Janus day

he was the original master...

 

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i've been bidding on some but haven't scored any yet..on to the next mountain...

 

Janus on a Roman Republican Anonymous AR Drachm or Half Quadrigatus
circa 217-214 BC
Obv: Laureate head of Janus
Rev: Jupiter, holding scepter & hurling thunderbolt, in quadriga driven left by Victory, ROMA in exergue
Ref: Cr 29/4, Syd 67, RSC 25
Size: 18.4mm 3.2g

 

I'm a bit late to the party, but since Janus' official festival isn't until January 9th, I'll give myself a pass

Here is an as of L. Rubrius Dossenus, more well known for his AE issues. Many of his coins feature serpentine imagery (see the snake coiled around and rising up from the column between Janus), which is believed to be associated with Asclepius, the god of healing. These coins were issued at a time of great plague in Rome. Yesterday (January 1st) was also the festival of Aesculapius.


AE As L. Rubrius Dossenus
Obverse: Laureate heads of Janus, altar with coiled serpent between
Reverse: Prow of galley right
Struck at Rome in 87 BC, 19mm, 12.17g

A bit off topic, but since yesterday was also the festival of Vejovis, an obscure deity associated with destruction and the underworld, who is the subject of a research project I am currently working on. Here is a coin which may (or may not) depict him.


Manius Fonteius
Obverse: Laureate head of Vejovis, Apollo, or Vejovis-Apollo right, thunderbolt beneath; MN FONTEI to left of bust, C•F to right.
Reverse: Cupid or Genius on goat right; above, pilei of Dioscuri; in exurgue, thyrsus of Bacchus; surrounded by laurel wreath within dots.
Struck at Rome in 85 BC