Struck under Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the following coin has Salus feeding a snake on reverse. She was the goddess of Health, and daughter of Asklespios. The latter was always associated with an entwined snake. He used its poison to produce medicines for the sake of healing the sick. Apparently his daughter would assist him in his mission. This relevant Sestertius weighs 18.18 g. Please post comments or coins of Salus .
Nice addition to your collection! Salus/Hygieia is one of my favorite deities on coins. Here's my favorite sestertius with Salus: Maximinus I, AD 235-238. Roman Æ Sestertius, 18.01 g, 26.7 mm, 5 h. 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.
Here's a couple of SALVS sestertii from Antoninus Pius - Antoninus Pius Æ Sestertius (144 A.D.) Rome Mint ANTONINVS AVG PIVS [PP TR P COS] III, Laureate head right / DES [III]I S-C, Salus standing left, holding rudder on globe and feeding serpent rising from altar to left. RIC 749; Cohen 348. (26.05 grams / 29 mm) "Salus, the goddess of health, feeding the sacred snake that belongs to her father, Asclepius, the god of medicine...During the year AD 144, Salus was by far the commonest type, which is an indication that the emperor suffered from serious illness in this period." FORVM Antoninus Pius Æ Sestertius (145-161 A.D.) Rome Mint [ANTONIN]VS AVG PIVS PP [TRP C]OS IIII, laureate head right / [SALVS AVG] S-C, Salus standing right feeding serpent coiled around altar and holding rudder on globe. RIC 784; BMC 1715; Coh. 718. (27.44 grams / 29 mm)
Here are Salus and Valetudo on opposite sides of a denarius of Manlius Acilius Glabrio of 49BC (Cr. 442/1a). Obv. SALVTIS - Laureate head of Salus right MN. ACILIVS III. VIR. VALETV - Valetudo (Salus) standing facing, head left, leaning on column and holding serpent Mint: Rome (49 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 4.07g / 18mm / 5h While Valetudo is the Roman version of Hygieia (personal health), she became conflated over time with the existing Roman goddess, Salus, who had started off more as a public welfare goddess. ATB, Aidan.
Salus but not Sestertius (it even rhymes) Philip I Antoninianus IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG / SALVS AVG Rome 25 mm. 3.59 g. RIC 47
@akeady your denarius is awesome! Trajan, Æ Sestertius Rome, 108 - 111 AD 32 mm, 24.42 g Ref.: Cohen 485; RIC II Trajan 515; Woytek 335b Ob.: IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust r., drapery on left shoulder Rev.: S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Salus seated left, feeding from patera a snake coiled around an altar; in ex. S C Philip I the Arab, Æ Sestertius Rome, 244 - 249 AD 26 x 27 mm, 18.44 g Ref.: RIC IV Philip I 187a; Cohen 206-207; RIC III 9016; Sear 9016; Ob.: IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev.: SALVS AVG, Salus standing l., holding vertical scepter in left hand and feeding snake coiled round altar from patera held in r. hand; at her sides, S - C and Probus, but Antoninianus Gallia Transpadana, Ticinum, 279 - 280 AD; Mintmark: -/-//AXXI; 6th emission; 1st officina; 20 x 21 mm, 3.60 g Ref.: RIC V Probus 562; Cohen 591 Ob.: IMP C PROBVS PF AVG, Bust of Probus, radiate, cuirassed, right Rev.: SALVS AVG Salus, draped, seated left, feeding out of patera in right hand serpent rising from altar; mintmark AXXI
