The Romans loathed the idea of kings, even Augustus proclaimed himself as the 'first citizen', while the role was basically a monarchy with it's characteristic hierarchical transfer of power, the emperors were sure to portray themselves as an equal, at least until the third century crisis. Even Caesar declined the crown offered by Antony as to not seem like a king, and all the emperors looked up to Caesar as their role model, then why did they issue coins featuring a radiate crown similar to the ones worn by the Eastern kings? What message were they trying to send? Afaik Caligula was the first to issue coins with radiate busts, but Nero seemed to have taken it to the next level! And other emperors followed suit! Also are there any existing archaeological records of these radiate crowns? I've seen the gold laurel wreaths (of course online), but no such radiates!!
For some reason they picked this symbol of Sol (Greek Helios) as a feature on the Dupondius in relatively early times. The Ptolemaic kings occasionally wore radiate crowns on their gold coins, and similarly the Colossus of Rhodes with radiate crown was stamped on the coins of that city. Early on the crown came to symbolize a value of double the less valuable denomination (the as) and then this tradition was carried on in the silver antoninianus first issued by Caracalla. Note also that the crown disappears in the time of Maximian and Diocletian when the antoninianus ceased to be minted as well as the coin known as the post-reform radiate.
The three earliest Roman radiate crowns I have are: This Alexandrian tetradrachm of Nero with a personified Alexandria on the reverse (RPC I 5289, Emmett 109.12) (the Nero isn't a "double" denomination of any kind, so I don't know the explanation for the radiate crown): and these two dupondii, issued by Hadrian (Virtus, Sear RCV II 3670): and Antoninus Pius (Pietas & children, RIC III 1035): The earliest antoninianus I have is this coin issued by Caracalla (ca. 215-217 AD, RIC IV-3 311(d)) with Venus Victrix on the reverse: Finally, my earliest radiate coin of any kind, from ca. 188-170 BCE, is this example of a radiate Helios on a plinthophoric drachm from Rhodes (HGC 6, 1457):
My earliest radiate crown, a coin with honest wear but I like it a lot Trajan AD 98-117. Rome Dupondius Æ 27 mm, 9,85 g RIC II Trajan 385 Date Range: AD 98 - AD 99 Obverse Legend: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM P M Type: Head of Trajan, radiate, right Reverse Legend: TR POT COS II S C Type: Abundantia seated left on chair with crossed cornucopiae, holding sceptre in right Favorite antoninianus: RIC IV Trajan Decius 12b Trajan Decius AD 249-251. Rome Antoninianus AR 21 mm., 2,28 g. Date Range: AD 249 - AD 251 Obverse Legend: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG Type: Bust of Trajan Decius, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right Reverse Legend: DACIA; Type: Dacia, draped in long robe reaching feet, standing left holding staff topped with a wolf's head (Draco)
My understanding is that the radiate crown was rarely if ever worn by a Roman emperor in real life. Rather, it was originally an artistic element evoking Sol Invictus. In the case of Nero, some have suggested a more specific connection to the Mithraic mysteries. Through its use on the dupondius, it became a marker of 'double' denominations.
I’ve never seen any archaeological evidence of radiate crowns. There are a few laureate crowns extant (mostly Greek) but never seen a single remain of a radiate. Makes me wonder if they were really worn or just a symbol for art
My oldest radiate crown is Seleucid, Alexander II Sabinas Æ Double On his coins, he is simply “King Alexander”. As far as denominations go, like so many ancient coins, we don't know the original names. There is a neutral, alphabetic system in place for Seleucid bronze. This one would be Denomination B (6.5-9.3 g). 20.54 mm, 7.97 g Seleucis and Pieria, Antiochia ad Orontem, 128 - 123 BC BMC 23; Babelon Rois, 1303; SNG Spaer 2339-2340, 2342; Houghton SC 2237.3; SNG Copenhagen 368 Ob.: Diademed and radiate head right Rev.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, double cornucopia oriented to r., tied together with fillet, A above wreath at left, Π at right
You are right, here a collection of them: 1) Cyprus, VII-III century BC, Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, Germany. 2) Aigai tomb, IV century BC. Louvre. 3) IV-III Century BC. Benaki museum, Athen. 4) Ghirlanda d'oro di foglie di quercia e fiori dall'Attica. II - I century BC, HISTORY CANADIAN MUSEUM, Quebec. 5) IV century BC, Boston. 6) Ghirlanda di Mirto d'oro da Corinto. IV - III century BC, Houston.
My two earliest Roman radiate crowns: Trajan Caesar, A.D. 97 Augustus, A.D. 98-117 Bronze (Orichalcum) Dupondius Rome mint, A.D. 103-111 Obv: IMP CAES NERVAE TRAIANO AVG GER DAC P M TR P COS V P P Rev: SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI - Fortuna standing, facing left, holding cornucopia and resting rudder on prow of ship, between S and C RIC 402 29mm, 8.6g. Hadrian Augustus, A.D. 117 - 138 Bronze (Orichalcum) Dupondius Rome mint, (Group E) Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P Rev: COS III - Salus, seated, feeding snake coiled around altar SC in exergue RIC 972 28mm, 10.6g. And my two latest Roman radiate crowns: Maximian (Herculius) Caesar, A.D. 285-286 Augustus, A.D. 286-305; 307-310 Bronze Pre-Reform Antoninianus Lugdunum mint, A.D. 287 Obv: IMP C VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG Rev: HERCVLI PACIFERO - Hercules, holding branch, club and lion's skin Γ in field RIC 371 20mm, 3.2g. Constantine I ("the Great") Caesar, etc., A.D. 306-307 Augustus, A.D. 307-337 Alexandria mint, A.D. 306-307 RIC 85 Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM - Prince, on left, in military dress, receiving gift of Victory (with wreath) on globe from Jupiter, leaning on scepter ALE in exergue; Γ in field 20 mm, 3.5 g.
The radiate crown looks pretty much like a real headgear on coinage. Mostly I have read that this crown did not exist until Gallienus made one and wore it (what is possibly just another bias against him calling him decadent and vain). What makes me sceptic about this opinion is the fact that this crown always has ribbons (sometimes with pearls on them) in the neck area. Why would a virtual ring of light have that? Here my oldest and newest example of this crown: Dupondius - Emperor Domitian - 92-94 - Rome mint Follis - Emperor Licinius - 321-324 - Cyzikus mint
