Juno Lucina, the "bringer of light," was the goddess who helped newborn children see the light of day and is especially associated with childbirth in the Imperial family. As the goddess of childbirth, Juno Lucina is typically portrayed with or holding children, such as on this dupondius of Faustina Jr, who had a lot of children! Faustina Jr, under Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-175 Roman orichalcum dupondius; 13.23 g, 25.1 mm, 6 h Rome, AD 161-175 Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right Rev: IVNONI LVCINAE, Juno standing left between two children, holding a third child on left arm Refs: RIC 1650; BMCRE p. 541, *; Cohen 137; RCV 5298; MIR 18. A variety of objects may accompany her, such as a patera and scepter -- attributes of Juno: Crispina, AD 177-182 Roman orichalcum dupondius; 13.19 g, 25 mm, 12 h Rome, AD 180-182 Obv: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right Rev: IVNO LVCINA SC, Juno standing l., holding patera and scepter Refs: RIC 680; BMCRE 433; Cohen 24; RCV 6018 More frequently, she is depicted with a flower, as is the case with the following coin. The flower recalls the circumstances by which Juno conceived Mars. Ovid relates the story that Juno, angry that her husband Jupiter had given birth to Minerva on his own, decided to do the same thing herself and become pregnant without her husband. She consulted with the goddess Flora, who touched Juno with a flower from the fields of Olenus. Juno thus conceived and gave birth to Mars. Julia Domna, AD 193-211 Roman orichalcum sestertius; 26.43 g, 32.5 mm, 12 h Rome, AD 211 Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right Rev: IVNONI LVCINAE, Juno enthroned left, holding flower and child in swaddling clothes Refs: RIC 857; BMCRE 770; Cohen 94; RCV 6627; Hill 1173 Juno Lucina is depicted on coins of Faustina II, Lucilla, Crispina, and Julia Domna. Post anything you feel is relevant!
According to my notes for the coin below, the poet Terence records in one of his Comedies a common prayer made by women to Juno Lucina when they're in labour: "Iuno Lucina, fer opem, serva me, obsecro". I believe this roughly translates to "Juno Lucina, help me, save me, I beg of you!" LUCILLA AR Denarius. 3.42g, 18mm. Rome mint, AD 164-167. RIC 771. O: LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, draped bust right, head bare; hair waved and knotted low at back in chignon. R: IVNONI LVCINAE, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, extending right hand and holding child in swaddling clothes on left arm.
Online research this morning on the Faustina II dupondius. It appears to be much scarcer than RIC would imply. RIC says 1650 is "common." However, not a single example is to be found among the 31575 Roman imperial coins at The Coin Project, and none are to be found at Coin Archives or acsearchinfo. CNG has never sold one and none are for sale at the V-Coins Mall. The only example I could find online is this one from the Wildwinds database. It has to be scarce, if not rare. Anyone know of other examples online?
I will jump in with some Junos from the Republic and Empire... From WIKIPEDIA: "Juno (Latin: IVNO, Iūnō [ˈjuːnoː]) is an ancient Roman goddess, the protector and special counselor of the state. A daughter of Saturn, she is the wife of Jupiter and the mother of Mars, Vulcan, Bellona and Juventas. She is the Roman equivalent of Hera, queen of the gods in Greek mythology; like Hera, her sacred animal was the peacock.[1] Her Etruscan counterpart was Uni, and she was said to also watch over the women of Rome.[2] As the patron goddess of Rome and the Roman Empire, Juno was called Regina ("Queen") and was a member of the Capitoline Triad (Juno Capitolina), centered on the Capitoline Hill in Rome; it consisted of her, Jupiter, and Minerva, goddess of wisdom. Juno's own warlike aspect among the Romans is apparent in her attire. She is often shown armed and wearing a goatskin cloak. The traditional depiction of this warlike aspect was assimilated from the Greek goddess Athena, who bore a goatskin, or a goatskin shield, called the 'aegis'." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_(mythology) 1) REPUBLIC JUNO: RR Hd Juno Sospita R goat skin hddrss She-wolf R placing stick on fire eagle stndng fanning flames 45 BCE 19.0mm 4.07g Cr 472-1 Ex: SteveX6 Collection RR L Thorius Balbus 105 BCE AR Denarius Juno Sospita goat skin Bull charging Sear 192 Craw 316-1 RR L Papius serratus 79 BCE Juno Sospita goat skin JUG Griffon Sear 311 Craw 384-1 RR C Renius AR Denarius 18mm 3.8g Roma 138 BC Helmeted hd Roma r X - C RENI ROMA Juno driving biga goats r whip reins scepter Cr 231-1 2) BREAKAWAY ITALIA JUNO - 2nd PUNIC WAR - HANNIBAL: Campania CAPUA AE Semuncia 216-211 Juno Xoanon Hannibal capital Italia SCARCE 3) EMPIRE JUNO: RI Crispina m Commodus 177 CE AR denarius 2.29g Juno stdg RIC-283 RI Lucilla AR denarius Juno seated flower child in swaddling clothes Seaby 36
Another Juno dupondius of Faustina II: Faustina Jr, AD 161-175 Roman orichalcum dupondius; 12.76 g Rome, AD 161-175 Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right Rev: IVNO S C, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter Refs: RIC 1647; BMCRE 983; Cohen 123; RCV 5297; MIR 17
