I just got this denarius of Julia Domna and I am having a tough time attributing it. Given its overall appearance, I am suspecting a barbaric imitation or some sort of ancient counterfeit. The reverse type and inscription isn't matching up to anything I can find. It weighs 3.31 grams and is about 19 mm. The metal looks silver-ish, not fourree so much abut I could be wrong. Many thanks! Here's another view of the reverse. That inscription just doesn't line up with any of JD's coins, that I could find:
Weird. I concur the reverse type is IMPERII FELICITAS. It clearly begins IMPER and ends in CITAS. However, the goddess here clearly holds a branch, whereas Felicitas holds a caduceus on the only Severan issue with this reverse type, a denarius of Caracalla, RIC 9 (Rome), RIC 331 (Eastern mint). That type depicts Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus in right hand and child on left arm. From the British Museum: Rome: Eastern mint:
Mixing of reverses on unofficial coins of this period is not at all unusual both with fourree and solid coins. The doubing on reverse right messes up the legend but this, otherwise, is a nice example of a solid barbarous coin. The solid Domna below shows use of a Septimius reverse Restitutor Orbis. The Septimius fourree below uses a Caracalla on horseback reverse When you are running an unofficial mint, the rules that apply to the official mints do not apply.
Thank you all for your assistance with this odd-ball coin. I think the "unofficial" issue approach to this one is probably correct.
Bringing up this thread because I just got another Julia Domna denarius with a non-official reverse - this one featuring FIDES PVBLICA from Caracalla. Amusingly, the obverse legend is "IVLIA D AVGVSTA" - Julia D was what her friends called her, I'm guessing. FORVM sold an example with the same reverse, which made me happy, leading me to believe mine is at least ancient and not some botched modern counterfeit from the bowels of eBay. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?zpg=8921 Julia Domna Æ (?) Denarius (c. 196-211 A.D.) Unknown / Unofficial Mint IVLIA D AVGVSTA draped bust right / FIDES PVBLICA, Fides standing right, holding corn-ears and basket of fruit. RIC IV -; BMCRE -; RSC III - (Unofficial issue; see notes) (2.46 grams / 16 mm) "This coin combines the obverse of a Julia Domna denarius with reverse of a Caracalla denarius. The style is not official. It is an ancient counterfeit. The core is probably base metal." www.forumancientcoins.com Note: Per OCRE, there are eight FIDES PVBLICA types for Caracalla: RIC 8, 19, 24Aa, 24Ab, 24a, 24b, 330A and 334.
The figure on the reverse of the first coin in this thread appears to be Hilaritas, but of course the legend doesn't jive.
And I always thought her friends just called her Jaydee to distinguish her from her sister Jay Macy and her niece J.So, who is not to be confused with the well-known American actress and singer J.Lo.
I appreciate unofficial coins that show original thought. This must have come just at the time of the switchover from the first legend Domna coins to the later IVLIA AVGASTA legends and the counterfeiter had trouble with the change. It looks ancient and interesting.
The reverse shows Fides standing left, holding plate of fruit in right hand, grain ears in left. Fides is normally depicted facing left like this but is sometimes seen facing right
CARACALLA AR Denarius OBVERSE: IMP CAE MAVR ANT AVG P TR P - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right REVERSE: FIDES PVBLICA – Fides standing right, holding corn ears and fruit dish Struck at Rome, 198 AD 3.0g, 18mm RIC 24a, C 82
Hmmm... "Rabbit-Hole Fides". I do not have her standing, rather she is chilling on the Obverse. I am pondering buying @dougsmit 's neighbor's house. Unfortunately, my coins are ensconced further from me that I cannot attempt to re-photo... ROMAN REPUBLIC A LICINIUS NERVA AR-Denarius, 3.58 g. Rome. c. 47 BCE Obv.: FIDES / NERVA Laureate head of Fides r. Rev.: NERVA / III VIR Horseman galloping r., draging captive by the hair. Ref: Craw 454/1; BMC 3999; Syd 954 And, Doug knows this one pretty well: RI AR Den Julia Domna 200 CE Felicitas Isis Horus RIC 577 Ex: Doug Smith Collection
