When Augustus founded the Empire, he derived his Imperial authority from the [sovereignty] of the people; and the essence of this principle was retained throughout the duration not only of the Principate but also of the Monarchy; for the Imperial office remained elective, and the electors had the right of deposing the Emperor. But though these rights were never abrogated, Diocletian and his colleague Maximian are designated as gods and parents of gods. The official deification of the Emperor, which seemed in sight at the beginning of the fourth century, was precluded by Christianity; but the consecration of the ruler's person was maintained in the epithets sacred and divine; and the Emperors came to regard themselves rather as vicegerents of God than as rulers set up by their people. 1 Victory has been crowning winners for a long time: Nike crowning a charioteer, Athens 425BC A. Pius, Dupondius, RIC 897 - crowned by victory Arch of Titus: the emperor crowned by victory (for Judea) Here she is waiting to crown somebody (Nike at Ephesus) From Constantine's Arch: Trajan crowned by Victory Even as the worship of the old gods was being extirpated, it was still powerful enough of a force to be used, in transition, for the coins of Theodosius and his heirs. The transition between deitification and divine regency that became the norm in later periods is well under way in these coins and others. Safe to assume Arcadius received his crown from dad, and not quite from victory but the Hand of God is still in pagan form here: Theodosius I RIC IX 30d, Aquilea 27mm, 5.04g Arcadius RIC X 62, Nicomedia 18mm, 2.55g Feel free to post: coins crowning the emperor, father and progeny collections (let's not forget Aelia Eudoxia!), or anything else you'd like and we wouldn't hate the Hand of God.
NIKA! Constantine the Great AE Follis Old Picture: New Picture: 316 A.D., Rome Mint, 3rd Officina 3.72g, 19.0mm, 12H Obverse: IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG, Bust of Constantine I, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right Reverse: SOLI IN-VI-CT COM D N, Sol, radiate, chlamys draped across left shoulder, standing left, raising right hand and holding Victory on globe in left hand Exergue: ✱///RT Provenance: Ex. Solidus Numismatik Online Auction 21, Lot 607 Reference: RIC VII Rome 49 Constantine the Great AE Follis 319 A.D., Treveri Mint, 1st Officina 3.384g, 18.8mm, 12H Obverse: CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG, Bust of Constantine I, laureate, helmeted, cuirassed, right Reverse: VICTORIAE LAET PRIN PERP, Two Victories, winged, draped, standing facing each other, holding a shield inscribed VOT/PR supported by an altar Exergue: ✱//•PTR Provenance: Ex. Forum (2019), Ex. Beast Coins VLPP Collection, Ex. Forum (2003), Ex. Aiello Collection Reference: RIC VII Treveri 226 Constantine the Great AE Follis 323 - 324 A.D., Treveri Mint, 2nd Officina 2.97g, 19.96mm, 6H Obverse: CONSTAN-TINVS AVG, Head of Constantine I, laureate, right Reverse: SARMATIA DEVICTA, Victory, winged, draped, advancing right, holding trophy in right hand and pushing seated captive with left hand Exergue: -/-//STR(crescent) Provenance: Ex. Marc R. Breitsprecher Coins 2019 Reference: RIC VII Treveri 435 Constantinople Commemorative AE Half-Follis 334 - 335 A.D., Aquileia Mint, 2nd Officina 2.46g, 18.0mm, 6H Obverse: CONSTANTINOPOLIS, Bust of Constantinopolis, laureate, helmeted, wearing imperial cloak, left, holding reversed spear in right hand Reverse: -, Victory, winged, draped, standing left on prow, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand Exergue: -/-//AQS Provenance: Ex. YOC (Pete) Reference: RIC VII Aquileia 123 Valentinian I AE Centenionalis 367 - 375 A.D., Siscia Mint, null Officina 2.13g, 18.0mm, 6H Obverse: D N VALENTINI-ANVS P F AVG, Bust of Valentinian I, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed, right Reverse: SECVRITAS-REIPVBLICAE, Victory advancing left, holding wreath and palm Exergue: (R on Ắ)/F//ΓSISCA• Provenance: Ex. FSR Coin Bargain Bin 2017 Reference: RIC IX Siscia 15A
Trajan Denarius. RIC 212 IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate head right / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Trajan standing facing, crowned by Victory standing left beside him.
Interesting post with illustrative examples, @IMP Shogun. Does this Victory reverse signify that she is crowning Otho? Otho, 69. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 2.99 g, 6 h), Rome. IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P Bare head of Otho to right. Rev. VICTORIA OTHONIS Victory advancing right, holding wreath in her right hand and palm over her left shoulder. BMC 22. Cohen 27. RIC 14. Somewhat crystallized, otherwise, good fine.
Honorius AE3. RIC X 72 DN HONORI-VS PF AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS-EXERCITI, emperor standing left, head right, holding spear and resting left hand on shield. Victory, standing beside him crowns him with a wreath which she holds in her right hand. Mintmark ANTΓ Trajan , Æ Dupondius. RIC - unpublished IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, radiate head right, with slight drapery on left shoulder / SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Victory standing left, leaning on short column, holding laurel wreath and palm;S-C across fields.
