There are four different denarii issued for Julia Domna -- produced by three different mints -- depicting VENVS FELIX (Happy Venus). Post anything you feel is relevant! The issue of the Rome mint is well-characterized. This is one of the most common denarii of Julia Domna found in British hoards. Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 2.37 g, 17.5 mm, 11 h. Rome, AD 196-211. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: Venus standing left, holding apple in right hand and drawing out fold of drapery with left hand. Refs: RIC 580; BMCRE 85-89; Cohen/RSC 198; RCV --; Hill 379, 394; CRE 397; Sulzer 1866-67. The mint at Alexandria produced denarii with the same reverse design, but with two different obverse inscriptions: The British Museum acquired several examples of this coin in 1997, which bear Julia's earliest obverse inscription: IVLIA DO-MNA AVG. It is dated to AD 193-198 and attributed to Alexandria on the basis of style. It is not listed in the standard references. I do not have an example in my own collection. Photo of one of the specimens in the British Museum. The second struck in Alexandria differs in style from the Rome mint example above (RIC 580), but otherwise bears the same inscriptions and reverse design. The Alexandrian coinage of Julia Domna can be recognized by her bug-eyed portrait and differences in the style of the lettering. @dougsmit has a couple of pages explaining these stylistic features and how they came to be attributed to the mint at Alexandria. They are not referenced in RIC, BMCRE5, Cohen, or Sear, though the British Museum has a few examples. Here is the example in my collection: Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 2.53 g, 19.2 mm, 6 h. Alexandria, AD 193-198. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: Venus standing left, holding apple in right hand and drawing out fold of drapery with left hand. Refs: Bickford-Smith pl. 1, 10; RIC --; BMCRE --; RCV --; CRE 398. My coin is an obverse die-match to the specimen in the Yale University Art Gallery, which was formerly owned by @Barry Murphy. This makes me confident I have properly attributed it: Lastly, an unknown eastern mint (formerly attributed to Laodicea by RIC and BMCRE and now to Antioch by the British Museum) issued a coin bearing the VENVS FELIX reverse legend, but with a different reverse type -- Venus holds a scepter in addition to an apple. The typical "Laodicea" style is evident, with the characteristic loop coming up from the drapery at her shoulder. It is a recent addition to my collection: Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 3.67 g, 18 mm, 1 h. Unknown eastern mint (Laodicea? Antioch?), AD 196-202. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: Venus standing left, holding apple and scepter. Refs: RIC 646; BMCRE 619-621; Cohen/RSC 197; RCV 6609; CRE 400.
I have nothing to add to the words above but will show a couple coins mentioned. The Domna legend Venus Felix is rare explaining why mine is so terrible. I consider this Laodicea die among the cutest of the bunch.
All Domna VENVS FELIX denarii are already shown, so here's my Crispina. Crispina Augusta AD 180-182 AR Denarius Obv.: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, hair in round coil low at back Rev.: VENVS FELIX, Venus seated left on throne without back, Victory in right hand, long grounded scepter vertical in left hand Ag, 2.716g, 19.3mm Ref.: RIC III Commodus 288, RSC II 39a, BMCRE IV 50, MIR 21, Hunter II 15, SRCV II 6003, CRE 293
I used to avidly chase the AVGVSTA Alexandrian coins whenever I saw them before realising that they were relatively easy to obtain Realising the DOMNA AVG coins were much harder to get set up the challenge to track down a half decent example The Laodicea type is certainly a good comparitor for style
Hello gentlemen, What do you think about this example? I am new in this branch but I want to attribute my coins correctly. The pictures were from the dealer, I can taking better photos as the coin is with me now. I don't understand if this is Alexandria or Rome. The obverse legend is AVGVSTA.
Seven from Alexandria - like maridvnvm, I went through a phase when I bought all of these I saw but soon learned that they are the most common of all Alexandrian denarii. Three from Rome Quiz: The 'Laodicea' version is much easier to distinguish from the other two mints because of a significant pose difference. Did you catch it from the several examples posted above?
A very informative post. I have but one VENVS FELIX type, a scruffy one from Rome, I think, with an apple the size of a cantaloupe: Julia Domna Denarius (198-209 A.D.) Rome Mint IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / VENVS FELIX, Venus standing left holding apple and drawing out fold of drapery. RIC 580; RSC 198. (2.39 grams / 17 mm)
An informative write-up! As far as I see, my example is from Rome: Julia Domna, Roman Empire, denarius, 196–211 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bust of Julia Domna, hair waved and coiled at back, draped, r. Rev: VENVS FELIX; Venus, draped, standing front, head l., holding apple and drawing drapery from l. shoulder. 19mm, 2.82g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 580.
Thanks for welcoming, really glad to be new kid on the block Slightly better pictures of my VENVS FELIX.
I believe this is Rome mint and harshly cleaned. Photos are easier/better if the coin is not in a plastic flip/holder.
Thank you all. Unfortunately my photographic skills are very poor. This is my first (and only) Julia Domna coin, from my first serious lot of ancient coins. Even if it's not the best quality, I like it.
