It's Mars' day -- let's see him!!

Unlike mardi, the French word for Tuesday, which is similar to the Latin Martis diēs ("day of Mars), the etymology of the English word for this day of the week isn't so apparent. But Tuesday stems from the Old English Tīwesdæg ("day of Tīw"), and refers to a Germanic god of war and the sky, the god Tīw being equated with the Roman god Mars. Compare with Swedish tisdag.

So let's see your Mars coins!!! Here's one of my favorites.



Trajan, AD 98-117
Roman AR denarius; 2.95 gm, 20 mm
Rome, AD 114-117
Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, laureate and draped bust, right
Rev: P M TR P COS VI P P S P Q R, Mars walking right with spear and trophy
Refs: RIC 337; BMCRE 536-40; Cohen 270; RCV --; Woytek 520v; Strack 230; BN 819.

 

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I am in a Korean class for the next few weeks so I'm going to drop some Korean knowledge on you...

In Korean, Tuesday is 화요일. The 화 is "fire"...so "Fire Day". The name for the planet Mars is 화성. (Fire star) Same "화". It also is the same Chinese character for anger.

Here is a coin featuring the poster child of 화 (anger) himself, Caracalla as well as the OG 화, Mars.

Caracalla Denarius
206 AD
Obverse: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG, laureate head right
Reverse: PONTIF TRP VIIII COS II, Mars in military dress standing left leaning on shield holding reversed spear.

 

ANONYMOUS ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Didrachm
OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Mars left, oak-sprig behind
REVERSE: ROMANO on tablet below head of bridled horse right, ear of wheat behind
Struck at Metapontum, 280-276 BC
19 mm, 6.55g
Cr13/1, Syd 1

TI VETURIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS VETURIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Helmeted bust of Mars right
REVERSE: Youth kneeling l., between two warriors who touch with their swords a pig which he holds., ROMA above
Struck at Rome 137 BC
3.7g, 18mm
Cr.234/1; RSC Veturia 1

L VALERIUS FLACCUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS VALERIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Draped bust of Victory right, star under chin
REVERSE: Mars walking left, carrying trophy; L. VALERI./ FLACCI. and a flamen's cap before and grain-ear behind
Struck at Rome 108-109 BC
3.7g, 18mm
Cr306/1, Syd 565, Valeria 11

MINUCIUS THERMUS MF ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS MINUCIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Mars left
REVERSE: Q*TERM*MF below two warriors in combat, one on left protecting a fallen man
Struck at Rome, 103BC
3.5g, 19mm
Syd 592, Cr319/1

L JULIUS CAESAR ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS JULIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: CAESAR Head of Mars left in crested helmet
REVERSE: Venus Genettris with scepter, in biga drawn by two Cupids left, lyre in field, contolmark above, L IVLI L F in ex.
Struck at Rome, 103BC
3.85g, 17mm
Cr320/1, Syd 593a.

C. POBLICIUS MALLEOLUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Mars right; mallet (malleolus) above
REVERSE: CMAL, Naked warrior standing left before trophy, holding spear in right hand, and placing right foot on cuirass, on left, a trophy, and behind, grasshopper above prow, border of dots
Struck at Rome, 96 BC
3.5g, 19mm
Crawford 335/3d; Poblicia 6b

TRAJAN
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P, laureate bust right with aegis
REVERSE: SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI, Mars standing front with spear & shield
Struck at Rome, 106-111 AD 3.2g, 18mm
RIC 162, C 378

PROBUS
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, radiate & cuirassed bust right.
REVERSE: MARS VICTOR, Mars advancing right, bearing trophy & spear. Mintmark III
Struck at Lugdunum, 277 AD
5.1g, 23mm
RIC 37, III

NUMERIAN
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: M AVR NVMERIANVS NOB C, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: MARS VICTOR, Mars advancing right with spear & trophy, C to right
Struck at Lugdunum, 284 AD
3.5g, 22.5mm
RIC 353c

 

Very nice!

Wow! What a collection of Republican Mars coins!

 

Believe me, if I didn't have to be in this class, I wouldn't be...It's making my brain hurt.

 

Marcus Aurelius
AR Denarius, Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180).

(175-176)
Obv: M ANTONINVS AVG GERM SARM
Rev: TR P XXX IMP VIII COS III, Mars
Ref: RIC 349
Weight: 3.23gr

(an excellent coin in hand but pics from the auction house are just strange)

 

Caracalla sporting a Mars reverse..

 

A pair of Mars minted during the pre-211 Reform...

