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<p>[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 4508600, member: 75937"]No, I'm not talking about these guys ...</p><p><br /></p><p>[MEDIA=youtube]3pWBnodrR1M[/MEDIA]</p><p><br /></p><p>...nor this piece, though it's very nice to listen to while you admire the coins in your collection:</p><p><br /></p><p>[MEDIA=youtube]g1hEszuZ4lo[/MEDIA]</p><p><br /></p><p>I'm talking about these little guys on the reverse of this denarius of Julia Domna in my collection:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1117491[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Julia Domna, AD 193-217.</font></p><p><font size="3">Roman AR denarius, 3.24 gm, 19.8 mm, 1 h.</font></p><p><font size="3">Rome mint, AD 207.</font></p><p><font size="3">Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.</font></p><p><font size="3">Rev: FECVNDITAS, Terra reclining l. under tree, left arm on basket of fruits, right hand set on globe, spangled with stars; in background, four children advancing right, representing the four seasons.</font></p><p><font size="3">Refs: RIC 549; BMCRE 21; Cohen/RSC 35; RCV 6579; CRE 389.</font></p><p><font size="3">Notes: Ex-FORVM Ancient Coins, item <a href="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=08039q00.jpg&vpar=431&zpg=5445&fld=https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=08039q00.jpg&vpar=431&zpg=5445&fld=https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins/" rel="nofollow">SH08039</a>, Feb. 7, 2004.</font></p><p> </p><p>J. C. Rasche,[1] undoubtedly because of the FECVNDITAS legend, considered the reverse type as depicting Julia Domna, her sons Caracalla and Geta, and two unnamed daughters as the four seasons. However satisfying such an interpretation might be, there is no evidence that Julia Domna bore any children apart from her two sons. Rather, an interpretation of the scene as depicting a more general fruitfulness and stability seems to be in order.</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin was not the first to depict this scene. Rather, it appears on a bronze medallion, c. A.D. 187, of Commodus, bearing the reverse legend TELLVS STABIL in its exergue.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1117495[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Commodus, AD 177-192. Æ Medallion (53.16 g, 12h). Rome mint, AD 186-187. Gnecchi 127 = Cohen 715; MIR 18, 1123-1/37; Banti 389; cf. Grueber 110; cf. Froehner p. 130. CNG Nomos AG, 82, lot <a href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=117842" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=117842" rel="nofollow">806170</a>.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>CNG, in their notes about this rare medallion,[2] interprets the reverse as follows:</p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p>Deriving, in part, from Virgil’s Fourth Eclogue, the image on this medallion can also find its inspiration in the so-called "Tellus Panel" of the Ara Pacis of Augustus, wherein the figure of Tellus is seated within an arbor of vines, holding two infants. She is thus the symbol of fecundity produced by a long period of peace. The inclusion of the two additional infants, as well as the star-studded globe, complete the allegory. The children represent each of the four seasons, and thus indicate a year or succession of years in which prosperity will continue to flourish.</p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1117501[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">The Tellus Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.[3]</font></p><p><br /></p><p>Because the reverse depicts Tellus (Mother Earth) as "stabilized," and akin to the scene on the Ara Pacis, this image can perhaps be viewed as sending the much-needed message that foreign affairs are in the emperor's allegedly capable hands.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other coins depict the four seasons as active boys, as symbol of happy times -- FELICIA TEMPORA -- Spring with basket of flowers on his head, Summer with a sickle, Fall with rabbit or kid by the forelegs and plate of fruit, and Winter in hood with a hare or a capon and bird on a stick.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1117503[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Caracalla AD 198-217. Roman AR Denarius 2.88 g, 19.5 mm. Rome, AD 206 - AD 210. ANS <a href="http://numismatics.org/collection/1944.100.51405" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://numismatics.org/collection/1944.100.51405" rel="nofollow">1944.100.51405</a>.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>We even see echos of Roman coinage on this Renaissance Four-Seasons genre-scene, a copperplate engraving by Virgil Solis produced in 1530-1562, "Die 4 Zeit ds Jars."</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1117511[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">The British Museum, <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1874-0711-1885" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1874-0711-1885" rel="nofollow">1874,0711.1885</a>.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>The four seasons have thus served for centuries as an allegory for fertility (FECVNDITAS), stability on earth (TELLVS STABIL) and happy times (FELICIA TEMPORA), and appropriately so. Whatever happens in the course of human history, the seasons remain unchanged, winter turning to spring, spring to summer, summer to autumn, and autumn to winter, forever and ever, bringing with them fruitfulness and happy times.</p><p><br /></p><p>The iconography of these coins reminds me of the words of the Kohelet, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." (Eccl. 3:1-8).</p><p><br /></p><p>And this song by The Byrds, of course ...</p><p><br /></p><p>[MEDIA=youtube]W4ga_M5Zdn4[/MEDIA]</p><p><br /></p><p>Post comments, related coins, or anything you feel is relevant!</p><p><br /></p><p>~~~</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Rasche, J. C. <i>Lexicon universae rei nummariae veterum et praecipuie Gracorum et Romanorum. </i>Lipsiae, Gleditsch, 1785 - 1805, T. ii pl l p 932.