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This is not a baby! A denarius of Julia Mamaea
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<p>[QUOTE="Orielensis, post: 7687421, member: 96898"]Here is a recent Severan purchase:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1320123[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Julia Mamaea, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 225–235 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG; bust of Julia Mamaea, diademed, draped, r. Rev: IVNO AVGVSTAE; Juno, draped, seated l., holding flower in r. hand and palladium in l. hand. 21mm, 2.94g. Ref: RIC IV Severus Alexander 341.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>RIC describes this reverse as "Juno holding flower and swathed infant." This type first appears on a denarius and sestertius of Lucilla (RIC III Marcus Aurelius 770, 1747), features prominently on different coins of Julia Domna and Julia Mamaea, and is finally picked up on two antoniniani of Cornelia Supera (RIC IV Aemilian 31) and Salonina (RIC V Salonina 62).</p><p><br /></p><p>Yet the object in Juno's left hand, though impaired by a double-strike, doesn't look like a baby, does it? RIC appears to misdescribe it. A comparison of some well-preserved examples (see <a href="https://www.academia.edu/4009509/What_Seated_Iuno_Holds_Besides_a_Flower_on_Types_of_Iulia_Mamaea" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.academia.edu/4009509/What_Seated_Iuno_Holds_Besides_a_Flower_on_Types_of_Iulia_Mamaea" rel="nofollow">this paper</a>) reveals the supposed infant to rather be the palladium, the cult image of Pallas Athena that Aeneas brought from Troy to Rome. This effigy was believed to ensure the safety and protection of the city. Often, the palladium is associated with Vesta, since it was kept by the Vestal Virgins:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1320125[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Julia Mamaea, Roman Empire, AE sestertius, 222–235 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA MAM[AEA] AVGVSTA; bust of Julia Mamaea, diademed, draped, r. Rev: VES[T]A; Vesta, draped, standing l., holding palladium in r. hand and sceptre in l. hand. 30mm, 24.40g. Ref: RIC IV Severus Alexander 708.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>In her right hand, Juno holds a flower, an attribute usually found on coins depicting Spes (hope):</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1320124[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Geta, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 198–200 AD, “Laodicea” mint. Obv: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES; bust of Geta, bare-headed, draped, r. Rev: SPEI PERPETVAE; Spes, draped, advancing l., holding flower in r. hand and raising skirt with l. hand. 20mm, 3.19g. RIC IV Geta 96.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>By these two attributes, my denarius emphasizes Juno's role as a protective deity who grants safety and thus hope to the Roman Empire. For an empress who systematically undid the religious "reforms" introduced by her nephew Elagabalus in favor of a return to traditional Roman religion, this depiction as well as the focus on the palladium appear rather fitting.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Please show your coins of Julia Mamaea or coins depicting Juno!</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Orielensis, post: 7687421, member: 96898"]Here is a recent Severan purchase: [ATTACH=full]1320123[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Julia Mamaea, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 225–235 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA MAMAEA AVG; bust of Julia Mamaea, diademed, draped, r. Rev: IVNO AVGVSTAE; Juno, draped, seated l., holding flower in r. hand and palladium in l. hand. 21mm, 2.94g. Ref: RIC IV Severus Alexander 341.[/SIZE] RIC describes this reverse as "Juno holding flower and swathed infant." This type first appears on a denarius and sestertius of Lucilla (RIC III Marcus Aurelius 770, 1747), features prominently on different coins of Julia Domna and Julia Mamaea, and is finally picked up on two antoniniani of Cornelia Supera (RIC IV Aemilian 31) and Salonina (RIC V Salonina 62). Yet the object in Juno's left hand, though impaired by a double-strike, doesn't look like a baby, does it? RIC appears to misdescribe it. A comparison of some well-preserved examples (see [URL='https://www.academia.edu/4009509/What_Seated_Iuno_Holds_Besides_a_Flower_on_Types_of_Iulia_Mamaea']this paper[/URL]) reveals the supposed infant to rather be the palladium, the cult image of Pallas Athena that Aeneas brought from Troy to Rome. This effigy was believed to ensure the safety and protection of the city. Often, the palladium is associated with Vesta, since it was kept by the Vestal Virgins: [ATTACH=full]1320125[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Julia Mamaea, Roman Empire, AE sestertius, 222–235 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IVLIA MAM[AEA] AVGVSTA; bust of Julia Mamaea, diademed, draped, r. Rev: VES[T]A; Vesta, draped, standing l., holding palladium in r. hand and sceptre in l. hand. 30mm, 24.40g. Ref: RIC IV Severus Alexander 708.[/SIZE] In her right hand, Juno holds a flower, an attribute usually found on coins depicting Spes (hope): [ATTACH=full]1320124[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Geta, Roman Empire, AR denarius, 198–200 AD, “Laodicea” mint. Obv: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES; bust of Geta, bare-headed, draped, r. Rev: SPEI PERPETVAE; Spes, draped, advancing l., holding flower in r. hand and raising skirt with l. hand. 20mm, 3.19g. RIC IV Geta 96.[/SIZE] By these two attributes, my denarius emphasizes Juno's role as a protective deity who grants safety and thus hope to the Roman Empire. For an empress who systematically undid the religious "reforms" introduced by her nephew Elagabalus in favor of a return to traditional Roman religion, this depiction as well as the focus on the palladium appear rather fitting. [B]Please show your coins of Julia Mamaea or coins depicting Juno![/B][/QUOTE]
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This is not a baby! A denarius of Julia Mamaea
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