CHRISTMAS ' STAR

The night of the winter solstice will be marked this year by the presence of the "Christmas star", a celestial phenomenon that has not been observed since 1226.
The rather rare event occurs when the planets Jupiter and Saturn cross at a fairly close distance, suggesting that they will collide. In doing so, it gives the impression of being able to see a double planet from Earth.
Many astronomers believe that the "Star of Bethlehem" in the Nativity story is a conjunction between Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. We have to go back to March 4, 1226 to see such a short distance between Jupiter and Saturn. Astronomers will be able to observe the phenomenon after sunset on December 21, the day of the winter solstice, using a telescope or binoculars. The planets will only appear a tenth of a degree from each other, which is the thickness of a denarius held at arm's length.
The phenomenon will not happen again until the year 2080 so please do not miss it. And by the way on this nice Sunday, show me some stars !

Some recent acquisitions with a star :

 

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Lovely coins with stars, @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix! I have too many coins with stars to post -- most of the stars serve as control marks, anyway, and are kind of boring -- so here's my favorite one. I can't help but think the reverse of this coin refers to the constellation Leo:


Greek Ionia, Miletos.
AE Hemiobol, 3.35 g, 18.3 mm, 12 h.
Aeschylinos, magistrate, ca. 200 BC.
Obv: Apollo Didymeus standing right, holding small stag and bow; monogram below.
Rev: Lion seated right with head turned to left, star above, monogram right, ΑIΣXΥΛΙΝΟΥ in exergue.
Refs: Deppert 941-56 var; Marcellesi 56.

 

Great coins and thanks for the heads up on the conjunctions of the planets Ocat. I’ll definitely check it out.

Here are a few more stars for the thread.

 

Riding by star light!....Bolskan. Even the legend has one..

 

Here is a Korkyra hemidrachm with a very prominent star on the reverse:

Korkyra, Korkyra, AR hemidrachm, ca. 450–400 BC. Obv: amphora; above, crescent. Rev: eight-rayed star; crescent in field. 14mm, 2.46g. Ref: BMC 76; SNG Evelpidis 1876.

 

Antiochus VI
Mint: Antioch
143/142 BC
Obvs: No inscription. Antiochus radiate head right,
within dotted border.
Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠIФANOYΣ
ΔIONYΣOY, Elephant walking left. Star behind, ΣTA
AE Serrate 22x23mm, 7.94g
SC 2006c; HGC 9, 1043(C)


Constantine I
Londinium mint
310 to 312 AD
AE Follis
Obvs: CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
Revs: CONCORD MILIT, Concordia standing half-left, holding two standards. Star to right, PLN in ex.
21x23mm, 4.55g
RIC VI 195


Antiochos VIII
Mint: Sidon
AR Tetradrachm
Year 197, 116/115 BC
Obvs: Diademed head of Antiochos right within fillet border.
Revs: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOXOY EΠIФANOYΣ, Zeus Ouranios standing left, holding star and scepter. Outer left, ΣIΔΩ IEP Σ٩P in three lines above monogram. Date in exergue, all within wreath.
28x30mm, 16.22g
Ref: SC 2330.2; HGC 9, 1197g(R2)


Seleukis/Pieria under Roman rule
AE 20
Year 44, 13/14 AD
Obvs: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Revs: EΠIΣIΛANOY † ANTIOXEΩN, Ram running r. looking back. Star above, ΔM in ex.
20mm, 7.37g.
Ref: BMC 20.159.65, McAlee 99, RPC 4269


Helena
318 to 319 AD
Mint: Thessalonica
AE Follis
Obvs: HELENA N F, bare head right, waved hair, mantled.
Revs: Laurel wreath enclosing eight pointed star.
17x18mm, 3.05g
Ref: RIC VII.505.50, Vagi 2898

 

Outch! Your "FAT" star is gonna be hard to beat !!!

 

I have been watching this conjunction progress over the last couple weeks. Fun. Also, saw Mars at its closest to Earth in the last 18 years a few weeks ago.

STAR


Campania Capua 216-214 BC Æ Uncia 20.5mm 6.1g Laur hdJupiter r star value l Victory trophy star value r Monete 21 HN Italy 493



Carthage Zeugitania First Punic War 264-241 BCE Double Shekel 26 mm 13.9 g Wreathed Tanit Horse stndng r star above SNG Cop 185 R

 

DOUBLE STAR


RR AR Denarius 214-208 BCE Roma R X behind - Dioscuri R ROMA linear frame stars Sicily RARE Cr 68-1b



RR Anon 190 BCE AR den 20.9mm 3.7g Rome Hd Roma R X - Dioscuri riding spears, stars ROMA tablet Cr 53-2 x20



RR AR Sestertius After 211 BCE 12mm 1.0g Rome mint Roma r IIS - Dioscuri riding stars in ex ROMA Sear 46 Craw 44-7 RSC 4

 

Here's my satanic star:

Of course Macedonia has their royal symbol as a star:

 

Constantine II - Antioch. Campgate.

 

PENTAGRAM / ANTI-STAR


RR Anon 211-206 BCE Victoriatus STAR / Pentagram R Sear 49 Syd 233a Craw 105-1

 

Phraates IV - Drachm S.53.6 v. - Rhagae
Two stars (one on the obverse and one on the reverse) for the price of one!

 

O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.

 

What part of the sky on the 21st ?

 

In the northern hemisphere, find an unobstructed horizon in the direction of sunset (South- West), and seek them out rather low in the sky as soon as darkness falls.

 

Not one, but three.

Constantine I (306-337 AD) for Constantinus II Caesar. AE Nummus (18 mm, 2.83 g), Treveri, c. 322.


2 will be enough

Constantine II, AE follis, Heraclea. AD 329-330. CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right / PROVIDEN-TIAE CAESS, campgate, eight layers, two turrets, star above, no door. Star in left field. Mintmark SMHA RIC VII Heraclea 107

 

@Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Thank you very much!!