For those interested in the subject of the women of Ancient Rome (with many references to the coins on which they are depicted), I cannot recommend enough: http://www.amazon.com/Caesars-Wives...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292554566&sr=1-1 THis book has a solid chapter on "Julia Domna and the Syrian Matriarchy." guy
Hmmm, I might just buy that book for my wife as a Christmas present.... something to show her how interesting the Roman Empire was... Thanks for the comments Mat, I really like my two Mamaea Sesterces.
If she doesn't know much about the Roman Empire, she might not like the book. Rent the movie I, Claudius. She might like the character development. I recommend that she gets some background info first, however. Keeping the characters straight might take a little bit of effort. Fun movie, however. A true classic. guy
Ah, well then I might get it for myself... I don't want to give her anything too complicated since she knows little of the Roman Empire. Yes, I, Claudius is not a bad idea. She's really more the romance novel type heh.
I thought it looked familiar. This Julia Domna I ordered a couple of weeks ago came in the mail today. Note that not only is it the same type (with the facing forward Pudicitia) as the one that opened this thread, but I believe we have a die match for the reverse. The obverse, however, was struck from a different die.
In a nutshell, all details in the die are the same. A quick way to check this is to look for any loose locks of hair, then check the relation of the letters to the various design elements.
Ah cool, wish I could take a better pic but still no new digital camera. Iphone pics I have tried to take blow. I know Doug mentioned in another post finding the same die pairings can be tough.
Here is my only Julia - an As of Julia Domna with 4 Vestal Priestesses sacrificing in front of a temple. Unfortunately a little rough or corroded on the reverse, but with a lovely green patina. A difficult coin to photograph properly. On better preserved specimens one can clearly see two small children accompanying the group of Vestals. These are beautiful coins when in better condition.
Never seen that reverse style, it does look like a pretty cool coin all around. Nice details in the obverse portrait.
The Vesta temple as is a very nice coin. Compared to most Julia bronzes, I'd call this one a real keeper. I do not have an example but offer here a sestertius of the same period with a seated Vesta reverse (in poor shape). Both coins show a Late Julia portrait where the eye is becoming almond shape not all that unlike 5th century BC Athenian silver. I do not know why this was done or why I have not seen it for other persons of the period. Perhaps it was a signature of one cutter of dies??? http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?search=similar:82445&view_mode=1#15 Code:
Well, I've had for a while a Julia Domna As featuring the temple of Vesta, but I traded it for a Plautilla denarius missing in my collection. I still have the picture though : Funny enough is my last purchase of 2010, a dynastic denarius of Domna and her son Geta : Unfortunately it shows some corrosion but those types are tough to find Q
I like the Vesta Doug & Cucumbor. I liked the almond shaped eyes for some reason. Ive been eyeing a silver Julia Soaemias with a strange eye for a month but its $120 so I havent snatched it yet. Its a Sear 7720. Looks as if shes seen a ghost.
Wow Eduard, that is one beautiful bronze As!! Cucumbor: great coins, as always, beautiful Vesta, and great Geta, those truly are hard to find, and not usually cheap.... dougsmit: Interesting note on the eyes of Domna. That Sestertius you have has an AMAZING portrait of her. Some Very impressive coins you guys, the lot of yas'.
