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Home > Catalog > |Roman Coins| > |The Severan Period| > |Julia Domna| > RS11050 Julia Domna, Augusta 194 - 8 April 217 A.D.  Hilaritas, the personification of rejoicing, is usually depicted as a matron, standing with a cornucopia in her left hand and a long palm frond on the ground in her right. Green branches were a sign of gladness and for special occasions, both public and private, it was the custom in ancient times to ornament streets, temples, gates, houses, and even entire cities, with branches and leaves of trees. This tradition carries on today in the form of wreaths and Christmas trees. The two children on the reverse represent Cararcalla and Geta. RS11050. Silver denarius, BMCRE V p. 161, 35; RIC IV S557, RSC III 79; Hunter III p. 43, 27; SRCV II 6587, Choice EF, full circle centering, very attractive, Rome mint, weight 3.383g, maximum diameter 21.3mm, die axis 180o, c. 200 - 202 A.D.; obverse IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, hair in waved horizontal ridges, bun at back of head; reverse HILARITAS, Hilaritas standing facing between two naked small boys (Caracalla and Geta), her head left, her right leg forward, long grounded near vertical palm frond in her right hand, cornucopia in her left, the boy on the left touches the palm, the boy on the right touches her drapery; SOLD  |