This is so ugly I hesitate to post it, but it came in a lot of sestertii today (averaging about $7 each) and while trying to attribute it, it would appear to be kind of scarce. At first I thought it was Minerva, but the "pinched" shield is clearly Juno Sospita (corrections gladly accepted!) It is RIC 607 and comes in two major varieties with differing reverse legends: IVNONI SISPITAE or TR POT COS III. My example is so wretched I can't figure out which version this might be. According to a post on FORVM (member Charles S): "This issue is part of a series of coins struck in preparation of the 900th anniversary of Rome, figuring scenes from Ancient Roman legends. Juno Sospita was the goddess of Lanuvium, the birthplace of Pius..." Are there any prettier ones out there? I'd like to see a nice one.
Are we having an "ugly coin off"? This poor thing.... Caracalla, Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, 198-217 AD Obverse: AVT M APHΛI ANTΩNEINOC, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right Reverse: V I ΦAVCTINIANOV MAPKIANOΠOΛI / TΩN, Tyche standing facing, head left, holding rudder and cornucopia 29 mm 11.0 g Julius Faustinianus, consular legate
Oh wait, I forgot about this AP coin from Zeugma Commagene....this thing is ugly. It does have a cool countermark however.
I certainly can't answer the OP's question on the coin.. but we have probably been bidding against each other ... I am usually in on this "quality" of purchase ..lol... perhaps we can exchange notes? Bottom Feeders Unite!!! I've purchased a few low end Sestertius lately... they are awesome! Philippus I. (Arabus), 161-180 AD., Rome mint. Av. drap. bust with laur. head right Rv. Annona standing left, holding corn ears over modius and cornucopiae 19.84gr Severus Alexander, 222-235 AD., Rome mint. Av. laur. head right Rv. Sol standing left, holding whip 15.54gr
Neat sestertius! Definitely one I wouldn't mind owning. Celebrating the birthplace of Lanuvium's other famous son occasioned Juno Sospita's last appearance on a coin... COMMODUS AR Denarius. 3.33g, 18mm. Rome mint, Autumn - Dec AD 177. RIC (Marcus Aurelius) 646; Cohen 270. O: L AVREL COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: IVNONI SISPITAE TR P II IMP II COS P P, Juno Sospita, advancing right, brandishing javelin in right hand and holding shield in left; in front, snake.
Interesting, zumbly. That this is Juno Sospita's last appearance interests me - I've been reading around on the decline and changes to Rome's religious traditions. It was far more complicated than Jesus usurped Zeus. All those Eastern cults, the various permutations of the Greek pantheons, etc. It is interesting and confusing. That Commodus is going on my bucket list. How sad it must have been to be the last priest of, say, Juno Sospita or Honos or the Cult of Faustina & Antoninus and to put out the altar fire and close the door for the last time (and hand the keys over to the Pope?). Did people just gradually drift away? Some mainstream Christian denominations are having attendance problems these days, so the more things change... I used to have a RR L. Thorius Balbus denarius with Juno Sospita...one of the few ancients I've ever sold off. And yes, I do regret it. It was actually a lot nicer than most of the stuff in my collection (as the OP indicates). Clavdivs, I do like those sestertii you have posted. Bottom feeders unite! Yep, I'd go with that (so long as we aren't bidding against each other all the time).
Interesting thoughts. I’m sure some cults experienced a slow decline, where others continued to be popular until eventually outlawed and stamped out by Christian emperors such as Theodosius.
