Deities and Personifications A-Z

TYCHE, goddess of fortune, chance, providence, and fate


EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
AE drachm, regnal year 5 (CE 141/2)
Obv: laureate bust right
Rev: Tyche standing left in distyle temple, holding cornucopia and rudder; L-E
Ref: Dattari-Savio pl. 161 #8509 (this coin); Emmett 1688.5, R5
Ex Robert L. Grover Collection of Roman-Egyptian Coinage, previously held by the Art Institute of Chicago; Ex Dattari Collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1853-1923)


PHOENICIA, Berytos
1st century BCE
Æ19.5, 5.9 gm
Obv: Turreted head of Tyche right
Rev: Poseidon standing left in quadriga drawn by four hippocamps Ref: SNG Copenhagen 83


EGYPT, Alexandria. Claudius II Gothicus
year 3, CE 269/70
tetradrachm, 20 mm, 10.2 gm
Obv: AVTKKΛAVΔIOCCEB (In theory: what I can read on this coin doesn't quite match what the legend is supposed to be. Probably just engraver error or die deterioration); laureate head right
Rev: Tyche standing left with rudder and cornucopia; L Γ in left field
Ref: Emmett 3896.3, R4

Perhaps the latest depiction of Tyche on an ancient coin, this Tyche of Antioch on coins of Justin I:



Justin I
CE 518-527
AE Pentanummium, Antioch. Diameter of each is ~13 mm.
Obv: DN IVSTINVS PP AV; pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev: Tyche of Antioch, turreted, seated left within columned shrine with half submerged figure of river-god Orontes swimming at her feet; retrograde epsilon to left
Ref: SB 111, DOC 57

 

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Shall we move on to U? Uberitas, anyone?

 

TRAJAN DECIUSAR Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
REVERSE: VBERITAS AVG - Uberitas standing left, holding purse and cornucopia
Struck at Rome, 250 AD
3.5g, 20mm
RIC 28b, C 105

GALLIENUS
Antoninianus
OBVERSE: GALLIENVS AVG - Radiate head right.
REVERSE: VBERITAS AVG, Uberitas standing left holding purse & cornucopia; epsilon to right
Struck at Rome, 260-8 AD
2.8g, 19mm
RIC 287v

 

I love that one

 

On to V ... V is for Venus, of course!


Julia Domna, AD 193-217
Roman oricalchum sestertius, 21.41 gm, 28.8 mm
Rome, AD 194, issue 4
Obv: JULIA DOMNA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, r.
Rev: VENERI VICTR SC, Venus, naked to waist, standing r., holding apple and palm, resting l. elbow on column.
Refs: RIC-842; BMCRE-488; Cohen-195; Sear-6631; Hill-113

 

VENUS with Cupid Bonus

JULIUS CAESAR
AR Denarius. 3.98g, 18.6mm. Military mint travelling with Caesar in Spain, circa 46-45 BC. Crawford 468/1; Sydenham 1014. O: Head of Venus right, wearing stephane; Cupid behind shoulder. R: Trophy of Gallic arms between two seated captives: female resting head in right hand to left, and bearded male with hands tied behind back on right; CAESAR in exergue.

VENUS VICTRIX

CARACALLA
AR Denarius. 3.28g, 19.4mm. Rome mint, AD 213-217. RIC 311b. O: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM, laureate head right. R: VENVS VICTRIX, Venus standing left, holding Victory in extended right hand and spear in left hand, leaning on shield set on helmet.

 

Vejovis


Roman Republic, L. Caesius
112-111 BCE
AR denarius, 3.92 gm
Obv: bust of Vejovis from behind, head turned left, holding a thunderbolt, legend AP; dotted border.
Rev: Lares Praestites seated with heads left, dog between, bust of Vulcan above; legend LA-RE; dotted border.
Ref: Crawford 298/1. Sydenham 564. RSC Caesia 1

 

I've got a few Victories... (although now I post these, I may have forgotten to post my one Greek Nike...)


Imperial Rome
Probus, r. 276-282 A.D.
Cyzicus mint, AE Antoninianus, 22.76mm x 4.0 grams
Obv.: IMP CM AVR PROBVS PF AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right
Rev.: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Victory standing right, holding palm and presenting wreath to Emperor, standing left, holding spear. P in lower center. Mintmark XXI MC in ex


Republican Rome
L Titurius Lf Sabinus, 89 B.C.
AR Denarius, 19 mm x 3.84 grams
Obv.: SABIN. Head of King Tatius right
Rev.: L TITVRI. Victory driving biga right, branch in scepter


Imperial Rome
Constantine I, r. 307-337 A.D. (330-333 + 335A.D.)
Antioch Mint, AE3, 17.41mm x 3.1 grams
Obv.: CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS, bust left, wearing laureate and crested helmet, holding scepter
Rev.: No legend, Victory standing left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter and resting left hand on shield. Mintmark SMANI
Ref.: SRCV 16480

 

V is for Vesta:


Faustina Senior, AD 138-141
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.57 g, 32.0 mm
Rome, AD 147-161
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right
Rev: AVGVSTA S C, Vesta veiled, standing left, holding palladium and scepter
Refs: RIC 1124; BMCRE 1519; RCV 4617.

