Featured Julian: The Beard and the Bull

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Curtisimo, Jun 22, 2019.

?

What do you think the bull represents on this coin?

  1. The biblical Golden Calf

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  2. A sacrificial scene

    10.9%
  3. The Apis Bull

    43.5%
  4. The emperor Julian

    8.7%
  5. The astrological sign of Julian's birth

    28.3%
  6. Mithraic iconography

    10.9%
  7. Helios / Cattle of Helios

    4.3%
  8. Other

    6.5%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    I do a little stargazing myself...

    IMG_20181107_090006.jpg

    Though these days I find myself spending more time gazing at our own star instead with my H-Alpha solar telescope.

    IMG_20181102_202122.jpg
     
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  3. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    @Curtisimo .. .I have had my eye on one of these coins for some time. Haven't been able to secure one that fits my budget - but someday.

    That is THE BEST portrait I have ever seen for one of these - so amazing.
    Congrats!!!
     
    Curtisimo likes this.
  4. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    This coin does present something of a puzzle as it appears to be the only overt reference to paganism on Julian's coinage. Otherwise his coinage is in most regards rather similar to everything else that is out there. There must be something about the large denominate Aes coins. After all at least initially Magnentius struck a very overt Christian coin on basically the same denomination.
    I suspect that the easy solution is that the bull represents some form of sacrificial offering common to many pagan rites. This is despite the lack of any of the paraphernalia associated with sacrificial animals especially bulls.
     
  5. lrbguy

    lrbguy Well-Known Member

    I can relate, and you really got a nice one. Back in the late 90s a dealer by the name of Ed Waddell ran an auction in which he offered an immaculate run of these, one from each mint that struck them. That made quite an impression on me since I knew I did not have the deep pockets that were needed at the time to try to do that. Still, I thought I would give it a try (off and on) until I had assembled a set by about 2005 that was only missing one mint. I kind of lost interest in the project after that, but have kept all the coins. I have a few added varieties from certain mints, but here is a run of one for each mint, except for one mint. Guess which mint is missing. From west to east they are:
    Lugdunum (Lyons) RIC viii 236
    1-julII-lugdunum.jpg

    Arelate (Arles) RIC viii 318
    2-julII-arelate.jpg

    Siscia (RIC viii 418)
    3-julII-siscia.jpg

    Sirmium (RIC viii 107)
    4-julII-sirmium.jpg

    Thessalonika (RIC viii 225)
    5-julII-thessalonica.jpg

    Heraclea (RIC viii 104)
    6-julII-heraclea.jpg

    Constantinople (RIC viii 163)
    7-julII-constantnpl.jpg

    Nicomedia (RIC viii 121)
    8-julII-nicomedia.jpg

    Cyzicus (RIC viii 126)
    9-julII-cyzicus.jpg

    Antioch (RIC viii 216)
    10-julII-antioch.jpg

    Maybe not the worlds greatest, but it was a kick. Have fun comparing the interpretive styles.
     
  6. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

  7. lrbguy

    lrbguy Well-Known Member

    It's Aquilea. Anybody got one. They are not howling rarities, it just depends on when they come up.

    Here is an example (not mine) from the missing mint:
    JulianII-bull-aquilea.jpg
     
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  8. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    I am wondering if we are missing something by trying to study this issue of coins on its own without looking at the coin in the context of what was issued at the same time as it was. If one looks at the last issues of Constantius II one finds that the solidii feature the emperor as a soldier and the reverse the theme of a united empire. Along with the gold the silver congratulates him on his many years of service and the hope he will continue for another ten years. The aes continues the celebration of the emperor bringing grief to his enemies, though at the very end one finds a series depicting him in military garb holding spear and globe. Overall these coins present a unified theme of a strong and capable soldier with many years of proven success keeping the enemies of Rome at bay.
    When looking at coins of Julian one immediately sees a subtle change. The militancy is reserved to the reverse of the gold coinage, with the silver and smaller aes essentially promising good government. Then we are left with the "bull" coinage. It is possible that he is signaling as a part of this "good" governance the restoration of pagan worship. But I wonder if there is something else going on here as well. Peace is sometimes depicted in Roman art as a pastoral scene with people being able to tend their fields without the fear of war. I wonder if that is something he might be trying to signal. conbis10.jpeg Solidius of Constantius II conbis12.JPG Siliqua of Constantius II
     
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  9. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    I love the large Julian bull type.

