Here is another from my buying spree back in March and one I have been after for some time now. I'm really excited to have it in my collection. The obverse is, of course, Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions, and thereby of gates, doors, doorways, passages and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces, since he looks to the future and to the past. Janus presided over the beginning and ending of conflict, and hence war and peace. The doors of his temple were open in time of war, and closed to mark the peace (another coin, a Nero, I would like to someday own). As a god of transitions, he had functions pertaining to birth and to journeys and exchange. M FURIUS Lf PHILUS ROMAN REPUBLIC AR Denarius OBVERSE: Laureate head of Janus; M•FOVRI•L•F around REVERSE: Roma standing left erecting trophy, gallic arms around, ROMA to right, PHLI in ex. Struck at Rome, 119 BC 3.81g, 18.35mm Crawford 281/1, Syd 529, BMCRR (Italy) 555, Furia 18 If you have a related coin or related themed coin, please feel free to post.
I really love the coin and narrative post Bing----but the only 'related' coin I have is one I posted recently in the 'Ides of March' thread and it's a Janiform' version of Pompey the Great...or at least the left facing image is supposed to resemble him. If you start a thread about 'Nymphs', I just purchased one today.
Nice one Bing. The Janiform head is certainly one of the iconic RR coins. And one that remains on my want list. Since I don't have a coin to add, I thought I'd add this little tidbit I found on the Alluriana web-site. "In any case, the importance of Janus in everyday Roman life during the years of the Republic and earlier is indisputable. Every meal was begun with a request for his blessing, and public ceremonies began with a libation drunk to the god of beginnings. He was the 'god of gods', appearing first on the most ancient lists of Roman gods - so it's only fitting that the head of Janus appears on some of the oldest coins of the Roman Republic."
Thanks for the input Race. This coin, or one like it, has been on my want list for a long time. One more checked off; slightly over 10 million to go.
Who remembers the good old days when we were naive and thought there were only a million of them? Ten million is probably closer but it makes no difference when we realize that we are not going to have them all. In this game 30, 300 and 3000 are all small numbers compared to the whole. Modern collectors often think of complete sets. Ancient collectors rarely do.
janus with double heads and double romas on the reverse...that's hard to top! you've been on one heck of a coin surge! surge on! this is my only janiform coin...shiva instead of janus, on reverse with bull on this kushan coin.
I was back in March. I really went overboard. I still have another five coins to show with three being very nice and two just so-so. I've been spreading them out for posting since I am on the wagon for the month of April (and maybe May). Like I said, since I saw one of these posted here on CT (I think by Steve), I have been wanting one for my collection. I've just been lurking and watching till I found one in my budget. BTW, Steve has been the cause of my buying many of the coins in my collection. He's been a bad influence, and I'm making sure Mrs. Bing knows whose at fault if she ever finds out!!!!!!!!!
I just can't get over that I finally added one of these to my collection. I can't keep my paws off of it so I guess I'd better put it away.
Super addition, Big-bro (sorry, I didn't stumble-across this thread until just now) ... I also have a sweet example of this cool RR Cheers, my friend (Happy Saturday)
It's so easy to see what Bing was referring to when he said a coin you posted inspired him to purchase one for himself---- Both are fantastic to my old eyes...and yours has all you could reasonably hope to find find in a coin of that type... Again, congrats to both of you!!!
