Fortuna X2

I recently acquired these two coins during the holidays and thought it appropriate they should be posted together. One is rare the other isn't.



Vespasian
Æ Dupondius, 12.30g
Lyon mint, 77-78 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS VIII P P; Head of Vespasian, radiate, l.; globe at point of bust
Rev: FORTVNAE REDVCI; S C in field; Fortuna stg. l., with rudder on globe and cornucopiae
RIC 1216 (R). BMC p. 207 note. BNC -.
Acquired from eBay, December 2020. Formerly in NGC holder #5770255-021, with grade 'F'.

A possible shortage of bronze coinage in the Western provinces late in Vespasian's reign likely prompted the Lyon mint to temporarily reopen in 77-78 and strike a fairly substantial issue of coinage. The types copy many of those struck at Rome, including this Fortuna. Very rare with radiate bust left. Missing from both the BM and Paris collections. FORTVNAE REDVCI, Fortuna the 'homebringer', commemorates Vespasian's safe return to Rome from the East in 70 AD.



Domitian
Æ As, 8.76g
Rome mint, 88 AD
Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIIII CENS PER P P; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: FORTVNAE AVGVSTI; S C in field; Fortuna stg. l., with rudder and cornucopiae
RIC 648 (C2). BMC 416. BNC 452.
Acquired from eBay, December 2020.

This common Fortuna type was repeatedly struck throughout Domitian's reign on his middle bronze. She also fleetingly showed up on the denarius in 82. Mattingly calls this Fortuna 'the special Fortuna that watches over the imperial office'. Suetonius writes that near the end of Domitian's reign on 1 January 96 'The Fortuna of Praeneste, which throughout the whole time he was emperor had habitually given him a happy and virtually the same answer to him whenever he entrusted the new year to her care, finally gave a most gloomy answer - and not without the mention of blood.'


Fortuna is a very common type on the Flavian bronze coinage. Both of these coins struck ten years apart and at separate mints illustrate different attributes of the goddess.

Please post your Fortunas!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Q. SICINIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS SICINIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: FORT P.R, diademed head of Fortuna right
REVERSE: Q. SICINIVS below, III. VIR across field, caduceus and palm in saltire, laurel wreath above
Rome 49 BC
3.64g, 17mm
CR 440/1; Sicinia 5

VESPASIAN
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right
REVERSE: COS ITER FORT RED, Fortuna standing left, resting hand on galley prow and holding cornucopia
Struck at Rome, 70 AD
2.62g, 18mm
RIC 19; RSC 84
EX David Atherton Collection

NERVA
AE Dupondius
OBVERSE: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS II P P Radiate head right
REVERSE: FORTVNA AVGVST S-C, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia
Struck at Rome, 96AD
8.8g, 26mm
RIC 61

 

This must be a common type for more than one date. My COS XII came to me in 1988. At that time I had no interest in Domitian, little interest in Flavians and was attracted more to the green patina than anything else.

 

Here’s my example

 

Here's a Fortuna:

Nerva AR Denarius 97 AD, Obv. Laureate head right, IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P COS III P P/ Rev. Fortuna standing left holding rudder & cornucopiae, R FORTVNA AVGVST. RIC II-1 Nerva 16 (2007 ed.); RSC II 66. 18.6 mm., 3.45 g.

 

Nice pair of Fortunii David separated by 10 years. Here's mine...


RIC 0544 Domitian As
IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIII CENS PER PP
Laureate head of Domitian right

FORTVNAE AVGVSTI SC
Fortuna standing left holding rudder and cornucopiae

Rome 87 AD

10.9g

RIC 544 (C3)

A common coin with very nice portrait.

 

Here's a FORTVNAE REDVCI, Fortuna the 'homebringer', anticipating (?) commemorating Septimius' safe return to Rome from the West (Gaul) in 196 AD. Septimius Severus defeated Clodius Albinus in Feb 196 at the Battle of Lugdunum. Reference: @curtisclay discussion in forum, providing an overview of evidence that Feb 19, 196 (not 197) is the date of Clodius Albinus' defeat.

Septimius Severus, AD 193-211, Æ Sestertius, Rome mint, struck AD 196 Obv: SEPT SEV PERT AVG IIMP VIII. Laureate head right
Rev: FORTVNAE REDVCI, Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopia; wheel below seat, S C in exergue
Ref: RIC IV 720a

 

same dupondius as the OP , different mint

 

Sulla80,

Actually Septimius defeated Albinus near Lugdunum on 19 Feb. 196 (IMP VIII) not 197 (IMP VIIII), so your nice FORTVNAE REDVCI coin commemorates his return from Gaul to Rome in summer 196.

So, at least, according to my new chronology for the years 195-7, summarized online in the Forum discussion group, search for Battle of Lugdunum.

 

Thank Curtis, great to have the info and that certainly makes this coin easier to understand! I modified my post to provide the forum link for others interested.

 

Too many to post. Here are some favorites.


Hadrian, AD 117-138.
Roman AR denarius, 3.44 g, 17.5 mm, 7:00.
Rome, AD 121.
Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder.
Rev: P M TR P COS III, Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae and resting on column.
Refs: RIC 86b; BMCRE 170; RSC 1155; UCR 206; RCV 3521.


Faustina I, AD 138-141.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.12 g, 32.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 150.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, Bust of Faustina I, draped and veiled, right.
Rev: AETERNITAS S C, Fortuna, draped, standing left, holding globe on extended right hand and long rudder, vertical in left hand.
Refs: RIC 1107b; BMCRE 1499-1500; Cohen 8; Strack 1267; RCV 4608 v.; Dinsdale 021000.
Notes: Obverse die-match to BMCRE 1499.


Faustina Junior, AD 161-175.
Roman AR denarius, 2.82 g, 17.7 mm, 2 h.
Rome, AD 161-175.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: FORTVNAE MVLIEBRI, Fortuna Muliebris enthroned left, holding rudder and cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 683; BMCRE 96; Cohen 107; RCV 5253; CRE 181.


Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
Roman AR denarius, 3.14 gm, 17.8 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 196-211.
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: FORTVNAE FELICI, Fortuna seated left, holding cornucopia in right hand and resting left elbow on rudder on globe; to left, child standing right.
Refs: RIC 554; BMCRE 29; RCV --; RSC/Cohen 57; Hill 920; CRE 335; ERIC II 89.


Elagabalus, AD 218-222.
Roman AR Antoninianus, 5.17 g, 21.3 mm, 11 h.
Rome, AD 219.
Obv: IMP ANTONINVS AVG, radiate and draped bust, right.
Rev: P M TR PII COSII P P, Fortuna enthroned left, holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae; wheel below seat.
Refs: RIC 18; BMCRE 94; Cohen 148; RCV 7495.


Gallienus, AD 253-268.
Roman billon antoninianus, 3.39 g, 20.1 mm, 11 h.
Antioch, AD 266-267.
Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiated and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna standing left, holding short caduceus and cornucopiae; VII C in exergue.
Refs: RIC 613 F; Göbl 1640b; Cohen 277; RCV 10220.
Notes: VII C probably refers to Gallienus' 7th (and final) consulate, AD 266-68.


Aurelian, AD 279-275.
Roman billon antoninianus, 3.61 gm, 20.6 mm.
Obv: IMP AVRELIANVS AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust, r.
Rev: FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna seated l., holding rudder and cornucopiae, wheel under seat; S in exergue.
Refs: RIC 128; MER/RIC 1466; CBN 452; Sear 11539; MIR 16, Hunter p. cx.