Venus in her aspect as the divine ancestress of the Roman people was known as Venus Genetrix. Julius Caesar, being of the Gens Julia, claimed direct descent from Venus Genetrix and Aeneas and built a Temple of Venus Genetrix in his new forum. Venus Genetrix first appears on coins of Sabina, which clearly depict the statue in the Forum. Subsequent depictions of the goddess portray her standing or seated, often with a scepter, and often accompanied by a winged figure of Cupid. Most depictions of Venus Genetrix on Roman coinage do not directly refer to pregnancy or fertility. This one, however, might. The coins of this issue are the only in all of Roman numismatics to depict Venus Genetrix holding a swaddled infant. Moreover, they were issued by Faustina's father Antoninus Pius shortly after her marriage to Marcus Aurelius and around the time she began to bear children. This as is a new acquisition. It is scarce: It does not appear in the British Museum collection, nor in the major museum collections represented at OCRE. The coin is not to be found at Wildwinds, the Coin Project, Tantalus, or in the ANS collection. Four other examples are to be found at acsearch info; my coin is a die-match to two of them. Feel free to post any coin you feel is relevant, of course. Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman Æ as, 6.93 g, 26.1 mm, 11 h. Rome, AD 147-150. Obv: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, Bust of Faustina II, draped and wearing band of pearls, right. Rev: VENERI GENETRICI, Venus standing facing, head left, holding up apple in right hand and holding child on left arm. Refs: RIC 1407; BMCRE p. 375 *; Cohen 238; RCV 4734; ERIC II 261. Notes: Die-match to specimens sold by CNG Jan. 7, 2014 and Künker Oct. 18, 2016. Here are the four other examples of this coin I have been able to find at online databases. My coin is a double die-match to this example sold by Künker: And to this example sold at CNG's Triton XVII sale: An example sold at The New York Sale is of similar style, but with the empress wearing a stephane. It is not a die-match: In contrast, this example sold by Peus is of unusual style and does not have S C on its reverse: ~~~ This design was also used for a sestertius: Faustina Jr., Augusta AD 147-175, issued under Antoninus Pius Roman orichalcum sestertius; 22.96 gm, 30.4 mm Rome, AD 147-150 Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, diademed and draped bust, right Rev: VENERI GENETRICI SC, Venus Genetrix standing left, holding apple and child in swaddling clothes Refs: RIC 1386b; BMCRE 2145; Sear 4718. And for an aureus: RIC 511, British Museum Collection. Surprisingly, there were no denarii issued bearing this reverse type.
French language help needed for the listing in Cohen. It reads Son buste diadémé ou en cheveux à droite. I'm having trouble understanding en cheveux; doesn't that just mean "in hair"? So, I translate as "Her bust diademed or in hair (bare-headed?), facing right." But she's not bare-headed in the examples without the stephane; she wears a strand of pearls. Is en cheveux an idiom for a strand of pearls?
Great write-up and attractive examples. This post sent me back to my own modest collection, but nope, no Venus Genetrix, sorry to say.
It is a very rare issue and it lacks in my collection too.... Congrats on finding this nice example. Frans
That is one tightly swaddled baby! Looks like it could double as a weapon. Congrats on the astute acquisition, RC!
Great new acquisition and a nice write-up! I only have a modest Faustina denarius showing Venus genetrix without the baby: Faustina II, Roman Empire, denarius, 161–176 AD, Rome mint. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bust of Faustina r., draped, hair in bun. Rev: VENVS GENETRIX, Venus standing l., holding Victoria in extended r. hand, leaning on shield depicting the Dioscuri. 18mm, 2.92g. Ref: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 734.
