It's always nice to see the gods actively involved with improving the human condition. My latest coin is a recent CNG win showing Pax on the reverse sacrificing for peace. I like that. Vespasian Æ Dupondius, 11.39g Lyon mint, 72 AD Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIAN AVG COS IIII; Head of Vespasian, radiate, r.; globe at point of bust Rev: PAX AVG; S C in field; Pax stg. l., with patera over altar and branch and caduceus RIC 191 (C2). BMC 816. BNC 817. Ex CNG E463, 11 March 2020, lot 360. A common early Pax type struck in 72 unique to Lyon. H. Mattingly in BMCRE writes 'The type of Pax sacrificing, which is peculiar to Lugdunum, conveys the thought of thanksgiving for peace and prosperity (cp. the caduceus held by Pax) restored.' At Rome a similar variant was produced sans altar. The propaganda value of Pax for the new Flavian dynasty after the Civil War and Jewish Rebellion cannot be underestimated. The style is unabashedly early Lugdunese - blocky portrait with a heavy brow. Please post your coins of gods or goddesses actually doing something.
Pietas, of course, sacrifices often: Julia Maesa, Augusta AD 218-22. Roman Orichalcum Sestertius; 21.28 gm; 29.2 m. Rome mint, AD 218-22. Obv: IVLIA MAESA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust, r. Rev: PIETAS AVG SC, Pietas standing l., sacrificing over altar and holding incense box. Refs: RIC 414; Cohen 31; BMCRE 389; Sear 7763; Thirion 408. Vesta sacrificing, too: Faustina I, AD 138--140/41. Roman orichalcum dupondius, 11.73 g, 25 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 150/51. Obv: DIVA FAV-STINA, veiled and draped bust, right. Rev: CONSECRATIO S C, Vesta, veiled, draped, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over altar left and holding long lighted torch, vertical, in left. Refs: RIC 1187 B; BMCRE 1594; Cohen 164; RCV 4652 var. Felicitas gets in on the pouring of libations game: Julia Maesa, AD 218-225 Roman AR denarius; 3.15 g, 19.5 mm, 7 h Rome, AD 220-222 Obv: IVLIA MAESA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right Rev: SAECVLI FELICITAS, Felicitas standing left, with long caduceus, sacrificing out of patera over lighted altar, left; star in right field Refs: RIC 271; BMCRE 79; Cohen 45; RCV 7757; CRE 472; Thirion 419 Mars going off to kick some butt!! Trebonianus Gallus, AD 251-253. Roman AR antoninianus, 3.58 g, 20.7 mm, 5 h. Antioch, AD 251. Obv: IMP C C VIB TREB GALLVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right. Rev: MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM, Mars advancing right, carrying transverse spear and shield. Refs: RIC 84; RSC 70; RCV 9637; Hunter 59. Jupiter hurling lightning bolts: Gallienus, AD 253-268. Roman billon antoninianus, 3.10 g, 20.1 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 261. Obv: IMP GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head, right, both ribbons behind. Rev: IOVI VLTORI, Jupiter standing, head right, holding lightning bold in right hand, cloak flying right; S in left field. Refs: RIC 53; Göbl 348e; RCV 10247 var.; Cohen 407. Artemis hunting: Trajan Decius. AD 249-251. Roman provincial Æ 33 mm, 18.78 g. Cilicia, Tarsus, AD 249-251. Obv: ΑV ΚΑΙ Γ ΜЄϹ ΚVΙΝ ΔЄΚΙΟϹ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ, Π Π, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev: ΤΑΡϹΟV ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛЄΩϹ Γ Β, Α Μ Κ. Artemis standing right, drawing arrow from quiver and holding bow and arrow; at feet on either side, deer standing left and dog running right with raised paws, head left. Refs: RPC 1346; SNG Levante 1156 ; SNG France 1754; SNG von Aulock 6065; SNG Cop 33; Ziegler 808.16.33; Lindgren III, 926. Apollo preparing to slay Python: Caracalla, with Julia Domna, AD 198-217. Roman provincial Æ Pentassarion, 10. 66 g, 27 mm, 1 h. Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, AD 215 under Quintillianus, legatus consularis. Obv: ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC ΑVΓΟVCΤΟC ΙΟV-ΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Caracalla and draped bust of Julia Domna facing one another. Rev: VΠΑ ΚVΝΤΙΛΙΑΝΟV ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ, Apollo standing facing, head right, raising hand over head and holding bow; to left, Є (mark of value) above covered quiver; serpent-entwined stump to right. Refs: AMNG I 660 ff; Moushmov 471; H&J, Marcianopolis 6.19.7.1; Varbanov 1001; Mionnet --; BMC --; Sear --; Wiczay --. Apollo being nicer to reptiles: Macrinus, AD 217-218. Roman provincial Æ pentassarion, 12.64 g, 27 mm, 1 h. Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis, Legate Marcus Claudius Agrippa, AD 218. Obv: ΑV Κ ΟΠΠΕΛ CΕVΗ ΜΑΚΡΙΝΟC, laureate head, right. Rev: VΠ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑ ΝΙΚΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ ΠΡΟC ΙCΤΡΩ, Nude Apollo with crossed legs standing right, his right arm drawn back, his left on a tree trunk, from which a lizard (?) leaps across to him.[5] Refs: AMNG I 1687; Moushmov 1210; Hristova and Jekov 8.23.7.2; Varbanov 3348; Mionnet Suppl. 2, p. 148, 541.
Here Genio is making a libation to the gods. You can even see the liquid flowing from the Patera. It's easy to see that it is red wine. DIOCLETIAN
Very nice new old dupondius, David. Congratulations. Here's a similar coin to the one of @Ocatarinetabellatchitchix , but from the reign of Galerius and with the inscription "GENIO IMPERATORIS:
Hercules killing the Nemean lion: Constantine I ("the Great") Ticinum mint, A.D. 307-308 RIC 99 Obv: CONSTANTINVS P F AGV[sic] Rev: VIRTVS PER-PETVA AVG - Hercules, strangling Nemean lion; club behind left leg ST in exergue 26 mm, 7.1 g.
Well, they say the ladies are better at multi tasking Isis Pharia not only balancing on a raft but also shaking her Tambourine( sistrum ) whilst windsurfing with her Veil, some lady. Macrinus, Byblos- Phoenicia Picture courtesy of www.navillenumismatics.com
Here's a scarce Domitian. Domitian (Augustus) Coin: Brass Dupondius IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM COS XII CENS PER P P - Radiate bust right. VICTORIAE AVGVSTI - Victory standing left, inscribing shield set on trophy to left and holding palm frond; S-C across trophy. Exergue: Mint: Rome (86 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 14.12g / 30mm / 7h Rarity: R2 References: RIC II 483 var. (bust type). Provenances: Roma Numismatics Acquisition/Sale: Roma Numismatics Internet E-Live 4 #752 $0.00 11/18 Notes: Oct 31, 19 - The Gary R. Wilson Collection
As someone (I wish I could remember who) described the reverse of this coin the last time I posted it, it shows Roma spring-cleaning some old trophies with her feather duster: Roman Republic, M Fovri L.f. Philus, AR Denarius 119 BCE. Obv. Laureate head of Janus, M•FOVRI•L•F around / Rev. Roma with Corinthian helmet standing left holding scepter, crowning trophy surmounted by helmet and flanked by carnyx and shield on each side, Gallic arms around; star above, ROMA to right, PHLI in exergue. RSC I Furia 18 (ill.), Crawford 281/1, Sydenham 529, Sear RCV I 156 (ill.). 20.13 mm., 3.66 g. Aquilia Severa (second wife of Elagabalus). AR Denarius 220-222 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG, Draped bust right/ Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing left, holding patera over lighted altar and double cornucopiae; star in right field. RIC IV-2 226 (Elagabalus); RSC III 2. 18 mm., 3.2 g. [For some reason, it looks like smoke is coming out of the cornucopiae, even though it's the altar that's lit!] Diocletian, silvered AE Follis, 294-96 AD, Nicomedia Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, IMP CC VAL DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG/ Rev. Genius standing left, pouring out patera & holding cornucopiae, GENIO POPVLI ROMANI, mintmark SMN (Nicomedia). RIC VI 27a, ERIC II 539, Cohen 149. 27.8 mm., 8.6 g.