    I am not attempting that, but I will pick up a new mint when the condition and price are right.

    Julian1bullNIKB19105.jpg

    28-27 mm. 8.67 grams.
    Julian II, struck 3 Nov. 361 - 26 June 363.
    <palm>NIKB<palm>
    RIC VIII Nicomedia 121.
     
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  10. Cachecoins

    Cachecoins Historia Moneta

    A stunning example of the type and a great read...thanks!
     
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  11. IMP Shogun

    IMP Shogun Well-Known Member

    CNG had two of these that almost didn't sell. I bought one, wish I bought both :( They are not great quality but a really cool coin.
     
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  12. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I finally had to check "OTHER" even though I really never fill out Polls.

    Because, I believe that Julian was trying to say:

    upload_2020-9-9_22-58-49.png
    upload_2020-9-9_23-0-19.png
    RI Julian II CE 360-363 AE1 maiorina Diademed R - SECVRITAS REIPVB 2 stars Apis Bull stg R ANT-Gamma 2 palms ANTIOCH RIC 217 LRBC 2641
    upload_2020-9-9_23-4-8.png
     
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  13. Broucheion

    Broucheion Well-Known Member

    My wife would say “Beef, it’s who’s for dinner”.
     
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  14. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    That is one of the things I love about this coin type. Very cool story coin that you don’t have to break the bank for. Thanks for commenting.


    Hahaha. Well at least we got an answer outta you finally!
     
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  15. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Here's the one from the Sirmium mint that I bought in the recent Frank Robinson auction; see the current thread about that auction for further details:

    New Julian II bull Obv 2.jpg

    New Julian II Bull Rev 1.jpg
     
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  16. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Hey Curtis! Good to see you! We all miss you!!! Any chance you'll be posting more frequently in the near future? (No pressure, you gotta do what you gotta do, I'm just hoping to see you around more.)
     
  17. Curtisimo

    Curtisimo the Great(ish)

    Thanks SA! I miss participating in the forum as well. I haven’t been able to buy many coins this year but I did relatively recently pick up two new ones that I’ll have to photograph and write up! (My first and only coins of the year so far)

    I AM looking forward to AMCC III though. Can’t not participate in that annual event! Is it still going live this month?
     
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  18. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Sounds like you're still super busy then - stay well, my friend! I hope to see you around more soon.

    Yes, or at the very latest early Oct. Always takes a long time to do all those descriptions... :oops:
     
  19. seth77

    seth77 Well-Known Member

    As usual in these matters I prefer Nicomedia for the style. Nicomedia also seems to have struck less of these and of the votive centenionalis. Nicomedia was hit in December 362 by a particularly destructive earthquake, which likely shortened the number of issues minted in 363 and even afterwards.

    julian.jpg
     
  20. Victor_Clark

    Victor_Clark all my best friends are dead Romans Dealer

    some Christians in Antioch protested about Julian II "shouting that his coinage had a bull and that the world was overturned." (Socrates, Hist. Eccl. 3.17)
     
  21. bcuda

    bcuda El Ibérico loco

    My two Julian II coins.

    s-l1600ja5.jpg

    Julian II.
    The Apostate
    360-363 AD. Æ 20mm
    Obv: D N FL CL IVLI-ANVS
    PF AVG, helmeted bust left,
    with spear and shield
    Rev: VOT/X/MVLT/XX, legend
    in four lines within wreath,
    mintmark HERACL dot B.
    Heraclea mint. (3.23 gm).
    RIC VIII 106


    roman-imperial-coinage-5336723-XL.jpg

    Julian II.
    AD 360-363 Æ Maiorina
    Antioch, AD 361-363.
    Obv: D N FL CL IVLI-ANVS
    P F AVG, diademed, draped
    and cuirassed bust of Julian II right.
    Rev: SECVRITAS REIPVB, bull standing
    right; above,two stars (branch)ANTA
    (branch). RIC 218; LRBC 2640.
    (9.11 g)Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins
    & Collectibles, Inc.
    Auction 112 Lot 1628
     
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