I had a Domna Antoninianus with a soso portrait but I ended up unloading it a month ago for personal reasons. So I needed a new one and found this one at Long Beach on thursday, decent price too. Julia Domna (194 - 217 A.D.) AR Antoninianus O: IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, Diademed and draped bust right, resting on crescent. R: VENVS GENETRIX, Venus seated left holding hand out, and scepter. Rome 4.5g 23mm RIC 388a, RSC 206a
Fantastic score, Mat ... great details (sweet portrait) Geessh, good ol' Julia often seems to be quite snarky, eh? ... she looks like she may have been quite a handful to hang around with (I'm fairly sure that "off with his head" was stated fairly often) Umm, I already posted my Julia Domna antoninianus on the other thread, so I'm not gonna re-post her sour face so soon!!
I never recalled seeing a mitt like that so I went to look at acsearch http://www.acsearch.info/search.htm...=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1&es=1&ol=1&sort=&c=&a=&l=#49 and found that there is only one thing consistent about these: None have really well done hands. They range from two prong claws to your mitt. Mine is in the middle (missing a finger and a half probably due to playing with Cerberus who was at the mint posing for Caracalla's coins?). Except for the hand, I'd call your reverse really exceptional. Have you seen the variation with Cupid and Venus holding a ball/apple? I see that the hand with apple is easier to do well than the empty hand.
I have seen alot of hands look like claws & mitts, mostly claws though. As far as cupid/venus goes, my Mamaea has that reverse. I also have the same type of caracalla ant. as you. Yours is better though.