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. "Nomos AG, 82." <i>Classical Numismatic Group, LLC</i>, <a href="http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=117842" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=117842" rel="nofollow">www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=117842</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. "The East and West Panels of the Ara Pacis Augustae in Rome. <i>Steve's Genealogy Blog</i>, 12 Jan. 2012, <a href="https://stephendanko.com/blog/15105" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://stephendanko.com/blog/15105" rel="nofollow">https://stephendanko.com/blog/15105</a>.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 4508600, member: 75937"]No, I'm not talking about these guys ... [MEDIA=youtube]3pWBnodrR1M[/MEDIA] ...nor this piece, though it's very nice to listen to while you admire the coins in your collection: [MEDIA=youtube]g1hEszuZ4lo[/MEDIA] I'm talking about these little guys on the reverse of this denarius of Julia Domna in my collection: [ATTACH=full]1117491[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Julia Domna, AD 193-217. Roman AR denarius, 3.24 gm, 19.8 mm, 1 h. Rome mint, AD 207. Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: FECVNDITAS, Terra reclining l. under tree, left arm on basket of fruits, right hand set on globe, spangled with stars; in background, four children advancing right, representing the four seasons. Refs: RIC 549; BMCRE 21; Cohen/RSC 35; RCV 6579; CRE 389. Notes: Ex-FORVM Ancient Coins, item [URL='https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=08039q00.jpg&vpar=431&zpg=5445&fld=https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins/']SH08039[/URL], Feb. 7, 2004.[/SIZE] J. C. Rasche,[1] undoubtedly because of the FECVNDITAS legend, considered the reverse type as depicting Julia Domna, her sons Caracalla and Geta, and two unnamed daughters as the four seasons. However satisfying such an interpretation might be, there is no evidence that Julia Domna bore any children apart from her two sons. Rather, an interpretation of the scene as depicting a more general fruitfulness and stability seems to be in order. This coin was not the first to depict this scene. Rather, it appears on a bronze medallion, c. A.D. 187, of Commodus, bearing the reverse legend TELLVS STABIL in its exergue. [ATTACH=full]1117495[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Commodus, AD 177-192. Æ Medallion (53.16 g, 12h). Rome mint, AD 186-187. Gnecchi 127 = Cohen 715; MIR 18, 1123-1/37; Banti 389; cf. Grueber 110; cf. Froehner p. 130. CNG Nomos AG, 82, lot [URL='https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=117842']806170[/URL].[/SIZE] CNG, in their notes about this rare medallion,[2] interprets the reverse as follows: [INDENT]Deriving, in part, from Virgil’s Fourth Eclogue, the image on this medallion can also find its inspiration in the so-called "Tellus Panel" of the Ara Pacis of Augustus, wherein the figure of Tellus is seated within an arbor of vines, holding two infants. She is thus the symbol of fecundity produced by a long period of peace. The inclusion of the two additional infants, as well as the star-studded globe, complete the allegory. The children represent each of the four seasons, and thus indicate a year or succession of years in which prosperity will continue to flourish.[/INDENT] [ATTACH=full]1117501[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]The Tellus Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 August 2011.[3][/SIZE] Because the reverse depicts Tellus (Mother Earth) as "stabilized," and akin to the scene on the Ara Pacis, this image can perhaps be viewed as sending the much-needed message that foreign affairs are in the emperor's allegedly capable hands. Other coins depict the four seasons as active boys, as symbol of happy times -- FELICIA TEMPORA -- Spring with basket of flowers on his head, Summer with a sickle, Fall with rabbit or kid by the forelegs and plate of fruit, and Winter in hood with a hare or a capon and bird on a stick. [ATTACH=full]1117503[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Caracalla AD 198-217. Roman AR Denarius 2.88 g, 19.5 mm. Rome, AD 206 - AD 210. ANS [URL='http://numismatics.org/collection/1944.100.51405']1944.100.51405[/URL].[/SIZE] We even see echos of Roman coinage on this Renaissance Four-Seasons genre-scene, a copperplate engraving by Virgil Solis produced in 1530-1562, "Die 4 Zeit ds Jars." [ATTACH=full]1117511[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]The British Museum, [URL='https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1874-0711-1885']1874,0711.1885[/URL].[/SIZE] The four seasons have thus served for centuries as an allegory for fertility (FECVNDITAS), stability on earth (TELLVS STABIL) and happy times (FELICIA TEMPORA), and appropriately so. Whatever happens in the course of human history, the seasons remain unchanged, winter turning to spring, spring to summer, summer to autumn, and autumn to winter, forever and ever, bringing with them fruitfulness and happy times. The iconography of these coins reminds me of the words of the Kohelet, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven." (Eccl. 3:1-8). And this song by The Byrds, of course ... [MEDIA=youtube]W4ga_M5Zdn4[/MEDIA] Post comments, related coins, or anything you feel is relevant! ~~~ 1. Rasche, J. C. [I]Lexicon universae rei nummariae veterum et praecipuie Gracorum et Romanorum. [/I]Lipsiae, Gleditsch, 1785 - 1805, T. ii pl l p 932. 2. "Nomos AG, 82." [I]Classical Numismatic Group, LLC[/I], [URL='http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=117842']www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=117842[/URL]. 3. "The East and West Panels of the Ara Pacis Augustae in Rome. [I]Steve's Genealogy Blog[/I], 12 Jan. 2012, [URL]https://stephendanko.com/blog/15105[/URL].[/QUOTE]
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