Featured New Julia Mamaea Sestertius: IVNO CONSERVATRIX

My newest Sestertius is only of mediocre quality, but the type is quite rare and interesting.

IVNO CONSERVATRIX was the very first reverse type of Julia Mamaea, introducing the mother of the new Augustus Severus Alexander to the public as the new Empress in the spring of AD 222.

The type of Juno "the Preserver" was also used for her mother Julia Maesa and promotes the continuity of the Severan regime after the murder of both Elagabalus and his mother Julia Soaemias on March 11, AD 222. It presents the sister and companion of Jupiter as protector of Mamaea´s and Maesa´s lives during the pretorian guard´s revolt that had actually been their own plan.

Mamaea´s portrait at this point still very much resembles that of her elder sister Julia Soaemias with her long neck and slim face.



IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA - Draped bust right, diademed, hair weaved in rows and tucked at base of head
IVNO CONSERVATRIX S C - Juno, diademed and veiled, standing left, patera in right hand, scepter in left, peacock at feet at left
Sestertius, Rome 222 aD
30 mm / 24 gr
RIC 686, Cohen 40, BMCRE 51 (same obverse die), Banti 11 (2 Specimens)



The very first coins of the new Empress had been struck with the unusual obverse title IVLIA MAMIAS AVG. It was first used on Denarii which still show Mamaea without the Stephane we can see on all her later coins from the mint of Rome.
Apart from very rare middle bronzes, Mamaea´s first Sestertii (struck from a single obverse die) were issued with that early obverse legend (RIC 685 var.; Cohen 41) but were soon discontinued (only one published specimen, in the British Museum). According to Curtis Clay, the spelling „Mamias“ might have been found to resemble the name of the murdered (and probably damnated) Julia Soaemias too closely.

The obverse legend was therefore soon corrected to IVLIA MAMAEA while keeping the shortened „AVG“ (RIC 685, Cohen 39). This is still quite rare with less than a dozen specimens recorded. The eight pieces I could find pictures of come from two obverse and six reverse dies.

The final variety of Mamaea´s IVNO CONSERVATRIX Sestertii, to which my coin belongs, has AVGVSTA spelled out (as it is found on all of her Sestertii of other types) and must therefore (according to Clay) be the latest of the three. Even though four of these coins are listed in the Guelma hoard, out of the six (other) specimens I found illustrated all seem to share the same obverse die. On the reverse, mine seems to be the only one that has the peacock looking to the right.

On AC Search, Sestertii of this type are outnumbered by corresponding Denarii 50 to 1 and by IVNO AVGVSTAE Sestertii of hers 15 to 1.

Please post your Mamaeas, Iuno Conservatrix coins, Peacocks, ideas, or anything related!

 

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Very nice write-up and new coin! I especially appreciate your call out as to the evolution of the bust and obverse legend! Great!!


Julia Mamaea, Mother of Severus Alexander who ruled 222-235 AD
AR Denarius, Struck 225-235 AD, Rome Mint
Obverse: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, draped bust right
Reverse: IVNO CONSERVATRIX, Juno, diademed, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in right hand and sceptre in left hand; at feet, peacock.
References: RIC IV 343

 

Congrats, She looks very young on that coin , in 222 she was about 40 years old.

 

This one just arrived in the mail from a European auction held December 7! It is very similar to yours, @Julius Germanicus , but has a shorter obverse legend. The British Museum does not have an example in their collection, astonishingly.


Julia Mamaea, AD 222-235.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 23.12 g, 28.7 mm, 1 h.
Rome, 1st emission, early AD 222.
Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: IVNO CONSERVATRIX S C, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter, peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 685; BMCRE --; Cohen 39; RCV --; Banti 10.
Notes: Die match to CNG eAuction 280, lot 258, June 6, 2012. Obverse die match to the Banti specimen.

