Let's see your Eternal Rome coins! Coins of T-Bone, or anything you feel is relevant! Coins depicting the cult statue of Roma Aeterna in Rome's Temple of Venus and Rome were issued under Trebonianus by the mints at Rome and Antioch. I have previously written about this temple. The issues from Rome include an antoninianus (RIC 63) bearing the reverse inscription ROMAE AETERNAE, and a sestertius (RIC 120) with the inscription ROMAE AETERNAE S C. Mattingly, Sydenham, and Sutherland (RIC IV.3) express doubt about the official nature of these issues. They classify the antoninianus as a hybrid with a reverse of Philip I (p. 165), and their footnote to the listing for the sestertius (p. 172) reads, "Is this correctly reported? The type is uncommon for the reign." Mattingly et al. cite Cohen as documentation for the issue and are apparently questioning the venerable French numismatist's description of the coin. But the antoninianus is no one-off mint error; the British Museum has two examples of the coin (here and here) and they share no dies. In fact, the curator notes the second of these bears the "same reverse die as Volusian (Caesar) specimen R0662." The BnF specimen cited by Cohen (p. 250, no. 105) represents a third example, and others have appeared at auction in recent years with different reverse dies. The sestertius most certainly exists as described by Cohen; an example hammered for $1700 in CNG's Triton XVIII. Therefore, I believe the antoninianus and sestertius issues from Rome were official, not mules; they are just rare. In contrast, the antoniniani issued in Antioch are more commonly encountered, such as this example in my collection. These coins differ from the Rome mint in their obverse and reverse inscriptions, reading IMP CC VIB TREB GALLVS P F AVG, and ROMAE AETERNAE AVG, respectively. This reverse type was used for all three series of Antioch; with its crudely-rendered, draped and cuirassed bust, this one is identified as belonging to the third series. I have discussed the differences between coins of the three series in a previous installment of T-Bone Tuesday. Metcalf (p. 87) noted 29 examples of the ROMAE AETERNAE AVG type among the 450 total coins in the 11 hoards he examined and noted all officinae were represented. Don't expect much luster on these coins -- my coin illustrates the severe debasement of the coins from this mint. Gallus's coins of the Antioch mint average only 18.9% silver, whereas those issued in Rome were less debased (30.9%), with the least debased being the unknown branch mint previously believed to have been Mediolanum (37.9% silver) (Pannekeet, Table 3). The British Museum's specimen of this issue from this officina was assayed in 1987 and contained 22.6% silver. Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253. Roman AR antoninianus, 3.56 g, 21.1 mm, 5 h. Antioch, 4th officina, 3rd series, AD 252-3. Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right; •••• below bust. Rev: ROMAE AETERNAE AVG, Roma seated left, holding Victory and spear; shield beside her; •••• in exergue. Refs: RIC 89; Cohen 108; RCV 9647; Hunter p. cvi.
this Aurelian is the only coin of mine that has a figure sitting and a shield underneath...i 'think' its Roma...
Here's a Licinius from Rome. AE3, 318-319 AD. 19mm 3.1 grams IMP LI-CINIVS AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust right ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated right, shield on lap inscribed X/V. P-R across fields. Mintmark: RQ Reference: RIC VII Rome 151; Cohen 150; Sear 15354.
For shame! A shield article and me aloof like FANTASTIC portrait RC!!! Also, Roma tap dancing on the world And a VERY uncomfortable looking seat!
