Concordia/Homonoia

Concordia in Latin means "with hearts together"; the Greek equivalent, Homonoia, means "of one mind." In Roman religion, Concordia was the goddess who personified "concord," or "agreement," especially among members or classes of the Roman state. As such, she was an object of religious faith and worship with the Romans because, through her authority and influence, small things were rendered great. As Sallust expresses it, Concordia parvae res crescunt, discordia vero dilabuntur (Concord grows small things, discord tears them down).

She had several temples at Rome; the oldest and most important one was located in the Forum at the end of the Via Sacra ("Sacred Way"). After 121 BC, when the construction of the largest temple was ordered, the Senate frequently met there in times of public uproar. Renovations of this temple were begun under Augustus and then completed by Tiberius in 7 BC. Tiberius placed many works of art there, and it became a kind of museum and tourist attraction during the Roman Empire.

Concordia typically appears on coins as a matron, either seated or standing, holding in one hand a patera (sacrificial dish) and in the other a cornucopiae. The symbolism is twofold. The patera indicates that concord is holy and achieved by sacrifice. The horn of plenty represents the abundance that can be achieved when people work together. Often, the goddess holds a double cornucopiae, indicating prosperity for both parties in agreement. Sometimes a star, or a statuette of Spes – emblems of hope – are depicted near her. Occasionally, an olive branch, symbolizing peace, replaces the patera. The hasta may substitute for the cornucopiae on some issues.

The notion of concordia also appears on coins commemorating the joint rule of leaders or imperial marriages in order give the (often false) impression of harmony within the imperial family. Such coins typically portray two people standing, shaking hands in agreement. Less frequently, two right hands joined may appear as a motif, symbolizing the virtue of concordia. These hands sometimes hold a winged caduceus, as on the Republican issues of Antonia and other moneyers, as well as on the coins of Nerva. This symbol on the Republican issues may represent concord and peace between the Triumviri Reipublicae Constituendae or the concord of Caesar with the Senate; on the coins of Nerva, it denotes concord between the army and the navy.

Rarely, concordia is associated with the stork which, to the Romans, symbolized family devotion, or the dove, universally a symbol of peace and gentleness, as on an aureus of Faustina II, RIC 503a.

Here are some coins depicting Concordia and Homonoia; let's see yours!


Faustina I, AD 138-140.
Roman AR denarius, 3.40 g, 17 mm.
Rome, AD 139-140.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia standing left, holding patera and double cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 335; BMCRE 133-135; Cohen/RSC 151; RCV 4668; UCR 199; CRE 93.


Elagabalus, AD 218-222.
Roman provincial tetrassarion, 8.53 g, 24.2 mm, 7 h.
Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, Legate Julius Antonius Seleucus, AD 218-222.
Obv: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑVΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC, laureate head, right.
Rev: VΠ Ιȣ ΑΝΤ CΕΛΕVΚȣ ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ, Homonoia standing left, holding patera and cornucopiae.
Refs: BMC 3.34, 47; AMNG (Pick) 856; Moushmov 633.


Sabina, AD 117-137.
Roman orichalcum dupondius, 12.28 g, 27 mm.
Rome, AD 128-137.
Obv: SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG P P, diademed and draped bust right, hair coiled and piled on top of head.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVG S C, Concordia enthroned left, holding patera and resting on statuette of Spes; cornucopiae below seat.
Refs: RIC 1021; Cohen 17.


Otacilia Severa, AD 244-249.
Roman AR antoninianus, 3.75 g, 22.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 248-249.
Obv: OTACIL SEVERA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right, on crescent.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and cornucopiae, altar at feet.
Refs: RIC 129; Cohen 16; RCV 9150; Hunter 7; CRE 524.


Faustina Senior, AD 138-141.
Roman AR denarius, 3.73g, 17mm.
Rome, AD 142.
Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, draped bust right.
Rev: CONCORDIA, Antoninus standing right, holding scroll, clasping right hands with Faustina I, standing left, holding sceptre.
Refs: RIC 381b; BMCRE 288; RCV 4592; Cohen 159.



Julia Paula, AD 219-220.
Roman AR denarius, 3.16 g, 18.6 mm.
Antioch, AD 219.
Obv: IVLIA PAVLA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: CONCORDIA, emperor and empress standing facing each other, clasping hands.
Refs: RIC 214; BMCRE 318-320; Cohen 12; RCV 7656; CRE 454.


Severina, AD 270-275.
Roman billon antoninianus, 4.01 g, 24.2 mm.
Serdica, issue 8, AD 274-275.
Obv: SEVERINA AVG, diademed and draped bust right on crescent.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGG, emperor and empress clasping hands, * in field between them; KA Δ in exergue.
Refs: RIC 16; MER/RIC temp no 2827; RCV 11703; Cohen 2.



Nerva, AD 96-98.
Roman AR denarius, 3.21 g, 18.5 mm, 7 h.
Rome, January - September, AD 97.
Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P, laureate head, right.
Rev: CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM, clasped hands.
Refs: RIC 14; BMCRE 25-26; Cohen/RSC 20; RCV 3020; CBN 15.


