I haven't gotten one of these Domitian bronze Virtus types in a while. I think there is something peculiarly Freudian about the frequency it was struck under Domitian. Domitian Æ As, 8.53g Rome mint, 88-89 AD Obv: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XIIII CENS PER P P; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r. Rev: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI; S C in field; Virtus stg. r., foot on helmet, with spear and parazonium RIC 650 (C). BMC 417. BNC 454. Acquired from Marc Breitsprecher, January 2022. The Virtus type was struck repeatedly on Domitian's middle bronzes from 84 onwards. I. Carradice in his 1983 monograph on Domitian's coinage says the following concerning the type - 'Virtus is a military type, symbolic of the courage of Domitian and the mutual devotion between the army and emperor.' Virtus first appears on the coinage in the flurry of Germania Capta types that were struck soon after Domitian's German triumph. Please show your coins featuring Virtus. Thank you for looking!
MN. AQUILLIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS AQUILLIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: VIRTVS III VIR ; Helmeted bust of Virtus right. REVERSE: MN AQVIL M N F MN N SICIL in ex.; The consul Man. Aquillius raising Sicilia Rome 71 BC 3.3g, 19mm RSC/Aquillia-2, SYD-798
My collection tends to be lower grade, and sometimes part of the legend is missing, so I have to keep it vague on the attribution. This Virtus as of Domitian is missing some key elements of the attribution (the COS number), so I had to give it an RIC range of eleven numbers - so "struck repeatedly" is certainly true: Domitian Æ As (c. 85-96 A.D.) Rome Mint [IMP] CAES DOMIT AVG GERM CO[S (?) CENS PER PP], laureate head right / VIRTVTI [AVGVSTI] S-C, Virtus standing right, foot on a helmet, holding spear and parazonium. (9.54 grams / 27 mm) eBay May 2020 Attribution Note: Because the COS number is obliterated, this could be one of eleven issues (85-96 A.D.): RIC 390/423/499/500/550/551/631/650/709/757/810
Volusian, antoninianus with Virtus. The temple of Honos and Virtus was dedicated by Marcellus after the 2nd Punic War, at the Porta Capena. It was ornamented with statues and pictures looted from Syracuse. "Marcellus, after the capture of Syracuse, (...) removed to Rome the ornaments of the city, the statues and pictures in which Syracuse abounded; they were, it is true, spoils taken from the enemy and acquired by the laws of war, but that was the beginning of our admiration for Greek works of art, which has led to the present reckless spoliation of every kind of treasure, sacred and profane alike. This has at last recoiled upon the gods of Rome, upon that temple especially which Marcellus so splendidly adorned. For the shrines near the Capena Gate, which Marcellus dedicated, used to be visited by strangers on account of the very beautiful specimens of that class of ornament; but very few are to be seen today." (Livy XXV, 40.1) A temple visited by strangers for the Greek masterpieces that were displayed inside... Marcellus had just invented the first museum in Italy !
Hereˋs one from Domitian and his dad. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XV CENS PER PP Radiate head right VIRTVTI AVGVSTI SC Virtus standing right, foot on helmet with spear and parazonium Rome, 90-91 CE 13.46g RIC 706 (C2) Ex-iNumis Holed in antiquity IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG Laureate head right VIRTVS AVGVST Virtus standing right, left foot on prow, with spear and parazonium Antioch, 70 AD 3.24g RIC 1542 (R2);RPC 1916 (5 spec.) Ex-Noble Roman Coins Ragged flan typical for the Antioch series. A very rare type!
A coin on which the female gender of Virtus when she herself is portrayed -- as opposed to an emperor or Mars manifesting her qualities of courage and valor -- is particularly clear, from the bare right breast: Hadrian, AE Dupondius, 123 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate head right, IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG PM TRP COS III / Rev. Virtus standing right, right breast bare, left foot on helmet, holding spear with right hand and parazonium with left hand, VIRTUTI AVGVSTI, S - C across fields. Old RIC II 605 (1926 ed.), Sear RCV II 3670, Cohen 1470, BMCRE 1239. 27 mm., 11.36 g.
Nice pickup! Here's my as of Domitian, the obverse legend has COS XV as opposed to COS XIIII, but it does have the same reverse! RIC II 709, 11.40 g, Ex Calgary Coin & Antique
Under Septimius Severus, the 'Emesa' mint issued a common type with Virtus facing right and a less common one left. Also scarce is the version from Alexandria. Rome issued several variations.
Victorinus, and to quote the words from @dougsmit : a common type with Virtus facing right and a less common one left.
