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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Julius Germanicus, post: 3630641, member: 80783&quot;]My newest Sestertius is only of mediocre quality, but the type is quite rare and interesting.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>The type of Juno &quot;the Preserver&quot; 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.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mamaea´s portrait at this point still very much resembles that of her elder sister Julia Soaemias with her long neck and slim face.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]973736[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>IVLIA MAMAEA AVGVSTA - Draped bust right, diademed, hair weaved in rows and tucked at base of head</p><p>IVNO CONSERVATRIX S C - Juno, diademed and veiled, standing left, patera in right hand, scepter in left, peacock at feet at left</p><p>Sestertius, Rome 222 aD</p><p>30 mm / 24 gr</p><p>RIC 686, Cohen 40, BMCRE 51 (same obverse die), Banti 11 (2 Specimens)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]973737[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>The obverse legend was therefore soon corrected to IVLIA MAMAEA while keeping the shortened „AVG“ (RIC 685, Cohen 39).&nbsp; 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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your Mamaeas, Iuno Conservatrix coins, Peacocks, ideas, or anything related![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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