 

My coins are ordinary in type and spelling but appealed to me for reasons that made them the right coins for me. The Juno denarius is an unusual die clash where damage shows on the obverse but not on the reverse. Usually clash damage is seen on the reverse. One explanation is that the clash was more strongly hammered than most and the reverse die was destroyed. This coin was struck with a replacement reverse not part of the clashed pair.

For many years my lack of interest in the later Severans made this sestertius my first, non-fourree Mamaea enough to satisfy.


Before that I did have this fourree which has thicker silver than most plated coins this late. As the silver content of denarii declined, the desired profit for making fourrees caused most to use thinner silver skins.

 

I just picked these up, but the seller is killing me. Total of 30 coins but they were ALL TAPED DOWN!!! I wanted to stab my eyes out. Would tall mind giving them a look over, I don't think I got ripped off but still learning.

 

IULIA MAMAEA

RI Julia Mamaea AR denarius Pietas incense altar perfume Seaby 48

 

Love your example @Julius Germanicus and the writeup going with it

I have a commoner example, but it appealed to me with its terrific hair clip and diadem (was a birthday present from my parents a couple years ago)


Julia Mamaea, Sestertius - Rome mint, AD 224
IVLIA MAMA EA AVGVSTA, Draped and diademed bust right
VENERI FELICI, Venus standing right, holding Cupid and a sceptre. SC in field
17.85 gr
Ref : RIC # 694, RCV # 8232, Cohen # 62

Q

 

Q, That's a nice razor sharp strike . Pictured below is one I scored last year.

 

J.G., Congratulations on scoring this rarity ! I was unaware of the name difference "Mamias" on these sestertii. Pictured below is a denarius of her lascivious sister Julia Soaemias, just for comparison. The 4 Julia's from that dynasty held a lot of influence & power .

 

Thanks for resurrecting my old thread (it sank without a trace when I originally posted it) !

Your coin is also an obverse die match to the only specimen listed and illustrated by Banti (formerly in the Gnecchi collection), but from a different reverse die.

What I beauty!!! I´m still looking for a Sestertius of hers in that quality!

 

It's mama!!



Thanks to both JG and RC for this thread. Here's a related coin you might like:


This is a very rare first (proclamation) issue dupondius of SA, RIC 565 var. (bust type). Not too much patina, JG.

 

Had to revive this thread because I just got one like the OP - the reverse is particularly scarred by the Hand of Time, but it was nice to find this thread again and read about it.

It was especially interesting to read Julius Germanicus OP on the background to this particular issue - thank you JG for that!



Julia Mamaea Æ Sestertius
(Mother of Severus Alex.)
(222 A.D.)
Rome Mint
IVL[IA] MAMAEA AVGVSTA, draped & diademed bust r. / [IVNO CONSE]RVA[TRIX] SC, Juno standing front holding patera & sceptre; peacock left.
RIC 686
(20.93 grams / 30 mm)

 

My one Julia Mamaea -- I have one coin for each of the Severan Julias: Julia Mamaea (mother of Severus Alexander), AR Denarius. Obv. Bust draped right wearing diadem (stephane), IVLIA MAMAEA AVG/ Rev. Venus stdg. front, head left, holding helmet & scepter, shield leans against her at left. VENVS VICTRIX. RIC IV-2 358, RSC III 76 (ill.), Sear RCV II 8216 (ill.), BMCRE 713. 20.5 mm., 2.88 g.

 

I enjoyed your informative post and interesting coin @Julius Germanicus. Here is a Julia Mamaea, Augusta, AD 222-235, AR Denarius, Rome mint. 15th emission of Severus Alexander, AD 232. The big eyed portrait and detailed reverse were irresistible.

Obv: IVLIA MA-MAEA AVG, Draped bust right, wearing stephane
Rev: FECUND AVGVSTAE, Fecunditas standing left, holding cornucopia, extending hand to child reaching up to her
Size: 19.8mm 3.38g
Ref: RIC IV 331 (Alexander)

 

A wonderful, and irresistible, coin. Love it. The detail is beautiful.