Tonight is a special full moon. The full Moon of Thunder takes its name from the fact that it appears in the month of the year when thunderstorms are most frequent in many regions. Clouds form during the day and disperse as thunderstorms in the evening. Flashes of heat could also appear at the same time as the full moon of thunder tonight. July's moon was dubbed the Thunder moon by the early Native Americans after the summer storms that took place around this time. So get your favorite couch and enjoy the show tonight. Now let's find a link with our favorite hobby. Jupiter was the Roman god of thunder and lightning, wasn't he ? He is often described holding a thunderbolt on statues but especially on coinage. So if you have coins (Greek or Roman) depicting thunderbolts, please share them with us on this special day, the full Moon of Thunder. Gordian III Jupiter holding Thunderbolt Gallienus Jupiter ready to strike with his Thunderbolt
Eagle on Thunderbolt-both symbols of Zeus Athens New Style Tetradrachm c126/5 BC Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet 16.65gm 32mm Thompson issue 39 Thompson catalogue Obs 450 : Rev b (not in plates) Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora on which month mark Ε control ΗΡ below 3 magistrates : EPIGENE SOSANDROS ELIODO LF symbol : Eagle on Thunderbolt All within a surrounding olive wreath
Fulminating Zeus... Athens AE2 Star & 2 Crescents Chalkous 87/6 BC Obv: Athena in Corinthian helmet Rev: Grounded fulminating Zeus advancing right about to hurl thunderbolt ΑΘΕ ethnic surrounding Zeus Symbol RF: Pontic Star & 2 Crescents AE2 (18mm) 9.05gm Kroll 97 Mithradatic war issue King Mithradates & Aristion as magistrates
Nice post...here’s my favorite thunderbolt reverse (with a bonus thunderbolt in the mintmark) Probus, Antoninianus (24 mm, 3.39 g), Rome, 282. Radiate and cuirassed bust of Probus to right./ Rev. Jupiter standing front, head to left, holding thunderbolt in his right hand and scepter in his left. RIC 175
Fun post, @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix ! Reminds me of this favorite from my youth! Here's a roach depicting the god of thunder and his thunderbolt: Gordian III, AD 238-244. Roman AR antoninianus, 3.62 g, 21.6 mm, 5 h. Rome mint, 2nd officina, 3rd emission, AD 241-243. Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: IOVI STATORI, Jupiter standing facing, head right, holding scepter and thunderbolt.
Huh, never heard of the full moon o' thunder - interesting. And so I learn something new everyday. A couple of recent additions, Greek & Roman thunderbolts: Ionia, Metropolis Æ 15 (c. 100-50 B.C.) Diogenes magistrate Helmeted head of Ares right / ΔIOΓENHΣ, Winged thunderbolt; monogram above. SNG Copenhagen 904. (4.19 grams / 15 mm) Antoninus Pius Æ Sestertius (c. 140-144 A.D.) Rome Mint [ANTO]NINVS AVG PIVS P P TRP COS I[II], laureate head r. /[PROVI]DENTIAE DE[ORVM] S C, winged thunderbolt vertical. RIC III 618a; BMCRE 1267; Cohen 682. (20.07 grams / 30 mm)
Thanks for the timely thread, @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix! I'll watch for the special moon this evening! I also appreciated the photo of Jupiter with the thunderbolt clenched in his hand, ready to hurl. It reminded me of my tessera with a thunderbolt on it. ASIA MINOR. Uncertain. Circa 2nd to 1st centuries BC. Tessera (Lead, 22x10 mm, 3.42 g). Thunderbolt between two stars.
Great Thread, @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix ! Cool coins, great write-up and PICTURES! Great idea. HERE IS THE THUNDERBOLT THAT STARTED THE CIVIL WAR THAT BROUGHT DOWN THE JULIO-CLAUDIAN DYNASTY. Roman Empire Civil War Revolt of Vindex CE 68-69 AR Denarius 17mm 3.02g OBV: ROMA RESTITVTA (Rome Restored); Bust of Roma helmeted and draped on the right; the helmet is surmounted by a phoenix REV: IVPITER LIBERATOR (Jupiter liberator); Jupiter naked to the waist, seated on the left, holding a thunderbolt with his right hand and a scepter along the left. REF: RIC I 62 RSC 374-RARE EX: Holding History Comments: The mint was in Gaul includes a large number of denarii. These coins were struck between March and May 68. The location of the workshop is not certain. Several authors lean for Lyon or Vienne, but other workshops further north are still possible while excluding Germania which remained faithful to Nero. History: Caius Julius Vindex, proponent of Lyonnaise entered in rebellion against Néro in March 68. The legions of Germania remained faithful to the Emperor and Verginius Rufus defeated in May the Gallic troops. Before disappearing, Vindex had called on Galba who was in Spain.
Okay, I hear the groaning: "Oh, great, another Constantine from gsimonel. What a surprise." But Jupiter is usually depicted holding Victory standing on a globe on the coins of Constantine and Licinius. That makes this thunderbolt unusual. So there. Thessalonica mint, A.D. 311-313 RIC 47b Obv: CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Rev: IOVI CONSER-VATORI AVGG - Jupiter leaning on scepter and holding thunderbolt; eagle with wreath at feet •SM•TS• in exergue; E in right field 22 mm, 4.7 g.