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<p>[QUOTE="gsimonel, post: 7661040, member: 82549"]On later coins it can be difficult to distinguish Virtus from Mars. There have been discussions about this on this site. A general rule of thumb for 4th century coins is that Mars is male and usually nude except for his helmet. Virtus is female, in military dress and often has one breast exposed. (Thanks to [USER=110350]@DonnaML[/USER] for pointing this out to me.) Here are three coins of Constantine I ("the Great") to illustrate this:</p><p><br /></p><p>Mars.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1316861[/ATTACH]</p><p>Ticinum mint, A.D. 306</p><p>RIC 75</p><p>Obv: CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES</p><p>Rev: VIRTVS AV-GG ET CAESS NN - Helmeted Mars, advancing right, with transverse spear and holding trophy over shoulder</p><p>ST in exergue; • in left field</p><p>27mm, 10.6 g.</p><p><br /></p><p>Virtvs.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1316862[/ATTACH]</p><p>Rome mint, A.D. 312-313</p><p>RIC 360</p><p>Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS AVG</p><p>Rev: VIRT EXE-RCIT GALL - Virtus, standing, looking right, holding parazonium and leaning on reversed spear</p><p>RT in exergue; X in left field, VI in right</p><p>20 x 18 mm, 2.6 g.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1316863[/ATTACH]</p><p>Nicomedia mint, A.D. 311</p><p>RIC 70, var.</p><p>Obv: IMP C FA VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG</p><p>Rev: VIRTVTI E-XERCITVS - Soldier in military dress, advancing right with spear and shield</p><p>SMN in exergue, A in right field</p><p>23 mm, 4.7 g.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="gsimonel, post: 7661040, member: 82549"]On later coins it can be difficult to distinguish Virtus from Mars. There have been discussions about this on this site. A general rule of thumb for 4th century coins is that Mars is male and usually nude except for his helmet. Virtus is female, in military dress and often has one breast exposed. (Thanks to [USER=110350]@DonnaML[/USER] for pointing this out to me.) Here are three coins of Constantine I ("the Great") to illustrate this: Mars. [ATTACH=full]1316861[/ATTACH] Ticinum mint, A.D. 306 RIC 75 Obv: CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES Rev: VIRTVS AV-GG ET CAESS NN - Helmeted Mars, advancing right, with transverse spear and holding trophy over shoulder ST in exergue; • in left field 27mm, 10.6 g. Virtvs. [ATTACH=full]1316862[/ATTACH] Rome mint, A.D. 312-313 RIC 360 Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS AVG Rev: VIRT EXE-RCIT GALL - Virtus, standing, looking right, holding parazonium and leaning on reversed spear RT in exergue; X in left field, VI in right 20 x 18 mm, 2.6 g. [ATTACH=full]1316863[/ATTACH] Nicomedia mint, A.D. 311 RIC 70, var. Obv: IMP C FA VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG Rev: VIRTVTI E-XERCITVS - Soldier in military dress, advancing right with spear and shield SMN in exergue, A in right field 23 mm, 4.7 g.[/QUOTE]
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