A modern use of this motif to celebrate the concord between the US and France that resulted in the Louisiana purchase.


Maximian, AD 286-308.
Roman Æ Antoninianus, 3.78 mm, 23.0 mm, 12 h.
Cyzicus, AD 293-294.
Obv: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS AVG, radiate and draped bust right.
Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM•, Emperor standing right, receiving Victory from Jupiter standing left; Г/XII•.
Refs: RIC 607; Cohen 53; RCV 13115.

 

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Nothing like a good old handshake.
The Faustina Senior coin is a really nice design.

 

First coin I ever cleaned myself 10 years ago….

Aurelian Antoninianus
Siscia 271 AD
Obv : IMP C AURELIANUS AVG
Rev : CONCORDIA MILI, Concordia standing left, holding 2 standards. P in right field
Refs : RIc VI 192c, COHEN 61

 

Balbinus Sestertius, CONCORDIA AVGG even though we know there was little concord between Balbinus and Pupienus...

 

Nicely written.
My three with same reverse:
Julia Domna

Plautilla

Aurelian

 

Here's my OS Concordia, a bargain bin snack from a few months ago.



Otacilia Severa, 246- 248 AD, AR Antoninianus

O: OTACIL SEVERA AVG; diademed and draped bust right, on crescent. R:CONCORDIA AVGG; Concordia seated left holding patera and single cornucopiae. Rome mint. 23 mm, 3.8 g.

 

Cool thread @Roman Collector . You post a lot of great threads. The forum is fortunate to have you as a member.

Here is my Severina with Concordia reverse.


Roman Empire
Ulpia Severina Augusta, AD 274-275
BI Anoninianus, Antioch mint, struck ca. AD 275
Wt.: 4.1 g
Dia.: 23 mm, 12h
Obv.: SEVERINA PF AVG; Diademed, draped bust right, set on a crescent.
Rev.: CONCORDIA AVG; Emperor and Empress standing, facing, clasping hands.; Q //XXI
Ref.: RIC V 19
Ex JAZ Numismatics

Write up:
Heroes of the Third Century: Aurelian and Severina

 

Your collection and writeups go deep, @Roman Collector. Nice!


Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome
L. Mussidius Longus, 42 BCE
AR denarius, Rome mint.
Obv: Diademed and veiled head of Concordia right; CONCORDIA upwards behind; star in right field below chin
Rev: Shrine of Venus Cloacina: Circular platform surmounted by two statues of the goddess, each resting right hand on cippus, the platform inscribed CLOACIN and ornamented with trellis-pattern balustrade, flight of steps and portico on left; L • MVSSIDIVS • LONGVS around above.
Ref: Crawford 494/42b; Bab. 6; BMC 4244; Crawf. 494/42 b; Syd. 1093 a

 

Manischewitz Concord
Varietal(s) Concord
Country United States
Region New York
Color Red
Taste strawberry, vanilla and musk
Item # 21160
Size 750mL
ABV 11.0%

 

Thank you for the kind words, @Curtisimo and @TIF . It's always heartwarming to learn one's thread is appreciated.

 

I agree! @Roman Collector , you have several cool and very insightful threads! I always love to counter your cool posts with Roman Republic counterparts. Fun challenge for me!

Great coins and super write-up. Your US Nickel is a cool tie-in. Although, with all the ancient hand-clasps, it REALLY dispels the Hollywood notion of the "Roman handshake" they always used in the movies. I always understood that the military handshake was a handclasp with the second hand holding the wrist... as a sign of friendship and trust (no hidden weapons in-hand.) This is the same as very friendly handshakes today.

CONCORDIA

From the Republic:

RR Aemilius Lepidus Paullus 62 BCE Concordia Perseus Macedon captive Sear 366 Craw 415-1


RR Aemilius Lepidus Paullus 62 BCE Concordia Perseus Maced captv Sear 366 Craw 415-1 XF


From the Imperatorial Period:

RImp Marc Antony & Octavian AR Quinarius 1.58g Military Mint Gaul 39BCE Concordia r Hands clasped caduceus Cr-529-4b Sear 1575 Syd-1195



RImp Marc Antony AR Quin Concordia Clasped Hands Caduceus Cr 529-4b


Roman Empire Period (When they had REAL money):

RI Pupienus AR denarius bust r Concordia throne patera dbl cornucopiae Seaby 6


RI Plautilla 202-205 CE m Caracalla AR Denarius 3.7g Concordia patera scepter RIC 363


Roman Empire - FIAT money:

RI MAXIMIANUS HERCULIUS 286-305 CE antoninianus Antioch 292-295 CE Pre-Reform CONCORDIA MILITVM Jupiter RIC V 621 H-officina 8


RI Marius 269 Gallic Usurper BI Ant CONCORD MILIT Clasped Hands


Roman Empire when the West was a MESS:

RI Gratian 367-383 CE AE 17mm Reduced Folles Concordia

(Yeah, last guy to have it all...)

RI Theodosius I 379-395 CE AE 18mm Concordia