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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;DonnaML, post: 6447469, member: 110350&quot;]On the Mars vs. Virtus issue, I once more highly recommend this article, which I think conclusively proves -- to anyone who still doubts it (even leaving RIC aside, note that David Sear&#039;s RCV, published in this century, still identifies Virtus as male)&nbsp; -- that the personification of Virtus is female, and points out that a Virtus legend on a coin is not always accompanied by the personification of Virtus herself. See <a href="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/reverse_virtus.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/reverse_virtus.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/reverse_virtus.html</a>, and see specifically the following passage discussing Mars on the reverse of the Postumus coin:</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;Virtus embodies manly courage and strength of character. There were powerful female figures in Roman culture, but these were generally goddesses like Minerva, not mortals. So, having a female personification of these qualities sometimes presented difficulties to the propagandists. As a result, coins often showed, not Virtus herself, but a soldier or the emperor with a &quot;VIRTVS&quot; legend to indicate that the army, or the emperor, was valorous and manly. In fact, a whole range of characters were brought into play. Here are some.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1256324[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The reverse of an antoninianus of Postumus showing heroic Mars with spear and shield.</p><p><br /></p><p>This character on the right is definitely male, and you&#039;d therefore think that this coin, an antoninianus of Postumus, is the exception that tests the rule. He has the spear, helmet and shield that belong to Virtus. But his lack of clothing suggests that [he] is meant to be Mars. He, too, carries spear and shield, and wears a helmet, and Mars is often shown naked. You can see some of his guises on my Mars, God of War page.&quot;[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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