GALLIENVS AVG, Radiate bust right DIANAE CONS AVG, Stag walking left RIC 179 A weakly struck reverse with a superb portrait for the series. Attractive smooth black patina. This, along with the other "zoo series" were minted to invoke the divine protection against the continual onslaught of hardships facing the Empire. This one invokes Diana, goddess of the Hunt. A rather scarce and hard to find Franklin Mint medal of St Augustus sculpture of Diana. Diana was the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature in Roman mythology, associated with wild animals and woodland, and having the power to talk to and control animals. She was equated with the Greek goddess Artemis, though she had an independent origin in Italy. Diana was known as the virgin goddess of childbirth and women. She was one of the three maiden goddesses, along with Minerva and Vesta, who swore never to marry. Oak groves and deer were especially sacred to her. Diana was born with her twin brother, Apollo, on the island of Delos, daughter of Jupiter and Latona. She made up a triad with two other Roman deities; Egeria the water nymph, her servant and assistant midwife; and Virbius, the woodland god.
Much of this information was provided to me by a couple CCF members sharing their knowledge, I should credit them here. Thank you Finn235 and Paul Bulgerin CCF members. Who also supplied information and raw images which I have re-worked. I wouldn't know anything about them if it were not for their generosity and time taken to help make these more interesting.
