Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;John Anthony, post: 8151572, member: 42773&quot;]I realize that a couple of Janus threads have already been posted this week in honor of the new year, but as I read them, it occurred to me that it might be instructive to post a chronological synopsis of the god&#039;s appearance on Roman coinage. This enigmatic deity derives his name from <i>ianua</i>, meaning the outer door of a house. Our word <i>janitor</i> comes from the same root, a word that originally meant <i>doorman</i> or <i>doorkeeper</i> and evolved to denote custodianship.</p><p><br /></p><p>By 225 BC, the cult of Janus was apparently important enough for the god to be selected as the obverse design on the hefty <i>aes grave </i>asses. Here Janus is seen as a mature, bearded man looking ahead and behind...</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]1421868[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">Anonymous. Circa 225-217 BC. Æ Aes Grave As (61mm, 269.30 g, 12h). Rome mint. Head of Janus on a raised disk / Prow right; I (mark of value) above; all on a raised disk. Crawford 35/1; ICC 75; Sydenham 72; RBW 84-5; HN Italy 337 <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=316077#" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=316077#" rel="nofollow">CNG Coin Shop</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p>Inflation inevitably took its toll and the as gradually shrunk. This is my example from ca. 215-212 BC, still a sizeable chunk of bronze...</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]1421869[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">Roman Republic AE As. Anonymous. Rome, c. 215-212 BC. AE As, 70.71g (38mm, 12h). Bearded Janus head / Prow of ship right; above, mark of value (I).</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><i>Pedigree: Ex Eberhard Link Collection. Ex Münz Zentrum 88, Cologne 1997, lot 353. Peus Nachfl. 322, Frankfurt am Main 1988, lot 42. Kurpfälzische Münzhandlung 19, Mannheim 1980, lot 99. Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 15, Munich 1979, lot 105.</i></p> <p style="text-align: center"><i><br /></i></p><p>The denomination shrank somewhat more over the ensuing years, but it would become the most circulated bronze coin during the Roman Republic. The majority of these later issues are heavily worn and crusty. Here is an example I sold a few years ago to another CT member...</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]1421879[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center"><font size="4">M. ATILI SARAN, c. 148 BC / AE As, 31mm, 23.95g.</font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><font size="4">Obv.: Laureate bust of Janus / Rev.: ROMA|I|M.ATILI, prow r.</font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><font size="4">Ref.: Crawford 214/2a / Ex - RBW, Ex - Hendin</font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><font size="4"><br /></font></p><p><font size="4"><span style="color: #ff0000"><b>Collecting Caveat.</b> Because of the typically worn condition of these coins and their popularity, they are irresistible to toolers. In particular, look for sharp lines in the prow that don&#039;t match the obverse wear. Here is an example I fished out of Harlan Berk&#039;s junk box in Baltimore a few years back...</span></font></p><p><font size="4"><span style="color: #ff0000"><br /></span></font></p><p style="text-align: center"><font size="4"><span style="color: #ff0000">[ATTACH=full]1421891[/ATTACH] </span></font></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p>Around the time of the introduction of the the as, a double-faced deity also appeared on the silver didrachm, or <i>quadrigatus</i> denomination. This god was beardless, and although he is most often identified as Janus, Sydenham suggests him to be Fontus, the son of Janus (<i>The Coinage of the Roman Republic</i>); while Crawford suggests the Dioscuri (<i>Roman Republican Coinage</i>).</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]1421877[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">Anonymous. Circa 225-214 BC. AR Didrachm – Quadrigatus (24mm, 5.78 g, 7h). Uncertain mint. Laureate head of Janus; curved truncation / Jupiter, hurling thunderbolt with right hand and holding scepter in left, in quadriga right driven by Victory; ROMA incuse on raised tablet in exergue. Crawford 28/3; Sydenham 64; Kestner 88-90, 92-5; BMCRR Romano-Campanian 78-88; RSC 23. <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=288469" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=288469" rel="nofollow">CNG Coin Shop</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p>Despite the ubiquity of Janus on Roman Republic asses, he appears only once on the denarii, issued by moneyer M. Furius Philus, dated to 120 BC...</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]1421893[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">M. Furius L.f. Philus. 