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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ryro, post: 8041687, member: 91461&quot;]Janus, the God of beginnings, endings and transition, ironically, was likely NOT where we get the name of the month January. The ancient Roman&#039;s Farmers almanac states that Juno is the God whom the months name is derived!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1392391[/ATTACH]</p><p>(Athena to Janus, &quot;Don&#039;t look behind you!&quot;</p><p>Janus, irritated, &quot;Haha. Verrrry funny.&quot; Rolls all four eyes.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Even more strangely, there is no Greek equivalent to the Roman God of doors. &quot;There are things known and things unknown. In between are the doors of perception.&quot;...</p><p>Oh, sorry. That&#039;s, The Doors. (Insert Jim Morrison picture here).</p><p>However, the Greeks did make plenty of coins with Janiform heads. Just like my new little beauty with the double axe reverse to match the double faced obverse (also worth a chuckle, you can see a slight <i>double</i> strike on the Obv looking at her nose):</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1392373[/ATTACH]</p><p>TROAS.Tenedos.(Circa 500-400 BC).Obol.</p><p>Obv : Janiform head, female on left, male on right.</p><p>Rev : T-E.</p><p>Double axe within incuse square.</p><p>SNG Munchen 340; SNG Copenhagen 509; HGC 6, 387.</p><p>Condition : Darkly toned.Very fine.</p><p>Weight : 1.4 gr</p><p>Diameter : 13 mm</p><p><br /></p><p>And this was far from the only coin type the Greeks made with the Janiform heads!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1392381[/ATTACH]</p><p>Mysia. Lampsakos</p><p>circa 500-450 BC.</p><p>Obol AR</p><p>7mm., 0,77g.</p><p>Female janiform head / Helmeted head of Athena left within incuse square</p><p>very fine. SNG BnF 1128-31.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1392379[/ATTACH]</p><p>Mysia, Lampsakos circa 390-330 BC. AR Diobol (11mm, 1.22g). Janiform female head, with circular earring / ΛΑΜ, helmeted head of Athena right . very fine SNG von Aulock 1295; Gaebler, &quot;Die Silberprägung von Lampsakos&quot;, Nomisma XII, 52; SNG France 5, 1193. Former Kairos Numismatik</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1392372[/ATTACH]</p><p>LUCANIA, Thurium as Copia (193-150 BCE) AE As. 9.40g, 22mm.</p><p>Obv: Laureate head of Janus</p><p>Rev: COPIA in right field; Cornucopia, caduceus and I (mark of value) in right field.</p><p>HN Italy 1935. Very rare. cf. CNG E-Auction 374, 11.05.2016, lot 9 (hammer 260 USD); same dies as NAC Auction 84, 20.05.2015, lot 564 (hammer 2250 CHF)</p><p>Very rare and in fine style. Purchased from AMCC3</p><p><br /></p><p>Even the Celts got in on the two faced fun. Though, living by the Romans they did have to always be <i>watching their backs</i>:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1392380[/ATTACH]</p><p>Central Gaul. Lingones (1st century BC). Potin.</p><p>Obv: Janiform head.</p><p>Rev: Boar standing left.</p><p>D&amp;T 3262.</p><p>Condition: Very fine.</p><p>Weight: 3.3 g.</p><p>Diameter: 17 mm.</p><p>Chocolate Patina. Found in modern Normandy 2021</p><p><br /></p><p>According to Livy the building of the Roman temple of Janus was done by their second king, the one after Romulus, Numa.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1392394[/ATTACH]</p><p>(I&#039;ve wanted one of the trifaced Janiform coins, like the one seen at the top of the temple ever since seeing [USER=44357]@AncientJoe[/USER] &#039;s beauty. Guess I&#039;ll have to keep <i>tri-ing</i>)</p><p><br /></p><p>The Temples doors were known as the &quot;Gates of Janus&quot;. And were closed in times of peace and opened in times of war. Which makes perfect sense if you&#039;re as confident as the early Romans.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1392382[/ATTACH]</p><p>C. Fonteius - Galley Denarius</p><p>114-113 BC</p><p>Obv: beardless janiform head of the Dioscuri, control letter R(?) below left, (XVI monogram) below right. Rev: [C FONT] with galley left, with pilot and three oarsmen; ROM[A] in exergue. 3.33 grams. Good fine. [No Reserve]</p><p>Provenance</p><p>Purchased from Timeline Auctions Feb 2021</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1392383[/ATTACH]</p><p>M. Furius L. f. Philus AR Denarius. Italian mint, 119 BC. Laureate bust of Janus; M•FOVRI•L•F around / Roma standing left erecting trophy, gallic arms around; ROMA to right; PHILI (ligate) in exergue. Crawford 281/1; Sydenham 529; BMC (Italy)</p><p>M. Furius Philus, son of Lucius, is considered to have been the nephew of the Consul P. Furius Philus who together with Caius Flaminius enjoyed the honours of a Triumph for victories gained over the Ligurian Gauls in 223 BC. In his capacity as monetal triumvir he here represents the triumph in question.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sextus Pompey wisely used his image with that of his deceased and wildly popular father as propaganda during Caesar&#039;s reign to stir up support:</p><p><img src="http://rover.ebay.com/roversync/?site=0&amp;stg=1&amp;mpt=1636834613388" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1392384[/ATTACH]</p><p>Sextus Pompey</p><p>Ӕ As. Spain or Sicily, 45 BC. Laureate head of Janus, with the features of Cn. Pompeius Magnus; [MGN] above / Prow right; [PIVS] above, IMP below. Crawford 479/1; CPP I 671. 19.23g, 28mm,</p><p>Fine.</p><p>Ex-Savoca</p><p><br /></p><p>Alright, you&#039;ve stuck with me this far, so I&#039;ll end on a joke:<span style="color: #ff4d4d">edited</span></p><p><br /></p><p>[MEDIA=youtube]ZbpJb7hjb7M[/MEDIA]</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post up all of the Janiform coins you&#039;ve got, stories or anything that makes you say, dammit Janus, I LOVE YOU![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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