Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Roman Collector, post: 3061061, member: 75937&quot;]Vulcan -- the Roman version of the Greek Ἥφαιστος (Hēphaistos) -- was the the god of fire, volcanoes, and of smiths. The festival of Vulcan, the <i>Vulcanalia</i>, was celebrated on August 23rd each year, when the summer heat placed crops and granaries at the greatest risk of burning.</p><p><br /></p><p>Vulcan (a.k.a. Volcanus, Vulcanus, Volkanus) was the son of Jupiter and Juno and the husband of Venus. In turn, he was the father of the Cabiri, twin sons he sired with Cabira, the daughter of Proteus. He is sometimes, like Mars, given the epithet, Ultor (avenger). Vulcan is typically depicted on coins as wearing a conical cap (the pileus) and holding attributes appropriate to the blacksmith&#039;s trade, such as a hammer and tongs. The Cabiri also appear on coins, typically portrayed with attributes identical to Vulcan, which can be confusing.</p><p><br /></p><p>As one of the twelve <i>Dii Consentes</i>, the Roman equivalent of the Greek Olympian gods, Vulcan appears on several coins of the republic: on those of L. Aurelius Cotta, 90 BC (Aurelia gens), Marcus Metellus, 122 BC (Caecilia gens), and on a rare small brass coin attributed to the gens Statia; also as a symbol on coins of L. Caesius, 104 BC (Caesia gens). His cap is figured on the coins of Paullus Aemilius Lepidus, 54 BC (Aemilia gens), and together with various coining implements on the coins of Titus Carisius, 48 BC (Carisia gens); also as a symbol on early denarii, Victoriati and semisses.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, by the Imperial period, he is scarcely represented on Roman coins, and this is a shame. A few types of denarii (RIC 79 and 80) minted in Gaul during the period of civil war between the reigns of Nero and Vespasian depict his bearded bust, right, wearing a rounded cap. These coins bear the inscription VOLKANVS VLTOR. They are rare. A few medallions of Antoninus Pius depict the god forging a helmet or the thunderbolts of Jupiter. These, too, are very rare.</p><p><br /></p><p>The most easily obtained Roman imperial coins depicting this god are the antoniniani minted during the joint reign of Valerian and Gallienus. These issues also represent the last time the god appears on Roman imperial issues. This coin is representative of the issue. It bears the reverse inscription, DEO VOLKANO, &quot;to divine Vulcan&quot; (dative case), and depicts a tetrastyle temple in which Vulcan stands (sometimes before an anvil), holding a hammer, and a pair of fire-tongs.</p><p><br /></p><p>Madden,[1] citing centuries-old history texts by Tristan[2] and Vaillant,[3] reports that Valerian I restored the temple of Vulcan in the Campus Martius in Rome (probably near the Circus Flaminius), thus establishing a purpose for this issue. I have not been able to confirm any such restoration of the temple by Valerian in more modern sources, despite a rather time-consuming and frustrating google search.[4]</p><p><br /></p><p>So, without further ado, I post my DEO VOLKANO issue of Valerian. Post your coins of Vulcan!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]767885[/ATTACH]</p><p>Valerian I, AD 253-260.</p><p>Roman AR antoninianus, 2.69 g, 21.2 mm, 7 h.</p><p>Colonia Agrippina (Cologne) mint, AD 259-260.</p><p>Obv: VALERIANVS·P·F·AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.</p><p>Rev: DEO VOLKANO, Vulcan standing left within tetrastyle temple, hammer raised in right hand, tongs downward in left.</p><p>Refs: RIC 5 (inaccurately attributed to the Lugdunum mint); Cohen 2 (inaccurately attributed to Valerian II); RSC 50c; Göbl 884d; Hunter IV 56; RCV 9934.</p><p><br /></p><p>Notes:</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Madden, Frederic William., et al. <i>A Dictionary of Roman Coins: Republican and Imperial</i>. Bell &amp; Son, 1889, p. 318.</p><p>2. Tristan, J. <i>Commentaires historiques contenans l&#039;histoire generale des empereurs II</i>. (Paris, 1644).</p><p>3. Vaillant, J. <i>Numismata imperatorum, autustorum et caesarum, a populis, Romanae dictionis, Graece Loquentibus</i>. (Amsterdam, 1700).</p><p>4. One of the reasons an online search is so frustrating is that the term &quot;temple of Vulcan&quot; brings up innumerable references to Act I, scene 2 of Verdi&#039;s Aida, which takes place in Egypt, not Rome. But if you&#039;re interested, here&#039;s the scene:</p><p><br /></p><p>[MEDIA=youtube]zrz0IQTRf_s[/MEDIA][/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