 

L VALERIUS FLACCUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS VALERIA
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Draped bust of Victory right, star under chin
REVERSE: Mars walking left, carrying trophy; L. VALERI./ FLACCI. and a flamen's cap before and grain-ear behind
Struck at Rome 108-109 BC
3.7g, 18mm
Cr306/1, Syd 565, Valeria 11

AUGUSTUS
AR Quinarius
OBVERSE: IMP VII CAESAR - Bare head right
REVERSE: ASIA RECEPTA - Victory standing left on cippus, holding wreath and palm, snake on either side
Uncertain Italian Mint 29-27 BC
1.7g, 13mm
RIC 276, S 1568

 

ANTONIUS PIUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XV, laureate head right
REVERSE: COS IIII, Vesta standing left, holding simpulum and palladium
Struck at Rome, 152AD
2.7g, 16mm
RIC 203, BMC 762, C 196

LUCILLAÆ Sestertius
OBVERSE: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, draped bust right
REVERSE: VESTA, S-C, Vesta standing left, holding palladium and sacrificing with simpulum over lighted altar to left
Struck at Rome, 161-161 AD
30.4 mm, 21.89g
RIC 1779; BMCRE 1178

 

Venus Genetrix


Roman Republic
moneyer L. Julius L. f. Caesar, 103 BC
AR denarius, 17mm, 3.9 gm
Obv: Helmeted head of Mars left; CAESAR; ・(retrograde C or L) above
Rev: Venus Genetrix in chariot left, drawn by two Cupids; lyre to left; ・(retrograde C or L) above
Ref: Crawford 320/1
Jencek E-auction 26, lot 58, 14 October 2014. Ex CNG XXXI lot 699, September 1994; ex RBW Collection

 

VICTORY


Syracuse Tyrant Gelon 458-478 BCE AR Tet 24mm 16-7g Slow Biga Victory Artemis-Arethusa 4 dolphins Sear-Greek 914

 

Virtus


Gordian III, 239 AD, 4.41g, Antoninanus 23mm
Obv: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG; Radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: VIRTVS AVG; Virtus standing left, holding olive branch and javelin (point side down?); shield at side.

Wikipedia says Virtus was the deity of bravery and military strength, the personification of the Roman virtue of virtus (valor, manliness, excellence, courage, character, and worth). The Greek equivalent deity was Arete.

(edit) All the coin sites call the pole Virtus is holding a spear. Wikipedia says Virtus' object is usually a javelin. Most examples I saw online seem to lack a pointy end. The few that do have the point down.

 

Virtus


Victory


Vesta

 

Victory...

Constantinopolis Commemorative AE3 Follis. 332-333 AD.
Obv: CONSTANTINOPOLIS, laureate, helmeted & mantled
bust left holding sceptre
Rev: No legend, Victory standing left on prow,
holding transverse sceptre and leaning on shield;
three-branched palm branch in left field, PCONST in ex.
RIC VII Arles 369, rated R2. Sear 16454
19.25mm, 2.7g


Constantinopolis City Commemorative. AE4. 333-334 AD. Trier.
CONSTANTINOPOLIS, laureate, helmeted and mantled bust of
Constantinopolis left, holding sceptre
Victory standing left, foot of prow, holding transverse sceptre and leaning on shield.
Wreath in left field.
Mintmark TRS.
RIC VII Trier 554, rated C3.
17.90mm, 2.9g


Constans, AE4 follis, Siscia. 337-350 AD
CONSTAN-S PF AVG, rosette-diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right.
VICTORIAE DD AVGGQ NN, two Victories facing each other, each
holding wreath and palm.
Mintmark dot gamma SIS dot.
RIC VIII 185,G
16.37mm 1.4g rated C2

 

Let's move on to W, X, Y or Z.

Z is for Zeus!


Cleopatra Thea, Queen of Syria, with son Antiochus VIII
Seleucid AR tetradrachm, 15.85 gm, 27 mm
Antioch mint, 125-121 BC
Obv: Jugate busts, r.
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ, Zeus Nikephoros seated l., holding lotus-tipped scepter; IE outer left, A under throne
Refs: SNG Spaer 2437; c.f. Sear 7135
Notes: Ex-Henry Clay Lindgren. An obverse die match to an example sold in Baldwin's, Dmitry Markov, and M&M Numismatics New York Sale IX, January 13, 2005.

 

I must post one too

Zeus


Alexander III tetradrachm, late lifetime issue

and Zeus-Ammon... I have oodles of him


EGYPT, Alexandria. Aquilia Severa
year 5, CE 221/2
tetradrachm, 23.5 mm, 11.57 gm
Obv: draped bust right
Rev: head of Zeus Ammon right; L-E
Ref: Emmett 3025.5, R3; Geissen 2376; Dattari 4186

 

Alexandrian Tet with Zeus and Pegasus on reverse.