The Venus Felix (Happy Venus) who is depicted on this issue was not only the mythical mother of Aeneas, and therefore the ancestor of all Roman people and especially Julius Caesar, but she was also the goddess of love, sexuality, fertility and prosperity. This is ironic on the reverse of a coin in the name of the Bruttia Crispina (AD 164-191), who bore no children to her husband, the emperor Commodus (AD 161-192). The coins are undated but may be narrowed down somewhat by the obverse inscription and the hairstyles represented on them. Commodus and Crispina married in AD 177/8, which is a terminus post quem to date these coins. Moreover, some issues of Alexandria date from years 19 to 20 of Marcus Aurelius (i.e. AD 178/9 and 179/80), and of years 21 and 22 of Commodus, AD 180/1 and 181/2 (count of Marcus, continued).[1] Two obverse inscriptions are used on the gold and silver coinage issued for the empress, CRISPINA AVG and CRISPINA AVGVSTA. Mattingly assigns the former inscription to an earlier period, AD 178-179, and the latter to AD 180-182,[2] a chronology also assigned by David Sear.[3] A likely terminus ante quem of AD 182 is suggested by her banishment to the island of Capri – officially because she had been unfaithful, but more likely because she and Lucilla had plotted to get her husband assassinated; he divorced her in AD 183. Three hairstyles appear on the coins of Crispina,[4] which I have previously discussed, and the second and third appear on the VENVS FELIX coins in my collection, suggesting that they were issued over a period of time, not just in a single emission. Which of these two hairstyles appeared before the other is unclear, however.[5] On the basis of these factors, assigning a date of AD 180-182 to the VENVS FELIX issues is far from unreasonable. Let's see your examples of Crispina, VENVS FELIX, or anything you feel is relevant! Although I purchased this denarius from a 2011 Frank Robinson auction, I've never posted it at CT before. Crispina, AD 177-182. Roman AR denarius, 2.96 g, 18.0 mm, 7 h. Rome, AD 180-182. Obv: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: VENVS FELIX, Venus seated left, holding Victory and scepter. Refs: RIC 288; BMCRE 50-51; Cohen 39; RCV 6003; MIR 21-4/3b; CRE 293. Crispina, AD 177-182. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 18.62 g, 30.9 mm, 11 h. Rome, AD 180-182. Obv: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: VENVS FELIX SC, Venus seated left, holding Victory and scepter. Refs: RIC 673; BMCRE 424; Cohen 40; RCV 6011; MIR 21-6/3b. Crispina, AD 177-182. Roman Æ As, 11.64 g, 23.6 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 180-182. Obv: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right Rev: VENVS FELIX SC, Venus seated left, holding Victory and scepter Refs: RIC 686; BMCRE 440; Cohen 41; RCV 6021; MIR 21-7/3c. ~~~ Notes: 1. Sear, David R. Roman Coins and Their Values II: The accession of Nerva to the overthrow of the Severan dynasty AD 96 - AD 235, London, Spink, 2002, pp. 424-425. 2. Mattingly, Harold, Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, vol. IV: Antoninus Pius to Commodus. Introduction, indexes and plates. London, BMP, 1968, p. cliv. 3. Sear, op. cit., pp. 420-424. 4. Szaivert, Wolfgang, Die Münzprägung der Kaiser Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus und Commodus (161/192), Moneta Imperii Romani 18. Vienna, 1989, pp. 234-235. 5. Ibid., p. 234.
Nice coins, I have only one Crispina VENVS FELIX Crispina Augusta AD 180-182 AR Denarius Obv.: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, hair in round coil low at back Rev.: VENVS FELIX, Venus seated left on throne without back, Victory in right hand, long grounded scepter vertical in left hand Ag, 2.716g, 19.3mm Ref.: RIC III Commodus 288, CRE 293
Not sure why I have this as an As or Dupondius but here is my example. Crispina Augusta. AD 178-182. Æ Dupondius or As Obv: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, her draped bust rt. Rev: VENVS FELIX, Venus seated left with Victory & scepter, S-C in fields.
Here's a pretty beaten up dupondius with a not-particularly-felix Venus: Rome mint, A.D. 178-180 Obv: CRISPINA AVGVSTA Rev: VENUS - Venus, standing, facing left, holding apple and drawing drapery from back of neck with right hand, between S and C RIC (Commodus) 684 24mm, 11.4g.
