Fortuna, the Roman counterpart of the Greek goddess Tyche, was the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck in Roman religion. Fortuna was capricious and might bring bring either good or bad luck. She was a central figure in Roman life. The Roman people adopted the goddess into their tutelaries and consecrated nearly thirty temples to her in the different districts of the city. The goddess had many epithets. The following are those which appear on coins: Antiatina, Bona, Felix, Fors, Mala, Muliebris, Manens, Obsequens, Primigenia, Redux and lastly Fortuna Augusta/Augusti and Fortuna Populi Romani. Fortuna appears on a great number of imperial coins, standing or seated, and is depicted wearing the stola and holding a gubernaculum (ship's rudder), a globe, a caduceus, or rota fortunae (wheel of fortune) and a cornucopiae. On a coin of Commodus she sits holding a horse by the bridle. On a coin of Geta she is recumbent on the ground with a wheel and cornucopia by her side. Post your coins of Fortuna or anything you feel is relevant! Hadrian, AD 117-138. Roman AR denarius, 3.44 g, 17.5 mm, 7:00. Rome, AD 121. Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder. Rev: P M TR P COS III, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae and resting on column. Refs: RIC 86b; BMCRE 170; RSC 1155; UCR 206; RCV 3521. Faustina I, AD 138-141. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.12 g, 32.6 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 150. Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, Bust of Faustina I, draped and veiled, right. Rev: AETERNITAS S C, Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding globe on extended right hand and long rudder, vertical in left hand. Refs: RIC 1107b; BMCRE 1499-1500; Cohen 8; Strack 1267; RCV 4608 v.; Dinsdale 021000. Notes: Obverse die-match to BMCRE 1499. Faustina Junior, AD 161-175. Roman AR denarius, 2.82 g, 17.7 mm, 2 h. Rome, AD 161-175. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: FORTVNAE MVLIEBRI, Fortuna Muliebris enthroned left, holding rudder and cornucopiae. Refs: RIC 683; BMCRE 96; Cohen 107; RCV 5253; CRE 181. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 3.14 gm, 17.8 mm, 7 h. Rome, AD 196-211. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: FORTVNAE FELICI, Fortuna seated left, holding cornucopia in right hand and resting left elbow on rudder on globe; to left, child standing right. Refs: RIC 554; BMCRE 29; RCV --; RSC/Cohen 57; Hill 920; CRE 335; ERIC II 89. Elagabalus, AD 218-222. Roman AR Antoninianus, 5.17 g, 21.3 mm, 11 h. Rome, AD 219. Obv: IMP ANTONINVS AVG, radiate and draped bust, right. Rev: P M TR PII COSII P P, Fortuna enthroned left, holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae; wheel below seat. Refs: RIC 18; BMCRE 94; Cohen 148; RCV 7495. Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman billon antoninianus, 3.39 g, 20.1 mm, 11 h. Antioch, AD 266-267. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiated and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna standing left, holding short caduceus and cornucopiae; VII C in exergue. Refs: RIC 613 F; Göbl 1640b; Cohen 277; RCV 10220. Notes: VII C probably refers to Gallienus' 7th (and final) consulate, AD 266-68. Aurelian, AD 279-275. Roman billon antoninianus, 3.61 gm, 20.6 mm. Obv: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust, r. Rev: FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna seated l., holding rudder and cornucopiae, wheel under seat; S in exergue. Refs: RIC 128; MER/RIC 1466; CBN 452; Sear 11539; MIR 16, Hunter p. cx.
Q. SICINIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS SICINIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: FORT P.R, diademed head of Fortuna right REVERSE: Q. SICINIVS below, III. VIR across field, caduceus and palm in saltire, laurel wreath above Rome 49 BC 3.64g, 17mm CR 440/1; Sicinia 5 VESPASIAN AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right REVERSE: COS ITER FORT RED, Fortuna standing left, resting hand on galley prow and holding cornucopia Struck at Rome, 70 AD 2.62g, 18mm RIC 19; RSC 84 EX David Atherton Collection NERVA AE Dupondius OBVERSE: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P Radiate head right REVERSE: FORTVNA AVGVST S-C, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia Struck at Rome, 96AD 8.8g, 26mm RIC 61 SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: SEVERVS PIVS AVG - Laureate head right REVERSE: P M TR P XI COSIII P P - Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopia; wheel under chair Struck at Rome, 203 AD 2.3g, 18mm RIC 189b, S 6334, C 461 LUCIUS VERUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head right REVERSE: FORT RED TR P VIII IMP V, Fortuna seated left, holding rudder & cornucopiae. COS III in ex. Struck at Rome, Feb to Dec AD 168 2.5g, 19mm RIC 586 (Marcus Aurelius), C 111 GALLIENUS Antoninianus OBVERSE: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right REVERSE: FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae, digamma in right field Struck at Siscia,260-8 AD 2.7g, 20mm RIC V-1, Siscia 572 AURELIAN Antoninianus OBVERSE: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right REVERSE: FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna seated left on wheel, holding rudder & cornucopiae, T in ex Struck at Mediolanum, 274-5 AD 3.30g, 20mm RIC 128
Very nice. This is my favorite Fortuna. Common coin but I love the style and patina. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIII CENS PER PP Laureate head of Domitian right FORTVNAE AVGVSTI SC Fortuna standing left holding rudder and cornucopiae Rome 87 AD 10.9g RIC 544 (C3)
I have only two coins with Fortuna reverses, one from Nerva and one from Trajan. Nerva AR Denarius 97 AD, Obv. Laureate head right, IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P COS III P P/ Rev. Fortuna stdg. Left holding rudder & cornucopiae, R FORTVNA AVGVST. Old RIC II 16 (1926 ed.), RSC II 66. 18.6 mm., 3.45 g. Trajan AR Denarius, 112 AD or later. Obv. Laureate draped bust right, IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM DAC/ Rev. Fortuna seated l. with rudder & cornucopiae, P M TR P COS VI P P SPQR (FORT • RED in exergue). RIC II 318 (1926 ed.), RSC II 154, BMCRE 578, Sear RCV (1981 ed.) 884 (ill.) 18.9 mm., 3.11 g.
