Worshiping the gods is a common theme on Roman coins. There were many ways to do so. One could pour a libation, a liquid sacrifice of wine or oil, from a patera: Constantius I, Caesar, 293-305. Roman billon follis, 9.83 g, 26.3 mm, 5 h. Antioch, AD 300-301. Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES, laureate head right. Rev: GENIO POPV-LI ROMANI, Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera from which liquid flows, and cornucopiae; K/B-V//ANT. Refs: RIC vi, p. 620, 55a; Cohen 89; RCV 14069. Notes: The K in the left field probably refers to the retariffing of the follis at 20 denarii communes, while the V in the right field may refer to the revised valuation of the follis at 5 to the silver argentius (Harl, Kenneth W. "Marks of Value on Tetrarchic Nummi and Diocletian's Monetary Policy." Phoenix, vol. 39, no. 3, 1985, pp. 263–270, citing C.H.V. Sutherland, "Denarius and Sestertius in Diocletian's Currency Reform," JRS 51 (1961), pp. 93-97). One could burn incense at an altar: Hadrian, AD 117-138. Roman Æ dupondius, 13.78 g, , 26.1 mm, 7 h. Rome, ca. AD 119-124. Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG P M TR P COS III, radiate and draped bust, right. Rev: PIETAS AVGVSTI, Pietas, veiled, draped, standing facing right before a lighted altar, raising her right hand and holding a box of incense in her left. Refs: RIC 601c; BMCRE 1233-34; Cohen 1044; Strack 542; RCV 3665; Hill 257. One could raise one's hands in supplication: Faustina I, AD 138-141. Roman AR denarius, 3.07 g, 17.6 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 143. Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, bust of Faustina I, veiled and draped, right. Rev: PIETAS AVG, Pietas, veiled and draped, standing facing, head right, by lighted altar, raising both hands. Refs: RIC 392; BMCRE 308; RSC 251b; Strack 430; RCV --; CRE 109. Notes: Double die-match to ANS 1941.131.831. Show your coins depicting religious worship!
The best bloody sacrifice is on horned Elgabalus denerii. On one of the sacrificial reverses he has just brained a bull and it is lying collapsed by the altar. I had an example once, cannot find the pictures
OATH CEREMONY RR Veturius 137 BCE AR Den Mars X Oath Scene pig S 111 Cr 234-1 Marsic Confederation denarius 90-88 BCE Italia-Corfinium Oath Ceremony over pig Sear 227 SCARCE
Just four tetrarchs hanging out by the water cooler... GALERIUS AR Argenteus. 3.36g, 18.4mm. Rome mint, circa AD 295-297. RIC 35b. O: MAXIMIANVS CAES, laureate head right. R: PROVIDENTIA AVGG, the four Tetrarchs sacrificing over tripod before city enclosure; Γ in exergue.
Commodus, Alexandria, BI Tetradrachm,(24.2mm., 10.19g), circa 183-185 (RY 24 of Marcus Aurelius), Laureate head of Commodus right/ Rev. Commodus, in priestly attire, standing left before bust of Serapis set on low cippus, sacrificing and dropping incense over lighted altar, L-K-Δ. RPC Online 16005, Dattari-Savio Pl. 207, 9553 (this coin) From the Dattari Collection. Septimius Severus, AR Denarius, 200-201 AD, (19mm., 3.23g), Laureate head of Septimius right/Rev. RESTITVTOR ORBIS, Severus standing left, sacrificing with patera over tripod and holding spear. RIC 167.
France (Metz): silver gros, civic issue portraying Saint Stephen kneeling beneath the hand of God, ca. 1400s-1500s
Nice coins. This is one of my favorite worship scene from my collection - feeding the snake for good health. I think I'll hold out for the vaccination. Obviously I lack Pietas. 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
One of my favorites, Julia Domna sacrificial scene before the temple of Vesta. Julia Domna (Augusta) Coin: Bronze AS IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG - Diademed, draped bust right. VESTA, SC in ex. - Sacrificial scene before the temple of Vesta. Exergue: SC Mint: Rome (214 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 10.66g / 26mm / 6h References: RIC Caracalla 607 Cohen 234 BMC 232 Provenances: Naville Numismatics Acquisition/Sale: Naville Numismatics Internet 51 #594 $0.00 Notes: Jul 21, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
On this Sasanian obol of Shahpur II (309-379), we can see two attendants (one of whom is supposed to represent the king) worshipping at a Zoroastrian fire-altar. Ahura-Mazda himself makes a cameo appearance in the flames.