120 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.94 g, 12h). Rome mint. M FOVRI L F, laureate head of Janus / Roma standing left, holding wreath and scepter; to left, trophy of Gallic arms flanked by a carnyx and shield on each side; star above; ROMA upwards to right, (PHI)LI in exergue. Crawford 281/1; Sydenham 529; <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=308422" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=308422" rel="nofollow">CNG Coin Shop</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p>Janus himself now disappears from Roman coinage until the reign of Hadrian, but a half-century earlier, Nero issued a series of gold, orichalcum, and copper coins depicting the curious structure known as the <i>Ianus geminus</i>, which stood in the Forum. It was a free-standing, double gateway used for ceremonial purposes. Closing the doors of the Iannus geminus came to symbolize peace throughout the empire. In AD 65, Nero inaugurated his series of coins marking the end of hostilities with Parthia. The inscription on this issue announces “the doors of Janus have been closed after peace has been procured for the Roman People on the land and on the sea.&quot; The doors of the temple probably remained closed for less than a year, being opened again with the onset of strife in Judaea in 66.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]1421906[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 28.45 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck circa AD 65. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, laureate head right, globe at point of neck / PΛCE P R TERRΛ MΛRIQ PΛRTΛ IΛNVM CLVSIT, S C across field, Temple of Janus with latticed windows to left and garland hung across closed double doors to the right. RIC I 438; WCN 419; Lyon 109; BMCRE 319; BN 73.</p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=393476" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=393476" rel="nofollow">CNG Coin Shop</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p>The figure of Janus appears on an aureus of Hadrian in AD 121, celebrating the beginning of a new &quot;Golden Age&quot; - the <i>Saeculum Aureum</i>. Five years later he appears on an as commemorating Hadrian&#039;s <i>decennalia</i>...</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1421910[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">Hadrian. AD 117-138. AV Aureus (18mm, 7.29 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 119-125. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P COS III, Janus, standing facing, naked to waist, fold of drapery over left arm, holding scepter in right hand. RIC II 62; Strack 91; Calicó 1311a (this coin, illustrated); BMCRE 100 <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=320126" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=320126" rel="nofollow">CNG Triton XIV: 707</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ As (25.5mm, 11.33 g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 124-128. Laureate bust right, slight drapery / Janus standing facing, looking in three directions, holding scepter and resting hand on hip. RIC II 662. <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=320126" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=320126" rel="nofollow">CNG 382:404</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p>Similar bronze types were struck in sestertius and as denominations by Antoninus Pius in AD 140, part of a series of new types leading up to the 900th anniversary of the City of Rome in AD 147. And 50 years later we find Janus on a sestertius of Commodus, standing on a low plinth within an arched shrine. This is very likely a representation of the actual statue in the city of Rome that would have been familiar to its citizens. His successor Pertinax also issued IANO CONSERVAT denarii...</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]1421914[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">Commodus. AD 177-192. Æ Sestertius (27mm, 18.42 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 186. Laureate head right / Distyle shrine, containing Janus standing facing, holding sceptre. RIC III 460; MIR 18, 702-6/30; Banti 278. <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=309005" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=309005" rel="nofollow">CNG 372:457</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">PERTINAX. 193 AD. AR Denarius (3.06 gm). IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG, laureate head right / IANO CO-NSERVAT, Janus standing facing, holding sceptre in right hand. RIC IV 3; BMCRE 2; RSC 17. <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=28014" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=28014" rel="nofollow">CNG Coin Shop</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p><p>The last two appearances of the god in his numismatic career occur on a denarius of Geta and aureus of Gallienus...</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]1421919[/ATTACH]</p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">GETA. 209-211 AD. AR Denarius (18mm, 2.73 gm, 7h). Struck 211 AD. P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT, laureate and bearded head right / TR P II-I COS II P P, Janus standing facing, holding spear and thunderbolt. RIC IV 79; BMCRE 13; RSC 197. <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=63371" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=63371" rel="nofollow">CNG Coin Shop</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center">GALLIENUS, 253-268. Heavy &quot;Fest-aureus&quot;, 260. AV 5.15 g. IMP GALLIENVS PIVS FEL AVG Draped and cuirassed bust r. with crested helmet. Rev. IANO PATRI Janus in himation, nude to waist, standing facing, holding transversal sceptre in his l. hand, patera in his r. hand. RIC 134. New York Sale 3:758</p><p><br /></p><p>So there you have it. Go collect them all, but you&#039;ll be hard-pressed to find the aurei. If I&#039;ve missed anything, by all means correct me![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in