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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Roman Collector, post: 2957609, member: 75937&quot;]What&#039;s the backstory behind this reverse design?</p><p><br /></p><p>I don&#039;t know as much as I would like to know about the iconography on the reverse of this coin of Numerian. The inscription reads CLEMENTIA, which typically identifies the personification of mercy (clemency). Clementia is usually portrayed as a female deity, holding a branch or scepter, and sometimes leaning on a column. However, on this coin, the reverse depicts the emperor receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter ...</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]723316[/ATTACH]</p><p>Numerian, Augustus AD 283-284</p><p>Roman billon Antoninianus; 4.09 g, 20 mm</p><p>Cyzicus, AD 284</p><p>Obv: IMP C NVMERIANVS P F AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right</p><p>Rev: CLEMENTIA TEMP, Numerian standing right, holding short scepter and receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter standing left, holding scepter; officina mark B in field; in exergue, XXI</p><p>Refs: RIC 463; Cohen 8; RCV 12243.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now, I&#039;m familiar with this motif on somewhat later coins of Maximian and Diocletian bearing the CONCORDIA MILITVM inscription, here on coins also from the Cyzicus mint:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]723321[/ATTACH]</p><p>Diocletian, AD 284-304</p><p>Roman Æ Antoninianus; 3.32 g; 19.4 mm</p><p>Cyzicus, AD 284-295</p><p>Obv: IMPCCVAL DIOCLETIANVS AVG, radiate and draped bust, r.</p><p>Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM, Emperor standing r., receiving Victory from Jupiter standing l., Γ in field, below; XII in exergue</p><p>Ref: RIC 306</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]723325[/ATTACH]</p><p>Maximian, AD 286-308</p><p>Roman Æ Antoninianus; 3.78 mm, 23.0 mm, 12 h</p><p>Cyzicus, AD 293-294</p><p>Obv: IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS AVG, radiate and draped bust right</p><p>Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM•, Emperor standing right, receiving Victory from Jupiter standing left; Г/XII•</p><p>Refs: RIC 607; Cohen 53; RCV 13115.</p><p><br /></p><p>But what does this reverse type have to do with clemency, anyway? Does anybody know?</p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;d love to see other examples of this reverse type used with other inscriptions. Please share but, of course, feel free to post whatever you feel is relevant![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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