LITRA - AE


RR Anon AE Litra 241-235 BC Mars Beardless Horse Head Craw 25-3 Sear 594


HEAVY QUINARIUS / DRACHM - AR


RR Anon Ca 240 BCE AR Drachm 16mm 3.0g Rome Helmet Hd Mars r - Horse’s hd sickle Craw 25-2 Syd 25 RSC 34a Rare

 

P. Satrienus, Denarius - Rome mint, 77 BC
Head of helmeted Mars right, XXX behind
ROMA, She wolf passing left, [P] SATRI[E/NUS] at exergue
3.79 gr
Ref : RCV #319, RSC, Satriena # 1



Elagabalus, Denarius - Rome mint, ca AD 218-219
IMP CAES M AVR ANTONINVS AVG, laureate and draped bust right
MARS VICTOR, Mars advancing right
3.49 gr
Ref : Cohen # 109v, RCV # 7526, RIC # 123



Severus Alexander, Denarius - Rome mint, AD 225
IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, Laureate and draped bust right
P M TRP IIII COS P P Mars advancing right, carrying spear and trophy
3.19 gr
Ref : RCV # 7898 (75), C # 260



Quintillus, Antoninianus - Mediolanum mint, AD 270
IMP QUINTILL[VS AVG], radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
[M]ARTI PACI, Mars standing left, holding olive branch and spear
2.8 gr
Ref : RCV # 11447,



Constantine the Great, Follis - Trierc mint, 1st officina
IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust of Constantine right
MARTI PATRI PROPVGNATORI, Mars walking right, holding spear and shield. S A in field, PTR at exergue
7.40 gr, 26 mm
Ref : RC #3864, Cohen #368

Q

 

MORE ROMAN REPUBLIC PRE-211 REFORM MARS:


RR Anon AR Heavy Denarius - Didrachm 310-300 BCE 7.3g 21mm Mars-Horse ROMANO - FIRST Cr 13-1 Left



RR Anon AE Litra 230-226 BC Mars Club Galloping Horse Craw 27-2 Sear 596

 

My newest Mars, purchased last month and not posted before now:

(I couldn't resist the little smile on Severus Alexander's face!)

Severus Alexander AR Denarius 232 AD Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate and draped bust right, seen from front, IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG/ Rev. Mars Ultor (“Mars the Avenger”) advancing right in military dress, holding transverse, spear and shield, cape flying behind, MARS VLTOR. RIC IV-2 246, RSC III 161a (ill.), Sear RCV II 7882 (ill.), BMCRE 831. 20 mm., 2.91 g.



Another Imperial Mars (seemingly with a mustache), with another slightly smiling figure on the obverse:

Hostilian Caesar (son of Trajan Decius), AR Antoninianus, 251 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C / Rev. Mars running right, holding spear in right hand and shield in left, MARTI PROPVGNATORI (Mars the Defender). RIC IV-3 177b, RSC IV 15, Sear RCV III 9556 (ill.). 22 mm., 3.65 g.



Five Roman Republican Marses (footnotes omitted):

The first Mars ever to appear on the obverse of a Roman republican denarius:

Roman Republic, Ti. Veturius, AR Denarius 137 BCE. Obv. Helmeted head of Mars right, TI. VET (monogrammed) and X behind head. / Rev. Youth holding pig, kneeling left, head right, between two soldiers who touch the pig with their swords, ROMA above. RSC I Veturia 1, Crawford 234/1, Sydenham 527, Sear RCV I 111 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 550. 18 mm., 3.8 g. [First Republican denarius to have head of anyone other than Roma on obverse.]



A Mars who hasn't missed a meal:

Roman Republic, Q. Thermus M.f., AR Denarius 103 BCE. Obv. Head of Mars left with crested, plumed helmet/ Rev. Roman soldier advancing right, fighting with uplifted sword a barbarian soldier before him, while protecting with shield a fallen comrade at his feet, Q THERM.MF. in exergue (THE and MF in monograms). RSC I Minucia [Q. Minucius Rufus] 19 (ill.), Crawford 319/1, Sear RCV I 198 (ill.), BMCRR Italy 653. 19.4 mm., 3.97 g.



Not that Julius Caesar, but his second cousin or second cousin once removed. Also Mark Antony's maternal grandfather:

Roman Republic, L. [Lucius] Julius L.f. Caesar, 103 BCE, Rome Mint. Obv. Head of Mars left wearing helmet with long crest, feather on side, and peaked visor; behind, CAESAR upwards; above, control-mark (retrograde open “P” with two dots, one above and one below) / Rev. Venus Genetrix driving biga of cupids left, holding scepter in right hand and reins with both hands; above reins, control-mark (same as on obverse); beneath cupids to left, lyre; in exergue, L•IVLI•L•F. Crawford 320/1, RSC I Julia 4 (ill.), Sydenham 593, Sear RCV I 198 (ill.), BMCRR 1405-1434 [this control-mark not included; cf. 1430-1431, each with retrograde open “P” with only one dot as control-mark, one with dot above and the other with dot below.] 16 mm., 3.83 g., 9 h.



