R.I.P., Mighty Isis

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, Oct 24, 2021.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    I am sad to report that Joanna Cameron, who played Isis on the Saturday morning childrens' program, "The Secrets of Isis," has died of a stroke at the age of 70.

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    The show aired from Sept. 6, 1975 to Oct. 23, 1976. I was 12. She was one of my first celebrity crushes. Requiescat in pace, Ms. Cameron.

    Here's are some coins depicting Mighty Isis.

    Claudius II SALVS AVG Isis and sistrum.jpg
    Claudius II Gothicus, AD 268-270.
    Roman billon antoninianus, 4.07 g, 22.4 mm, 5 h.
    Antioch, officina 5, issue 1, end 268-end 269.
    Obv: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
    Rev: SALVS AVG, Isis standing left, holding sistrum and situla; Є in exergue.
    Refs: RIC 217A; MER/RIC temp 1024; Cohen 256; RCV 11370; Huvelin 1990, 10; Normanby 1109.

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    Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
    Roman AR denarius, 3.61 g, 17.7 mm, 12 h.
    Rome, AD 196-202.
    Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: SAECVLI FELICITAS, Isis, wearing polos, standing right, foot on prow(?) (stool?), holding wreath and infant Horus; behind them, a ship’s rudder leans against an altar.
    Refs: RIC 577; BMCRE 75-82; Hill 504; Cohen 174; RCV 6606.

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    Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 205 BC-180 BC
    AE hemidrachm, 18.84 g; 28.4 mm
    Alexandria, ca. 197-183/2 BC
    Obv: Corn-wreathed head of Isis, right
    Rev: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, eagle standing on winged thunderbolt, left
    Refs: Svoronos 1235; Sear Greek 7880; BMCG 6.94,72; SNG VIII (Hart) 1175; Forrer 80.

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    Annia Faustina, 3rd wife of Elagabalus, Augusta, 221 CE.
    Isinda, Pisidia; AE 25.0 mm, 8.55 gm
    Obv: ANNIAN FAVCTEINAN, Dr. bust of Faustina r.
    Rev: Confronted heads of Serapis and Isis, in field, E-Delta (yr. 4 ).
    Refs: Ex Lindgren I A1322A, ex von Aulock, Pisidia I 833 (Plate coin for both references).
     
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  3. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    Ptolemy V Ae Obol Alexandria circa 180 BC Obv. Head of Isis right. Rv Eagle standing left head reverted wings closed with cornucopia on shoulder. Svorones 1238 4.44 grms 17 mm Photo by W. Hansen Sv1238-2ptVI.jpg
     
  4. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    Sorry to hear that. Herewith some coins depicting Isis, all but one showing her with the infant Harpocrates ( = "Horus-the-child"). Detailed descriptions omitted given that I've posted all of them before:

    Julia Domna denarius
    New Julia Domna - Isis COMBINED.jpg

    Hadrian diobol, Roman Alexandria
    Hadrian Roman Alexandria Diobol, Isis & Harpokrates reverse.jpg

    Antoninus Pius tetradrachm, Roman Alexandria
    Antoninus Pius - Alexandria (Isis & Harpokrates on reverse).jpg

    Antoninus Pius tetradrachm, Roman Alexandria (Isis Pharia on reverse)
    Ant. Pius - Alexandria - Isis Pharia standing rt. holding sail - jpg version.jpg
    Plus one ancient artifact also depicting Isis with the infant Horus:

    Egypt (26th Dynasty - Ptolemaic period), green faience amulet depicting Isis, wearing “stepped throne” crown (in form of hieroglyph for Isis's name, Queen of Throne)*, right breast bare, seated on elaborate chair with cross-hatched/basket pattern on sides; on her lap, her son the infant Horus (a/k/a Harpocrates, “Horus-the-child”), wearing sidelock resting upwards against her body; her left hand holds him up behind his head, with her right hand about to offer her breast to him. 60.3 mm. (2 3/8”) H, 30 mm D. Purchased 1/10/2021, Explorer Ancient Art, NYC, ex. DW Collection, NJ (before 1981). [Dealer's photos.]

