Hi Ancient Collectors.. Today after work I passed by a Farmers Market at Union Square Park in NYC. I saw this tent, took a picture and thought you guys might admire it.. I'm not a big Ancient Coin collector but I do have a few in my collection. Here is one I shared on CoinTalk early this year that I purchased at the 2020 NYINC. She Wolf feeding Romulus and Remus Enjoy!
I wonder what percentage of the people who see that canopy passing by recognize the image? I would hope at least 50%, but I'm probably overestimating most people's knowledge of Roman legends!
I'm not crying wolf, "Get your Italian Baked Goods Here!" Roman Imperial. Commemorative Series. 330-354 AD. Æ Follis (15mm, 1.29 g, 12h). Arelate (Arles) mint, 1st officina. Struck under Constantine I, AD 334. VRBS ROMA,Bust of Roma left wearing crested helmet and imperial mantle. / She-wolf standing left, head right, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus; above, Christogram (Chi-Rho) between two stars; PCONST in exergue.
I'm betting that the percentage of people recognizing the image is closer to 5%, and that may be high. At least we can hope that someone who doesn't know won't pay attention to it and say something like "hey; exactly what's going on there? I don't think that should be displayed in public. Someone oughtta do something about that..."
I do love a nice she-wolf and twins. This one is from Constantia/Arles and has a branch in the upper field: Constantine I, AD 307-337. Roman billon reduced centenionalis, 2.44 g, 17.4 mm, 12 h. Constantina/Arles, AD 331-332. Obv: VRBS ROMA, helmeted bust of Roma, left, wearing imperial robes. Rev: Lupa Romana, left, suckling Romulus and Remus; branch between two stars above; SCONST in exergue. Refs: RIC vii p. 273, 368; RCV 16497; LRBC I 371; Cohen 17.
LOL, yeah, thats has to be said by a city-gal! Purdy natural to me. However, this Denarius features JUST a Wolf’s HEAD with ROMA STEPPING on it! Now, that would be nasty snipe at Rome if you ask me... In this case, I postulate that this was a snipe at Rome by an Ex-Marsic Confederation family... Just a Wolf's HEAD: Roman Republic Egnatius Maxsumus 76 BCE Bust Libertas pileus behind- Roma and Venus standing cupid on shoulder - Roma's foot on Wolf's Head at their feet Sear 326 Craw 391-3 Cool story, very truncated: The moneyer's family were originally a plebeian family of equestrian rank and were Samnites (had fought with Rome in THREE Samnite Wars (343–341 BCE, 326–304 BCE, and 298–290 BCE). After the Social War (91-88 BCE, with the Samnites holding out to 87 BCE), a part of the family moved to Rome, with a couple of them becoming Senators. However, one of the Senators was expelled, and also disowned his Senator Son. "No one has a saisfactory reason for this scene..." Hmmm... I wonder; this guy came from a Rebel Family (Samnites), who were virtually exterminated after the Social War by Sulla. I think Roma stepping on a Wolf's severed head might say something... LOL, GO SAMNIUM
So.. They have website and a few articles written about them. But no explanation about how they chose their name
Hey, there are laws in NYC protecting the rights of women to nurse their babies in public. I believe those laws should also protect the rights of she-wolves, but I don't know if the Issue has ever been tested in court.
Throughout the Roman period, the wolf symbolized Roman power; hence he (or rather, she) appears frequently in art and on Roman coinage, both in the Republic and the Empire. The wolf was not only associated with Rome's ancestors, it was also Mars' sacred animal. After all, Romulus and Remus's mother was Rhea Silvia, forced to become a vestal virgin, and, according to legend, seduced and/or raped by the god Mars. This may explain why a she-wolf came to the rescue of the twins. Very interesting article and images at https://ralphhaussler.weebly.com/wolf-mythology-italy.html Only have one provincial She-wolf with twins from a lot of Frank's last auction: Diadumenianus, Æ 29 Seleucis and Pieria, Laodicea ad Mare, 217 - 218 AD 29 x 28 mm, 10.075 g Ref.: Mionnet V, 259, 785; Lindgren I, 2099. Ob.: M OP ANTONINOS NOB CAES, Bare-headed draped and cuirassed bust right Rev.: ROMAE above, She-wolf standing right, head reverted, suckling the twins; FEL below
The owner on of the place can extend the idea, perhaps adding a smaller tent and call it "She Wolf Kindergarten Small Barbarous" for small barbarians there. No rude customers allowed "Angry She Wolf Bakery - Behave Or Get Out"
While we all appreciate those late Roman AE3 coins, when it comes to wolves, size matters. Al has mine beat. Macrinus, Laodicea ad Mare AE29 Severus Alexander Antioch, Pisidia, AE33 Maximinus, Ninica Claudiopolis, AE31
Agreed, even on imperials Maxentius, Follis - Ostia mint, 1st officina AD 309-312 IMP C MAXENTIVS PF AVG, Laureate head of Maxentius right SAECVLI FELICITAS AVG N, She wolf left, suckling Romulus and Remus, MOSTP at exergue 6,13 gr - 25 mm Ref : RIC VI # 52, RCV # 15024, Cohen # 101 (12) Q
This iconic image is almost a "must have" for collectors of Roman coins. When I added Hadrian's travel series to my collecting interests, I couldn't resist acquiring a she-wolf reverse type despite its not being a travel series coin. HADRIAN 117 - 138 A.D. AV Aureus (6.87 g.) Rome ca. 124 - 125 A.D. RIC II 192, RIC II.3 711, BMC 72 HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate bust right, drapery on l. shoulder. Rev. She-wolf stg. Left, suckling Romulus and Remus; COS above, III in exergue. Biaggi 598