Mars needing to see his dermatologist:

Roman Republic, P. Satrienus, AR Denarius, 77 BCE. Obv. Helmeted head of Mars right, control-number (L[in archaic form of upside-down T]XXXVIIII = 89) behind/ Rev. She-wolf standing left with right front paw raised, ROMA above, P. SATRIE-NVS in two lines below. RSC I Satriena 1, Crawford 388/1b, Sear RCV I 319 (ill.), Harlan, RRM I Ch. 15 at pp. 92-97, BMCRR Rome 3209-3237 [no entry for control no. 89; cf. 3236 (no. 99)]. 18 mm., 3.87 g., 3 hr.




A young Mars, unusually shown with a little beard:

Roman Republic, Publius Fonteius P.f. Capito, AR Denarius 55 BCE [Harlan: 54 BCE], Rome mint. Obv. Helmeted and draped bust of Mars with slight beard, right, with trophy over far shoulder, P•FONTEIVS•P•F•CAPITO•III•VIR counter-clockwise around / Rev. Helmeted and caped Roman soldier on horseback galloping right, thrusting his spear down at helmeted Gallic warrior crouching beneath horse, holding his shield up with left hand to try to fend off horse, and thrusting sword with his right hand at unarmed captive to left; the captive’s Gallic helmet [and shield, off flan] sailing off to lower right; MN•FONT•TR•MIL clockwise above. Crawford 429/1, RSC I Fonteia 17, Sear RCV I 392 (ill.), Sydenham 900, Harlan RRM II Ch, 22 at pp. 174-175 [Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and Their Coins 63 BCE-49 BCE (2nd Revised Edition 2015)]. 17.8 mm., 3.97 g. (Purchased from Zuzim Inc., Brooklyn, NY, Aug. 2020. Ex: Roma Numismatics, E-Sale 54, Feb. 28, 2019, Lot 558 [see https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=5704785]; Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 100, May 29, 2017, Lot 329 [see https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nac/browse?a=131&l=114088]; Ex: Gerhard Hirsch Auction 168, Nov. 22-24, 1990, Munich, Lot 434. Formerly in NGC slab, Cert. No. 4629554-001, Graded Ch. AU, Strike: 4/5, Surface 4/5.)



Finally, my cast bronze figurine of Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger), 2nd-3rd Century AD -- so roughly contemporaneous with my Severus Alexander Mars Ultor -- based on the statue at Rome. Bearded face, military garb, crested helmet, cuirass, greaves, etc. Spear and sword lost in antiquity. Height: 60 mm. (2 3/8"). Ex: CNG, Sale 75, Lot 1514, May 23, 2007.*







*CNG was never known for any particular expertise with respect to ancient artifacts -- I don't know if they still ever sell them, or, if not, when they stopped -- but as part of an overall appraisal of my antiquities collection, an expert recently confirmed its authenticity, and that it is what it purports to be. (He found only one artifact he thought was fake out of 53, which really isn't bad. Fortunately, it's something I spent only $50 on, 35 years ago. The advice to buy only from reputable and knowledgeable dealers generally works for antiquities, as it does for ancient coins. I didn't buy the Mars directly from CNG, but from another dealer.)

 

OTHER MARS


Larinum, Frentani (Italia)
210-175 BCE
AE Quincunx
22mm 9.8g
Mars corinthian helmet-
Galloping Horseman spear shield thunderbolt 5 pellets
NH Italy 625 BMC 2 SCARCE




Sicily, Mamertini
288-278 BCE
AE Pentonkion
Mars-
Eagle
Mercenary Samnites occupying Messana

 

Where would Mar's be without shelter, the temple of Mar's Rome.
Augustus denarius 18 BC, Spanish mint (Colonia Partica?) Denarius AR 17mm., 3,48g.
CAESAR AVGVSTO, laureate head right / S P -Q R, temple of Mars Ultor: round-domed, tetrastyle temple set on podium of three steps, within which is a chariot right, carrying an aquila and miniature galloping horses.

RIC 119.

 

PUR-dee!

 

MARTI PACIFERO

MARS VLTOR

 

I think your Severus Alexander is the same type as mine?

 

You're right. Also, you have beautiful republican denarii.

 

An awesome and historically very interesting RR denarius. Impressive.

It even looks as he would be doing a war dance

A Trajan Denarius, Mars walking left (I think I have shared it before, if that's the case apologies for the repetition) :

18 x 19 mm, 3.065 g
Rome 103 - 111 AD

Ob.: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P Bust of Trajan to r., laureate, draped on left shoulder
Rev.: COS V P P SPQR OPTIMO PRINC Mars, helmeted, in military dress, advancing l., holding Victory in r. hand and trophy in left

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