From time-to-time history has a way of being more dramatic than theater. By that I mean there are periods of time in the Roman Empire, that if true, rival the likes of Game of Thrones. Perhaps GoT without the dragons would be more fitting. When I think of Julia Doman I tend to think about the drama between Caracalla and Geta. There really is so much more to the story including campaigning, achieving title, managing government and certainly no shortage of good old fashion Roman Empire intrigue. I left some links at the end if you wanted to read more detail than I put here, but I know we're here for the metal: Julia Domna 193-211 A.D. denarius RSC 168a Pudicitia struck 196-202 in Syria IVLIA AVGVSTA / PVDICITIA; Pudicitia seated to left Julia was born at Emesa, Syria (present-day Homs) in 160 CE. She came from the wealthy, politically connected royal family of Emesa. Julia's ancestors had been nobility in Emesa until the late 1st century CE. Her father was a high priest in the temple of the sun god El-Gabal (Latinized as Elagabalus….), and her older sister, Julia Maesa, was the grandmother of two future emperors herself. Her father's uncle, Julius Agrippa, was a wealthy man who had been a senior centurion of a Roman army legion (Levick, Julia Domna: Syrian Empress, p.18). Julia Domna 193-211 A.D. sestertius RIC 859 Cybele struck 198 in Roma IVLIA AVG AVGVSTA / [MATER DEVM] S C Cybele seated left on throne flanked by two lions, holding branch and resting on drum After Severus's ascent to the throne in 193 CE, Julia established herself as a dynamic force in solidifying her family's imperial power. But she contended for influence with Severus' praetorian prefect, Plautianus, and at one point was forced into a trial on charges of adultery. She appears to have won the power struggle, however, as Plautianus was executed in 205 CE for plotting the overthrow of Severus's family. Here is the late reign with the Pia Felix title, after the death of Severus (and a few other relatives..): Julia Domna 193-211 A.D. ant RIC 388a Venus Struck 216 in Roma IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG / VENVS GENETRIX Venus enthroned left, right hand extended, holding scepter Hope you enjoyed my coins here are some links for some quick reading Julia Domna - World History Encyclopedia (ancient.eu) Geta | Coin Talk At last - The complete Year of Five Emperors | Coin Talk NGC Ancients: Collecting the Severan Dynasty | NGC (ngccoin.com) I'd love to see your Julia Domna. I don't have anything of Geta and would love to see your examples of that as well.
A survey showing six phases of Domna denarii: Alexandria mint Syrian mint (possibly several?) Rome, early period with IVLIA DOMNA AVG Rome middle period IVLIA AVGVSTA Rome, later in lifetime of Septimius with new hair style heavier at the bottom After death of Septimius IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG Of course from Rome you can get bronzes like this middle period sestertius. And then there are thousands of Provincials for those really into Domna. This tetradrachm is from Alexandria near the beginning of the reign but they are found from all periods and many, many cities.
Three very nice coins, @IMP Shogun. My favorite Domna is one that also features her two squabbling brats. JULIA DOMNA AR Denarius. 3.0g, 19.5mm. Rome mint, AD 201. RIC 540; Vagi 1723; BMC 4. O: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right; hair elaborately waved. R: AETERNIT IMPERI, laureate and draped bust of Caracalla right, vis-à-vis bareheaded and draped bust of Geta left. Ex Dr. Walter Neussel Collection I also like the one below which names her mother of emperors and mother of the Senate. JULIA DOMNA AR Denarius. 2.93g, 20.3mm. Rome mint, AD 211 (under Caracalla). RIC IV (Caracalla) 381. O: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right; hair waved vertically and fastened in large bun on back; five ridges. R: MAT AVGG MAT SEN M PATR, Julia Domna seated left, holding branch extended in right hand, sceptre transverse, pointing up to right, in left. Ex A.K. Collection (Triton XX, 9 Jan 17, part of Lot 614); ex stock Münzen und Medaillen Basel 1969
Talk about wishful thinking, here's Concordia: Julia Domna Augusta, A.D 193-217 Provincial Silver Denarius Laodicea ad Mare (or Antiochia ad Orontem?) mint, A.D. 196-202 Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA Rev: CONCORDIA - Concordia, seated left, holding patera and double cornucopiae RIC (Septimius Severus) 637 18mm, 3.7g. Sometimes hope isn't enough: Geta, as Caesar Caesar, A.D. 198-209 Augustus, A.D. 209-212 Silver Denarius Rome mint, A.D. 198-200 Obv: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES Rev: SPES PVBLICA - Spes, advancing left, holding flower and raising skirt RIC 4 18mm, 3.4g.
