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Oriens





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Oriens, The East. - This word was used by the Romans to designate either that part of the world where the sun appears to rise, or some province of the empire situate towards the East; or the Sun itself.  The East is figured by a young head crowned with rays; and Oriens often is the accompanying legend.

ORIENS. Vaillant, in noticing a coin struck under Trajan, referring to a similar one of Hadrian, observes: Oriens, personified by a radiated head, represents the provinces of Armenia and Mesopotamia, which Trajan has just added to the Roman territories in that quarter of the globe where the sun seemed to rise. Oriens, as meaning the Sun is pourtrayed under the form of a naked man, generally standing with the right hand raised, and the left holding a globe, or a whip, on the coins of Gordianus Pius, Valerianus, Claudius Gothicus, Aurelianus, Probus, Numerianus, Diocletian, Constantius Chlorus, Allectus, etc. - A medal of Diocletian places a branch in one hand and a bow in the other; and on a reverse of Gallienus, Oriens is represented under the figure of a woman, wearing a turreted crown, who, offering a figure of Victory to the Emperor, gives him assurance of success against the barbarians who have over-run the Asiatic provinces.

ORIENS. Valerian the younger, in a military garb, places a crown on a trophy.  A very rare silver coin bearing this legend and type, is given both in Banduri and Vaillant, the latter of whom makes the following annotation:- "Valerianus junior is on his coins called Oriens, as though a new sun had risen on the empire, when he was associated in the government with Gallienus."


View whole page from the |Dictionary Of Roman Coins|

Oriens





Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.


Oriens, The East. - This word was used by the Romans to designate either that part of the world where the sun appears to rise, or some province of the empire situate towards the East; or the Sun itself. The East is figured by a young head crowned with rays; and Oriens often is the accompanying legend.

ORIENS. Vaillant, in noticing a coin struck under Trajan, referring to a similar one of Hadrian, observes: Oriens, personified by a radiated head, represents the provinces of Armenia and Mesopotamia, which Trajan has just added to the Roman territories in that quarter of the globe where the sun seemed to rise. Oriens, as meaning the Sun is pourtrayed under the form of a naked man, generally standing with the right hand raised, and the left holding a globe, or a whip, on the coins of Gordianus Pius, Valerianus, Claudius Gothicus, Aurelianus, Probus, Numerianus, Diocletian, Constantius Chlorus, Allectus, etc. - A medal of Diocletian places a branch in one hand and a bow in the other; and on a reverse of Gallienus, Oriens is represented under the figure of a woman, wearing a turreted crown, who, offering a figure of Victory to the Emperor, gives him assurance of success against the barbarians who have over-run the Asiatic provinces.

ORIENS. Valerian the younger, in a military garb, places a crown on a trophy. A very rare silver coin bearing this legend and type, is given both in Banduri and Vaillant, the latter of whom makes the following annotation:- "Valerianus junior is on his coins called Oriens, as though a new sun had risen on the empire, when he was associated in the government with Gallienus."


View whole page from the |Dictionary Of Roman Coins|