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Venus Victrix
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Plautilla, killed 212, wife of Caracalla
AR - Denar, 3.6g, 18mm
Rome AD 204(?), struck under Septimius Severus
obv. PLAVTILLA - AVGVSTA
draped bust, bare head r.
rev. VENVS VICTRIX
Venus bare to waist, standing l., holding apple and palmbranch, and
resting left elbow on shield; at her feet l., Cupido, holding helmet
RIC IV/1, 369; C.25; BMCR. 429
Scarce; about VF
VENUS VICTRIX, the victorious Venus. It was first Sulla who in a dream saw Venus with the weapons of Mars as Venus Victrix and made her to his personal patroness. Pompeius then was inaugurating the cult of Venus Victrix in Rome. In the night before the battle of Pharsalus 48 BC Pompeius was dreaming of Venus Victrix - seemingly a lucky sign -, whereas Caesar was sacrifying to Venus Genetrix, but issued as watchword 'Venus Victrix', and defeated Pompeius!
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