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    *See, e.g., https://egyptianmuseum.org/deities-isis (Isis "is known today by her Greek name Isis; however, the ancient Egyptians called her Aset. Her name translates to 'Queen of the Throne' which is reflected in her headdress, which is typically a throne");https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isis ("The hieroglyphic writing of her name incorporates the sign for a throne, which Isis also wears on her head as a sign of her identity"); https://www.metmuseum.org/about-the...n-art/temple-of-dendur-50/cult-and-decoration (the fourth photo down shows a relief from the Temple of Dendur, depicting Isis wearing, on top of her headdress, "a small stepped hieroglyph that depicts a throne and was used to write Isis's name"); http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/asianartglossary.html (referencing "[t]he stepped-throne hieroglyph of Isis").
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2021
  5. sand

    sand Well-Known Member

    @Roman Collector and @Terence Cheesman and @DonnaML : Nice coins!
    I can't believe, that Mrs. Cameron has passed away.
    I remember that show. I especially remember, when she would pull out her amulet, and then she would say "Oh Mighty Isis", and be transformed into a superhero.

    and this

    Those were the days. Waking up early, on Saturday morning, to watch Saturday morning cartoons and shows, with my friends and sister ("Land Of The Lost" was one of my favorites), while eating various sugar laden cereals (Sugar Pops, Sugar Smacks, Sugar Crisp, Freakies, Boo Berry, Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, Trix, Fruit Loops, Honeycomb, etc), and watching advertisements for the cereals, food (those crazy McDonalds Land advertisements), toys, and such. What a magical, imagination filled time, for a child.
    Goodbye, Mrs. Cameron. Perhaps I will see you, in the next world.
     
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  6. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Festival of Isis - 2017.jpg FESTIVAL OF ISIS. Anonymous
    AE. 0.79g, 12mm. Rome mint, mid-4th Century (time of Julian II). Alföldi, Festival pl. VIII, 11; Vagi 3393; Tesorillo 26/26, no. 254 (this coin). O: [ISIS F-A]RIA, draped bust of Isis right, wearing hem-hem crown and necklace. R: [VOTA P-]VBLICA, Hermanubis standing left in military dress, holding sistrum and caduceus.

    Otho - AE Diobol Bust of Isis 4273.JPG
    OTHO
    AE Diobol. 7.87g, 25.3mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 1 (AD 69). Dattari (Savio) 334; Emmett 190.1; K&G 18.14; RPC I 5368. O: [ΑΥΤΟΚ Μ]ΑΡΚ ΟΘΩΝΟΣ ΚΑΙΣ [ΣΕΒ], laureate head right. R: [L A], draped bust of Isis to right, wearing headdress.
    Ex Rhakotis Collection

    Hadrian - Drachm ex Grover Isis Pharos 1977b.jpg
    HADRIAN
    AE Drachm. 19.63g, 32mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 18 = AD 133/4. Emmett 1002.18; Dattari 1768 var.; RPC Online 5896. O: Bare head left. R: Isis Pharia holding billowing sail with both hands, sailing right toward the Lighthouse of Pharos, which is surmounted by two Tritons, each blowing a buccinum (sea shell trumpet), lantern surmounted by statue; L IH above center.
    Ex Robert L. Grover Collection of Roman-Egyptian Coinage, previously held by the Art Institute of Chicago (1980.947) [/ATTACH]
     
  7. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Her co-star is the one who reported it on instagram.

    It was sad to hear. I used to watch the reruns along with Shazam with my dad. We both met her many times at the San Deigo comic con in the 90s. She's one who was often ignored & nobody paid attention to.

    But back in the early 90s, Adam West, Julie Newmar, even the legend Cesar Romaro in 1989 no one cared about them. They collected dust themselves waiting for a fan to come up.

    My how times have changed & I am glad I got to meet them & get their autographs long before all these "new fans" came in and made them prevalent again. All are dead but Newmar & I await her passing since shes had ups and downs health wise.
     
