"Happy Valentine's Day. You're Welcome" - Claudius II Gothicus

Here's one of the Messapian city of Orra, in Calabria. It dates to between the end of the second century and the beginning of the first century BC. It's not in great shape, but is relatively scarce.

The denomination is a quincunx (shown by the 5 pellets on the reverse). The obverse shows the head of Venus and Eros is playing his lyre on the reverse. I bought it because the head of Venus is portrayed in the Greek classical style, which I assume was a more official issue. I have several others where the head of Venus is portrayed with less skill and artistry; I assume that these are later or Messapian imitative issues.

The "ORRA" ethnic should be on the lower right of Eros' advancing leg but is not shown well in this photo and is worn and hard to make out, which is probably why this coin was relatively affordable.

 

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That's a great looking Cupid. I haven't seen many in that style.

 

Yeah, not sure what the association with Venus and Cupid is to Orra but this series is quite nice.

There are also triuncia variants with three pellets which are either at Ero's feet or up by his outstretched arms. In these coins, Eros is not playing the lyre but is holding what looks like a chalmys (?).

Orra also has biuncias with Venus on the obverse but there's a dove flying right on the reverse, rather than Eros. Not quite as "Valentines-ey"...

 

Here's an example of the triuncia (not my coin... this one got away)...

 

Everything about Claudius II is at least very suspect due to the unreliable nature of the sources other than coins. That would include the Valentine story and the one about him punching a horse in the mouth. We have no suggestion that Claudius was married or did anything other than soldier. I'm not sure his reported anti-marriage stance is consistent with his rather common type IVNO REGINA.


His type with a male and female shows a Diana and Apollo (brother and sister) so is completely unnecessary to post here but I like the coin so you have to see it again.


I know many here love historical fiction but it might be good to realize that the genre began about the same time or slightly before actual history based on facts. I am a fan of Mary Beard who pointed out that history is not so much based on facts but on what someone believed or wanted the audience to believe was fact.

While being unpopular in opinions, I may as well point out the convenience of having a hospital located across the street from a candy store ....... just in case.

If I were to pick a Valentine related coin I might go for something showing a Sylphium seed (a coin I lack) which still existed in the time of Claudius I. If you read up on Claudius II you may run across the bit about the Valentine story possibly dating to the first of his name but that is every so much a case of historical fiction as anything else. Did you see the one suggesting Claudius II was the son of Gordian II? We don't have to make this stuff up. There have been people who invent their own facts since the beginning of time.

 

L. Cornelius Sulla, 84-83 BC. AR Denarius. Military mint moving with Sulla. Obv: L SVLLA; Diademed head of Venus right; to right, Cupid standing left, holding palm frond. Rev: Capis and lituus between two trophies; IMPER above, ITERV below. Ref: Crawford 359/2; Sydenham 761a; Cornelia 30; RBW 1364.

David Sear, in his Millennium Edition Roman Coins and Their Values (Volume 1) has the following to say about this coin type: "On this exceptional military issue Sulla strikes in the East as Imperator without reference to senatorial authorization, an ominous foreshadowing of the imperatorial age of the 40s and 30s BC." (page 124).

 

My only example. Terrible pictures, but in hand a nice desert patina.