Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Roman Collector, post: 3222893, member: 75937&quot;]Salus (Ὑγιεία -- Hygieia to the Greeks), being the daughter of Aesculapius and of Minerva, was worshiped as a goddess of health, safety, and the general welfare. This goddess is typically depicted as a woman clothed in the stola, either sitting or standing, feeding a serpent from a patera held in her extended hand. Serpents were, of course, the sacred animal of Aesculapius, and were felt to have supernatural healing powers (you may read more in <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-asklepian-snake-on-roman-coins.296687/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-asklepian-snake-on-roman-coins.296687/">this write-up</a> I did about them a year and a half ago). It is in this form (which was doubtless that of her statues and with these symbols) that she is almost always depicted on coins on the imperial series from Galba to Maximianus. Here are a couple of typical examples, seated and standing:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]839419[/ATTACH] Orichalcum sestertius of Maximinus Thrax, RIC 85.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]839420[/ATTACH]</p><p>Billon antoninianus of Salonina, Göbl 1656h.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, in the mid- to late-third century, the inscription SALVS expanded to include other gods and goddesses apart from Salus herself but who were similarly associated with healing. I have examples of such coins from this period depicting Apollo, Isis, and Aesculapius, which I post, below.</p><p><br /></p><p>Let&#039;s see your SALVS coins or anything you feel is relevant!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]839423[/ATTACH]</p><p>Gallienus, AD 253-268.</p><p>Roman billon antoninianus, 3.77 g, 19 mm.</p><p>Antioch, AD 267.</p><p>Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust, right.</p><p>Rev: SALVS AVG, Apollo standing facing, head left, holding branch left, leaning on tripod right; PXV in exergue.</p><p>Refs: RIC 610F; Göbl 1670k; Cohen 927; RCV 10346; Hunter, p. lxx.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]839426[/ATTACH]</p><p>Claudius II Gothicus, AD 268-270.</p><p>Roman billon antoninianus, 4.07 g, 22.4 mm, 5 h.</p><p>Antioch, officina 5, issue 1, end 268-end 269.</p><p>Obv: IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.</p><p>Rev: SALVS AVG, Isis standing left, holding sistrum and situla; Є in exergue.</p><p>Refs: RIC 217A; MER/RIC temp 1024; Cohen 256; RCV 11370; Huvelin 1990, 10; Normanby 1109.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]839429[/ATTACH]</p><p>Postumus, AD 260-269.</p><p>Roman Billon Antoninianus, 2.84 g, 21.1 mm.</p><p>Cologne, AD 265-68.</p><p>Obv: IMP C POSTVMVS PF AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.</p><p>Rev: SALVS AVG, Aesculapius standing facing, head left, holding snake-entwined staff; globe at feet, right.</p><p>Refs: RIC 86; Hunter 85, 86; Cohen 336; Sear 10985; DeWitte 280.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in