CHRISTMAS ' STAR

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Struck at Antioch during the reign of Tiberius, the star above the ram on reverse is thought to represent the "Star of Bethlehem ".

 

BUMP. Sorry but tonight is THE night. Next rendez-vous is in 60 years...

 

Happy Solstice and conjunction!

SOLI INV-I-CT COM DN, Sol standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding globe, right hand raised. Star in left field, crescent in right.

Head of

Sol and star.


Star over P.



Æ12 Tessera. Rome mint. Crescent and stars series.

 

Hoping for clear sky's tonight.

 

For anyone interested, an author named Michael Molnar wrote a book about this star. He is an Astro-physicist, as I recollect.

 

The Byzantines loved to add stars to some of their coinage.

Here are a couple of folles of Justinian I.

Byzantine Empire, circa 536-537 AD
AE follis
Justinian I
Antioch (Theoupolis)
Obverse: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG, Justinian I enthroned, holding a long scepter in his right hand and a globus cruciger in his left.
Reverse: Large M, cross above, stars on both sides, delta below, +THEUP in exergue.
SB 214.
17.3 grams
32mm, 6h.

This coin is an earlier, pre-reform follis from Antioch. The reverse appears to have the star on the right within a large C or crescent, perhaps an astrological reference?




Byzantine Empire
AE follis, pre-reform
Justinian I
Constantinople
Obverse: DN IVSTINIANVS PP AV, Justinian I, wearing a laureate, facing right.
Reverse: Large M, cross above, star to the left, cross to the right, delta below, CON in exergue.
SB 158
14.8 grams
28.5mm, 11h.

This fairly common follis came out of large auction lot last year. The mint appears to be Constantinople, although it is somewhat weak.




Finally, in honor of night's cosmic event, here's a blast from the past, the Fifth Dimension, The Age of Aquarius, let the sun shine in:

 

Seven stars, crescent and one centration dot Septimius Severus, 'Emesa' mint SAECVL FELICIT


Equal time for Julia Domna but this reverse die has two dots following the legend.

 

Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions happen every 20 years; the last one was in the year 2000. But these conjunctions aren't all created equal. The 2020 great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be the closest since 1623 and the closest observable since 1226!

 

Had a very clear night sky and view of the Christmas Star in Idaho.

 

Very Clear and very visible here in Florida.