This coin with Sol/Apollo & Selene, from the time of Domitian and Roman ruled Aegeae in Cilicia, inspires a deep dive on multiple millennia of lunar deities.... Full notes: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/selene-moon-goddess Post any coins that show Luna, Selene, Mên, Mao, Nanna, Sin, other lunar gods and goddesses....or anything else that you find interesting or entertaining.
Diana/Artemis: Roman Republic, A. Postumius A.f. Sp.n. Albinus, 81 BC Silver Denarius, Rome Mint, 19mm, 3.85 grams Obverse: Draped bust of Diana right with bow and quiver over shoulder, bucranium above. Reverse: Togate figure standing left on rock holding aespergilium over bull, flaming altar between them, A POST A F S N ALBIN around. Postumia 7 // Crawford 372/1 // RBW 1392
Very interesting coin with the radiate Domitian - as - Apollo/Helios on the obverse and Artemis/Selene on the reverse. (Possibly Domitia - as - Artemis?) Great photos too. I haven't been able to get hold of Haymann's book either. (Or, haven't been willing to pay the 50E + 98E for a new copy shipped from Germany, since I have similar books from so many different mints on my list! Looks like it might be an unrevised reprint of his dissertation, but I can't find the original online?) I hadn't considered the contrasting lunar/solar implications on this one before, but now it seems obvious: a Cilician AE29 with opposing crescent (Faustina II as Selene?) & radiate crown (Helios -- or Marcus Aurelius as Helios?), this one from Hierapolis-Castabala: This coin illustrated = RPC IV.3 Online 4976 (temporary), ex. 6 = SNG von Aulock 5572 = Robert (1964) 27, pl. XXVI.77 = SNG Levante 1586. This coin cited in: Howgego GIC 686 (as Robert 77); Lindgren III p. 47, 840 (citing Levante 1586); Berens & Geske (2004) p. 40, n. 11 (citing Levante 1586); et al. Here's one from Phrygia, Grimenothyrae (temp. Trajan, mag. Lucius Tullius Per-), with Mên on the reverse holding his trademark pinecone, and some kind of crescent on his garb across his shoulders. This coin = von Aulock, Phrygiens II 340 = Lindgren & Kovacs 955 = AsiaMinorCoins 3158 = RPC III 2482, ex. 17. Ex Henry Clay Lindgren, Marcel Burstein, and Garth Drewry Collections.
Great coins for this thread @Curtis, I especially like the Faustina as Selene!!! and that looks like Helios on the reverse with radiate crown & torch - I suppose it could be Marcus Aurelius on the reverse....
Why Maybe? fantastic fiery LVNA LVCIFERA with torches and crescent on her forehead from Antioch (RIC V Gallienus 609, I think - but I am not confident in recognizing eastern mints for Roman emperors)!
Valerian I A.D. 254- 255 AR Antoninianus 20x22mm 3.1gm IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS AVG; radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right. FELICITAS SAECVLI; Diana walking right, holding torch. RIC Vi Antioch 213; Göbl 1569a
Thanks, @Victor_Clark, your coin leaves me questioning - how does this figure with moon on her head this become attributed as Diana? and not Selene or Luna. What Good Fortune connects Diana Lucifera and/or Valerian at this time?
Hi All, COMMODUS (177 - 192 CE); Year 30 of MARCUS AURELIUS ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT Year 30 (189/190 CE) Bi Tetradrachm Size: 23x25 mm Weight: 11.7 g Axis: 00:00 Broucheion Collection R-1993-03-17.001 Obv: Commodus, laureate head facing right. Legend: MAKOMANTω - CЄBЄVCЄB. No border. Rev: Selene bust facing left towrds crescent moon. In left field: LΛ. No border. Refs: Emmett-2558.30; Geissen-2252; Dattari-3889; Milne-2686; Curtis-0853; SNG Copenhagen-582; BMC-1404 to BMC-1405; Mionnet-2390 Provenance: Ex-CNG Mail Bid Sale 49 (17 Mar 1999), Lot #1174. Note CNG Description: "From A Scandinavian Collection of Alexandrian Coinage. The following offering consists primarily of an old-time collection assembled by a Scandinavian collector when he was living and working in Cairo from 1961-64. Our collector was introduced to Mr Henri Chiha, a retired employee of the Suez Canal Company, and a prominent, local collector of Egyptian antiquities and coins. Our Scandinavian collector started to visit Mr Chiha each week and soon he was introduced to the coinage of Alexandria - "my Mentor's great interest" as he describes Mr Chiha. He continues that Mr Chiha "must have had an enormous collection. I only saw the surplus he showed me every week. He always tried to help me get a 'representative collection' with as many different emperors' coins as possible I'm just sorry I didn't buy the more expensive ones he also offered, but my means were limited. Our Scandinavian collector did remarkably well in obtaining a 'representative collection' of Alexandrian coinage in such a short period. His collection consists of over 900 coins. In addition to the following offering, another twenty large lots consisting of 400 coins will be offered in our June [1999] sale from this extensive collection. For purposes of provenance, the following lots are not part of this collection: 1142, 1144-45, 1148, 1167,1169, 1177,1179 & 1193-95. Of particular note is our collector's original copy of Dattari, one of the nicest that we have ever had the opportunity to examine." - Broucheion