So, a Friday evening with Carl Orff on repeat in my inner ear («Ooohhh Fooortooonaaa») Could have been worse. I don’t have a lot of coins with her, though. But I’m fond of this one: It’s a little interesting that Nerva had several issues of Fortuna reverses during his short reign. Was he thankful, or hopeful?
Hadrian (Augustus) Coin: Brass Sestertius IMP CAES DIVI TRA PARTH F DIVI NER NEP TRAIANO HADRIANO AVG - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. PONT MAX TR POT COS S C FORT RED - Fortuna, draped, seated left on low seat, holding rudder on ground in right hand and cornucopiae in left Exergue: FORTRED SC Mint: Rome (117 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 24.86g / 33mm / 6h References: RIC II Hadrian 541a Cohen 756 Provenances: Marcantica Acquisition/Sale: Marcantica VCoins $0.00 05/19 Notes: May 19, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection Domitian (Augustus) Coin: Brass Dupondius IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XV CENS PER P P - Radiate head of Domitian right. FORTVNAE AVGVSTI - Fortuna standing left, hand on rudder and holding cornucopia S C in fields Exergue: Mint: Rome (90-91 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 11.21g / 29mm / 6h References: RIC II 705 RIC [1962] 392 Sear 2786 Cohen 132 BMC 444 Acquisition/Sale: fvrivs.rvfvs eBay $0.00 12/19 Notes: Dec 15, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
I like your style @Jay GT4 nice coin! Domitian 88-89 AD. AE As. Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIIII CENS PER P P, laureate head right Rev: FORTUNAE AVGVSTI S-C, Fortuna standing left holding rudder & cornucopiae. 12.91 grams Cohen 128.
Thanks for the info, @Roman Collector . I enjoy your posts as I am always learning from your cool snippets of info. Great coins. I went through ALL the alternative names you posted as alternatives of FORTVNA, and I have nary a one. I only have a few FORTVNA and all are from the Empire period. I like my TESSERA with FORTVNA as this may point to it being a gaming token of some type, and not just a theater or play performance token. RI Rome. Lead tessera c. 1st cent. AD PB 13mm, 1.39 g, 12h Obv: Fortuna standing left, resting rudder on ground with right hand, holding cornucopia in left Rev: Large DP Ref: Rostovtsev 2307; Ruggerio 808-9; ; good VF Ex: Tom Vossen collection of Roman lead objects Ex: Gert Boersema @Ardatirion sent me a note a few years ago: "Gert and I are working on publishing that collection. Your piece will be illustrated in it. EDIT: This is a type that has been surprisingly available lately. All specimens exhibit the same misalignment, indicating that they were all cast from the same set of molds. Here's one of my two examples."
Since I was out walking my dogs, one of which is named CLAUDIUS, I reckon I can post his partial namesake with FORTVNA: RI Claudius Gothicus CE 268-270 AE Ant 24x21mm 2.3g FORTVNA REDVX; Fortuna standing left rudder and cornucopia Z RIC 41
Commodus' Fortuna. He is looking old for a thirty-year-old man. Denarius, Rome 192 AD 17 mm, 2.773 g RIC III Commodus 235; RSC 578-578A; Ob.: L AEL AVREL C-OMM AVG P FEL laureate head of Commodus, right Rev.: P M TR P XVII IMP VIII COS VII P P Fortuna standing left, resting right foot on prow, holding caduceus in right hand and cornucopia in left hand; in r. field, star In 192, the Rome mint used the newly adopted name Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus in place of the previous Marcus Aurelius Commodus. Rome mint coins of the last year read L AEL AVREL COMM and COS VII dates the coin to 192 AD when he was consul for the 7th time and IMP VIII already in 186 AD. He died on the last day of 192 at age 31.
