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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Curtis, post: 8467037, member: 26430&quot;]Here&#039;s the best of my Julian II Apis bull types.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1499974[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p><b>Julian II AE1 “Double Maiorina”</b> (29mm, 8.2g), struck in Nicomedia, 361-3 AD.</p><p><b>Obverse</b>: DN FL CL IVLIANVS PF AVG. Pearl-diademed, draped &amp; cuirassed bearded bust right.</p><p><b>Reverse:</b> SECVRITAS REIPVB. Bull standing right, two stars above. Exergue: palm-NIKB-palm.</p><p><b>Reference</b>: RIC 121.</p><p><br /></p></blockquote><p>I like this type partly because (as I&#039;ve <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientCoins/comments/ddxio8/comment/f2ol9cn/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x&amp;context=3" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientCoins/comments/ddxio8/comment/f2ol9cn/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x&amp;context=3" rel="nofollow">previously commented</a>, slightly edited here):</p><p><br /></p><p>It seems Julian II was not a particularly well-liked figure in his time and today is seen as rather mysterious. This coin’s claim to fame is that its significance is uncertain: Julian is known as the last pagan emperor of Rome, and this is the only coin to represent his religious sentiments, yet we don’t know exactly what he intended.</p><p><br /></p><p>The meaning (not unlike the religious symbolism of Constantine’s coins) is a matter of continuing debate, but more remarkably, quite exceptionally, in fact, for any Roman Imperial bronze coin, it is known to have already been a matter of contention and repeated public comment in Julian’s time.</p><p><br /></p><p>Though Julian was clearly returning pagan symbolism to Roman coins (Constantine having brought about a shift to Christian iconography three decades earlier), it is unclear exactly what significance to assign the bull: the astrological sign Taurus, a representation of Mithras, or Helios, or, as often suggested today, the Apis Bull derived from Egyptian religion. The mystery derives from the varied meanings held by the bull in European, Ancient Near East and Mediterranean religions, wherein it had been a potent symbol (pardon the pun) since at least the Bronze Age.</p><p><br /></p><p>Julian’s bull coinage is often noted for having been referenced in at least 3-4 classical sources known today. Most seem to have a disparaging tone (partly due to at least two authors writing histories intentionally biased in favor of the Christian church). At least some of his Provincial subjects were hostile to the design, citizens of Antioch reportedly complaining, with reference to this coin:</p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p>“…the bull, which was impressed upon his coin, was a symbol of his having desolated the world. For the emperor, being excessively superstitious, was continually sacrificing bulls on the altars of his idols, and had ordered the impression of a bull and altar to be made on his coin.” </p><p><i>The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus</i></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>Other interesting discussions:</p><p><a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/julian-and-the-apis-bull.324642/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/julian-and-the-apis-bull.324642/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/julian-and-the-apis-bull.324642/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/taking-bull-horns-julians-controversial-coinage/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/taking-bull-horns-julians-controversial-coinage/" rel="nofollow">https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/taking-bull-horns-julians-controversial-coinage/</a></p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_(emperor)" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_(emperor)" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_(emperor)</a></p><p>On literary evidence, see also <a href="https://d.docs.live.net/cbf0e6f1b8baa8e5/Desktop/Ancient%20Coins%202020/Ancient%20Coin%20Descriptions%20-%20Comments%20-%20Notes.docx#_Corey_Ellithorpe._2017." target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://d.docs.live.net/cbf0e6f1b8baa8e5/Desktop/Ancient%20Coins%202020/Ancient%20Coin%20Descriptions%20-%20Comments%20-%20Notes.docx#_Corey_Ellithorpe._2017." rel="nofollow">Ellithorpe (2017) Dissertation: Circulating Imperial Ideology</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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