8g. Ref: RIC I 28; RSC II 16b; Sear 1763; Giard: Le monnayage de l'atelier de Lyon 1 (1983), group 2, 146.


Vespasian, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 75 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [IMP C]AESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; head of Vespasian, laureate, r. Rev: PON MAX [TR P C]OS VI; Pax, naked to waist, seated l., holding branch extended in r. hand, l. hand in lap. 18mm, 3.08g. Ref: RIC II, Part 1 (second edition) Vespasian 772. Ex Busso Peus Nf., auction 422, part of lot 453; ex Hildebrecht Hommel collection (with his detailed tags).


Hadrian, Roman Empire, denarius, 119–122 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate head of Hadrian right. Rev: PM TR P COS III, Pax seated left, holding Victory on globe and branch. 18.5mm, 3.05g. Ref: RIC II, 95.


Septimius Severus, Roman Empire, denarius, 197–198 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [L SEPT SEV PERT] AVG IMP X, head of Septimius Severus, laureate, r. Rev: [PACI] AETERNAE, Pax seated l., holding branch and sceptre. 16mm, 2.67g. Ref: RIC IV.1 Septimius Severus 118.


Trebonianus Gallus, Roman Empire, antoninian, 251–153 AD, Mediolanum mint. Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS AVG, bust of Trebonianus Gallus, draped, cuirassed, and radiate, r. Rev: PAX AETERNA, Pax standing l., holding up branch in extended r. hand and transverse scepter in l. 22mm, 2.93g. Ref: RIC IV.3 Trebonianus Gallus 71. Ex X6 collection.

 

Lovely coins !......Here's an emperor not shown yet..
Philip II... AR Antoninianus 247-249AD(23mm, 4.29g, 1h). Rome, AD 247.
Obverse..IMP PHILIPPUS AVG...Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse..PAX AETERNA...Pax standing left, holding olive branch and short sceptre.
RIC IV 231c; RSC 23

 

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 355:


IMP C CARAVSIVS P AVG .............................................. PAX - A - VGGG | S .....P |
C in reverse exergue

Coin reverse legend ends in AVGGG - an attempt by Carausius to indicate that he, Diocletian and Maximian Heculius were a fraternity of co-equal Roman Emperors - not accepted by them.
Draped, radiate, bust
Colchester (Camulodunum/Clausentum) - "C" Mint
3.8 gm.

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 5


IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P AVG .............................................. PAX AVGGG | S P
M L XXXI

Cuirassed, radiate, bust
London Mint.
Struck by Carausius in the name of Diocletian.
3.8 gm.

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 20


IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P AVG ....................................... PAX AVGGG | S P
C in reverse exergue

Cuirassed, radiate, bust
Colchester (Camulodunum/Clausentum) - "C" Mint.
Struck by Carausius in the name of Diocletian.
3.4 gm.

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 34


IMP C MAXIMIANVS P AVG .............................................. PAX AVGGG | S P
M L XXXI in reverse exergue

Cuirassed, radiate, bust
London Mint.
Struck by Carausius in the name of Maximian Herculius (Maximianus).
3.95 gm.

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 434


IMP C MAXIMIANVS PF AVG .............................................. PAX AVGGG | S P
M L XXXI in reverse exergue

Cuirassed, radiate, bust
London Mint.
Struck by Carausius in the name of Maximian Herculius (Maximianus).
3.8 gm.

RIC V (2), Carausius, Antoninianus, No. 475:


IMP C CARAVSIVS PF AVG ......................................... PA - X - AVG | S .....P

Draped, radiate, bust
London Mint.
3.9 gm.

RIC V (2), Allectus, Antoninianus, No. 33:


IMP C ALLECTVS P F AVG ............................. PA - X - AVG ..... S (Pax standing left) A
M L in reverse exergue.

Cuirassed, radiate, bust
London mint
5.1 gm.

 

CLAUDIUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P VI IMP XI, laureate head right
REVERSE: PACI AVGVSTAE, Pax-Nemesis advancing right, drawing out fold of robe at neck, holding caduceus above serpent preceding her
Struck at Rome, 46/7AD
3.6g, 19mm
RIC39, BMC40

GALBA
AE Dupondius
OBVERSE: SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG TR P laureate head right
REVERSE: PAX AVGVST, Pax standing, head left, holding branch and cornucopia, SC in fields
Struck at Rome, Oct/Nove 68 AD
13.2g, 27mm
RIC 283

VESPASIAN
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: COS ITER TR POT, Pax seated left, holding branch and caduceus
Struck at Rome, 69-71 AD
3.31g, 18mm
RIC 29; RSC 94h; Sear 2285

CARACALLA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate head right
REVERSE: P M TR P XIIII COS III P P, Pax running left holding branch & scepter
Struck at Rome, 211 AD
3.11g, 18mm
RIC 184, RSC 190, BMC 4

CARAUSIUS
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP C CARAVSIVS PF I AVG, draped, cuirassed, and radiate bust r
REVERSE: PAX AVG, Pax stg. l. holding olive branch & vertical scepter, S P in l. & r. fields
Struck at Camulodunum 290-3 AD
3.58g, 23.8 mm
RIC 482