I have several dozen coins of Julia Domna, but far and away my favorite is this one. Is there anything cooler than a quadriga drawn by four lions? Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 3.30 g, 19 mm, 6 h. Rome, 21st emission, AD 205. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: MATER AVGG, Julia Domna, as Cybele, seated left in quadriga of lions and holding branch in her right hand. Refs: RIC 562; BMCRE 48; Cohen/RSC 117; RCV 6592; Hill 759; CRE 354.
Some provincials: PISIDIA, Antiochia. Julia Domna. Augusta, AD 193-217. Æ 23mm . Draped bust right / Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia. SNG France 1126-34 Ionia. Ephesos. Geta AD 198-211. Bronze Æ18 mm., 3,86 g. (209-211). Ae. Obv: Λ CEΠ ΓETAC KAI. Bare headed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: EΦECIΩN. Stag standing right. Karwiese 553. SNG Cop 428 Weight: 3.08 g. Diameter: 17 mm. And my first (and currently onlly) Julia Domna denarius. I posted this coin on one of my first messages here on CT. Julia Domna AR Denarius. Rome Mint 196-211 AD. Obverse: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right. Reverse: VENVS FELIX, Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple in right hand and drawing drapery from shoulder. RIC IV: 580, RSC III 198
Julia Domna Ar Antoninianus 215 AD Obv. Bust right diademed draped on crescent. Rv. Luna driving biga of galloping horses left. RIC 379a (Caracalla) 5.08 grms 24 mm Photo by W. Hansen I maybe going out on a limb here but it would appear that this is the first instance that a crescent placed below the bust of a female member of a Roman Imperial family was used to denote a double denomination. It does not seem to found on any of her dupondii. For us determining a dupondius is rather difficult as the coin is usually covered with a patina. Thus unless it has a radiate crown it can be tricky especially as in the case of Emperors like Hadrian laureate dupondii and asses often share the same reverse type. Later the crescent became popular and dupondii minted for empresses such as Otacilia Severa and Salonina usually have them
My favourite Domna portrait is probably this provincial from Thessalonika: Another favourite is this Alexandria denarius: For Rome mint, I like this As:
Do I have too many Domna denarii? I don't think so! These are all from the Rome mint. Note how the portrait style still changes over time: Julia Domna, Roman Empire, denarius, 193–196 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA DOMNA AVG; bust of Julia Domna, draped, r. Rev: VENERI VICTR, Venus standing with back turned, head r., holding apple in r. hand and palm in l., resting l. elbow on column. 18mm, 4.13g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 536. Julia Domna, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 196–211 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA; bust of Julia Domna, draped, r. Rev: CERERI FRVGIF; Ceres, draped, seated l., holding corn-ears in her r. hand and torch in l. hand. 19mm, 3.65g. RIC IV Septimius Severus 546. Julia Domna, Roman Empire, denarius, 196–211 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA; bust of Julia Domna, draped, r. Rev: IVNO, Iuno standing l., holding patera and sceptre, peacock at feet l. 18mm, 3.20g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 559. 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. Julia Domna, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 196–211 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA; bust of Julia Domna, draped, r. Rev: VESTAE SANCTAE; Vesta standing l., holding patera and sceptre. 17.5mm, 3.08g. Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 587. Julia Domna, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 211–217 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG; bust of Julia Domna, draped, r. Rev: DIANA LVCIFERA; Diana, draped, standing l., holding a torch in both hands. 19mm, 3.09g. Ref: RIC IV Caracalla 373A.
