The CLIPEUS/SCUTUM challenge

Kevin, I think I found an explanation of the "figure-eight"-shaped shield that Juno Sospita holds. There was a thread here about Juno Sospita last September, started by Jochen 1. See https://www.cointalk.com/threads/juno-sospita.347727/. He notes that the depictions of Juno Sospita at her sanctuary in Lavinium "show the goddess armed with spear and a violin-shaped shield looking like the shield of the Salii priests, wearing (Etruscan) beak-shoes which were bended upwards at the toe-cap and a goat-skin which was helmeted-like pulled over her head." The mythological Shield of the Salii, or ancilia, are depicted on coins of Augustus and Antoninus Pius, and are "made from two round shields with a small oval shield laying above them connected alltogether with numerous bolts."

The connection between Sospita's shield and the ancilia is supported by David R. Sear, whose online Glossary of Frequently Encountered Terms in Roman Coin Descriptions (also found in each volume of the Millenium Edition of Roman Coin Values) states as follows:

"Ancile a shield of distinctive form (narrow central section of oval shape with broad curving extensions at top and bottom). It was a particular attribute of Juno Sospita and was associated with the Salian priesthood of Mars."

https://www.davidrsear.com/academy/roman_glossary.html#Ancile. See also the discussion of the ancile at https://www.romanumismatics.com/historicarticles?view=article&article_id=509, with a photo of a nice example of an Augustus denarius (RIC 343) depicting two ancilia on the reverse:



There is at least one other L. Procilius denarius depicting Juno Sospita on the reverse holding the same kind of shield as in the one I own:



Crawford 379/2, RSC I, Procilia 2 (photo posted by Carthago in the earlier Juno Sospita thread).

 

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Yes, that seems to be it, so we need not go back to Minoan or Mycenaean times for its origin. Good research work and documentation.

 

A "real Roman Scutum" complements of my grand sons middle school history project. I got an A, by the way. I mean, he got an A.

 

Way to go. That's boss.

 

It was actually a very interesting project. When I was done, I realized that the mid shield fist grab handle, makes it easy to carry with your arm hanging straight down, so as not to wear out your arm prior to a battle.

 

You are a very cool grandpa. The only activities I remember doing with mine is when he taught me how to spit and also to smoke with his pipe...

 

I can only manage half a shield today.


BOIOTIA, Thebes. 525-480 BC. AR Hemiobol (0.53 g).
Obv: Half Boiotian shield
Rev: Square incuse with a recessed large triangle (divided by a line), a small triangle, and a square (divided by a line).
Ref: BMC p. 33, 13.
Ex BCD Collection (Classical Numismatic Group, Triton IX, January 2006, lot 326)
Ex Dr. J. S. Wilkinson Collection (Malter 49, 15 November 1992, lot 422)

 

That is cool. LOL, is it a HALF Shield because it is a HALF Obol? Very interesting. I just cannot understand why a half shield, unless they are using it for denomination?

 

These reverses show Minerva and Athena, respectively, with round shields at rest:




Denarius. Laureate head of Domitian right / Minerva standing left holding thunderbolt and spear, round shield at feet.



Tetradrachm. Diademed head of Antiochos IX right / Athena standing facing, head left, holding Nike and resting hand on grounded shield, spear cradled in arm; monogram in outer left field above A; in inner right field, A; all within wreath.

 

A clever way to indicate denomination of small coins for an illiterate population.

See:
https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=103146 rare tri-hemiobol with three half shields
https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=75365 unique tri-tetartemorion or tri-hemiobol with three half shields
https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=75370 unique trihemitetartemorion with 1 and 1/2 shields
https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=75639 hemiobol with half wheat grain
https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=75646 tritetartemorian with three wheat grains

 

Thank you. I had not run across these.

 

Here is a Roman Republican denarius of T. Didius, 114 or 113 BC. Reverse displays what is usually interpreted as a gladiatorial contest. Both fighters bear clipei.

 

Sorry that I am late to the party. Super coins, ALL!

Here are a few of my Shields:


Thessaly AR Stater Double Victoriatus 21mm 5.7g 50 BCE Zeus - Athena Itonia spear shield RR Prov. SNG Cop 299var



RR Malleolus Albinus Caecilius Metellus AR Den 20.0mm 3.7g Rome 96 BCE ROMA - Roma seated L pile of shields spear and sword Vict Cr335-1b Syd611a



RR Titurius Sabinus 89 BCE AR Den Tarpeia buried shields S 251 Cr 344-2a



RR T Quinctius Flamininus 126 BC AR Den Roma Diosc gallpng T-Q Macedon Shield S 143 Cr 267-1