  8. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    These are what she looked like at the time. Not my pics but how I remember her.

    jo2.jpg

    jo.jpeg

    Eventually, she stopped doing them. At least I never saw her again after about 1995/96.
     
  9. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    From all the stories about Ms. Cameron's passing on various websites, it's remarkable how many people seem to remember her fondly, given that the show was only on for one year and 22 episodes, and that she apparently retired from acting 40 years ago. I admit that I had never seen or heard of her or the show myself: it was on 5-10 years after my days of Saturday morning TV-watching were over, and long before my son's began.
     
  10. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

    I vaguely remember that show. I do remember how beautiful I thought she was. To me then I thought she was pretty enough to be a goddess. R.I.P. ISIS.
     
    Roman Collector and sand like this.
  11. spirityoda

    spirityoda Coin Junky

  12. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ...sad to hear...
     
    spirityoda and sand like this.
  13. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    CF236602-6C21-499E-AD66-C68A496285BF.jpeg
    Commodus. Isis vs Serapis

    I have nothing against ISIS but she can't beat Wonder Woman...

    F999D589-DE93-4AA0-A71A-BA60C869BC85.jpeg
     
  14. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    That's comic book fans for you. Some really get impassionate. No different than people who love Star Wars and I would rather watch paint dry than sit through that torture.

    I never saw the show or got her autograph, my dad said he did but he never met her either. I was born in 1979, so it was before my time and I don't remember seeing reruns either.

    And from stuff I have seen now, it's too campy and dated to sit through for me to tolerate.
     
  15. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I remember the show along with Shazam, I believe it was the "Shazam and Isis Hour." She would say "O Mighty Isis" I think I was six at the time. Also remember the Land of the Lost and Sigmund the Sea Monster.
     
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  16. Mr.Q

    Mr.Q Well-Known Member

    RIP, until we meet again!
     
  17. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Your dad was too old and you were too young. You had to be a 12-year-old boy at the time to understand.
     
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  18. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    I just dislike Star Wars in general, can't stand it of any sort actually. I've seen the first 6 movies. My dad was 22 when the first one came out but he's not into them either. It's just one of those things either you like it or don't.

    Also doesn't help I find the fan community extremely obnoxious. I've been doing cons since 1985 & I have much more respect for Trekkies than I do SW community.
     
  19. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    jIQochbe'
     
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  20. sand

    sand Well-Known Member

    I watched the 1st episode of "Isis" on Youtube last night. At least, it seemed to be the first episode, even though there was no origin story, except in the intro. Perhaps I'll search more carefully, later, for an origin story episode. All of the episodes seem to be on Youtube. Anyway, I enjoyed watching it. I hadn't watched the show, since I was a child in the 1970s, so there was a lot of nostalgia. It was like watching a time capsule, of that era. I liked how, her closest friends, had no idea, that she was Isis. Even though her only disguise, was to wear eyeglasses sometimes, and less eyeliner. Sort of like how Wonder Woman's disguise, was to wear eyeglasses, Superman's disguise was to wear eyeglasses and part his hair on the other side, and Captain Amazing's disguise was to wear eyeglasses. Fond memories.
    Superheroes_With_And_Without_Eyeglasses_Isis_1_best.jpg Superheroes_With_And_Without_Eyeglasses_Wonder_Woman_1.jpg Superheroes_With_And_Without_Eyeglasses_Superman_1.gif Superheroes_With_And_Without_Eyeglasses_Captain_Amazing_1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2021
  21. PeteB

    PeteB Well-Known Member

    A very nice depiction of Isis:
    SaittaSerapisIsis.jpg
    LYDIA. Saitta. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Æ (18mm, 2.96 gm, 6h). Time of Septimius Seveus to Gallienus. Obv: Draped bust of Serapis right, modius on head. Rev: CAITTHNΩN, Isis standing left, holding sistrum and situla. SNG Cop 394.
     
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