When was Radiate Crown first used by a Roman Emperor?

[Bill Perry]

I'm sure this is probably covered someplace but I got to thinking about when the radiate crown first appeared on Roman coinage (Caracalla? Balbinus?) and when the King hating Romans started allowing a metal crown to be worn by their Emperors? I've read where the radiate crown was thought to be something used to initiate an Emperor into office but even that was kind of unclear. So, does anyone know anything of the history of the Radiate Crown and its use by Roman Emperors?

I'd like to know what the first coinage to show a radiate crown was - but I'd also like to know what its function was in the Roman State and for the Roman Emperor. They discouraged emulations of foreign kings and their metal crowns for so long when did the transistion occur from laurel crowns of leaves to metal crowns as the eastern kings had?

[Scotvs Capitis]

I have seen Hadrian and Domitian coins with the emperor in a radiate crown, although the crown is obviously not the norm for these emperors.

Edited to add: It is likely that the coins I saw were provincials. I think they were at coinarchives.

[Jochen]

I think the first emperor depicted with radiate crown was Nero. Then I know from a discussion about a radiate crown for Caligula. Look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Historical_figures
But I don't know the opinions of our specialists about that!

Best regards

[curtislclay]

Basically, the radiate crown was introduced on Roman coins by Nero in 64, and very soon became a characteristic mark of the dupondius.  Caracalla and his successors then used it to mark the new double denarius (antoninianus) from 215 on.

It is uncertain when, if ever, the Roman emperors began to wear radiate crowns in real life.  The radiate crown was mainly an artistic device, restricted to coins and reliefs and statues.

[septimus]

I don't think that the radial crown really was a crown. It was only a solar symbol.

[basemetal]

There have been previous discussions about whether a radiate crown was merely a symbol that went on coins and some other items or if any emperor ever really wore such a crown. 
I was once of the opinion that it was only a symbol, but given the ego and perhaps when an emperor looked  at a coin of himself with a radiate crown, at least one would just had to have ordered such a crown  constructed.  Nero would be a good candidate.  The numbers of such crowns would be so small as to make it no surprise that none have been found.  Melted down eventually, I'd guess. But you never know. One may be found tomorrow.
Or perhaps a "dummy" crown of basemetal (ahem) might have been used for a portrait to be copied on a die. Speculation is a marvelous device.  You need no proof!

[Vitruvius]

I know this is an older post, but while reading "Coinage and History of the Roman Empire" by Vagi (a great read and offered here at Forum) he mentions a reference to Gallienus in "Historia Augusta" which reads:

"He went out in public adorned with the radiate crown, and at Rome - where emperors always appeared in the toga - he appeared in a purple cloak with jeweled and golden clasps".

Take this for what it's worth, considering some say Historia Augusta is not completely true, and perhaps slightly fabricated.  In my opinion I feel that this crown was probably worn, especially by "unique" emperors.  Any other thoughts on this thread?

[basemetal]

Thank you vitruvius!
The Historia Augusta is indeed seemingly composed of later observations, and hearsay, and gossip.
However, in one instance concerning  the reading of Hadrian, some of it seems to fit.  The insight is too detailed for someone not close to that emperor to  have known, but it also  "fits".

Again, all I can say is imagine yourself as a hubristic self-centered roman emperor with millions of coins struck with the radiate crown.  That, I believe is not a case of the tail wagging the dog, meaning an emperor saw his image on say, a coin and decided to make the legend flesh, but some or one emperor actually had a radiate designed, if only for the sitting for a cealator. It may have been of basemetal.   No proof, but it just makes gut sense.
If one is found next week or next year (remember the imperial staff and standard butts and the globes just found) I shall request that everyone reading this say: "Basemetal is truly a god among us.  His insight is truly marvelous.  How can we repay him?   Send him ancient coins would be a good start.

[Vitruvius]

I agree that some or perhaps alot of the Historia Augusta is true, too much detail indeed (or someone has a great imagination!)  Do you know where we can find any threads or sites concerning the recent finds of the imperial staff, standard butts and globes?  This is rather intriguing...

Thanks for the reply!  Enjoy.

[dmay]

This is an area in which I am interested because of some work I am doing.  I wonder, is there a difference between a crown (wreath) [stephanos] and a diadem [diadema]?  Or are the terms synonymous? I raise this question because in my study of the New Testament, a crown (wreath) seem to be associated with individuals or entities that do not have rulership but are receiving some type of reward.  For example, in Rev. the 24 elders around the heavenly throne have golden crowns (stephanoi) Rev. 4:10, and Paul makes reference in 1 Cor. 9:25 to striving for the imperishable crown.  However the beast (the Roman Empire) is recognized by having diadems upon it horns (diademata) Rev. 13:1.  Another negative references to the beast and diadems is 12:3.  The one exception in Revelation is the portrayal of the one who sits upon the white horse in 19:12.  It seems that diadems are associated with rulership and authority while crowns may be associated with athletes or rewards for individuals.  If Nero is the first to mint coins with the diadem (and he certainly had no qualms about being portrayed on Alexandria tetradrachms with a diadem), then this could add a little support for the thesis that Revelation, which is written in part to counter the iconographic propaganda of imperial theology, was written during the reign of Nero, the beast who would claim god-like status.

David

[slokind]

I'll toss this out.  I think that diademata may have been associated with the rulers of the Hellenistic kingdoms.  Alexander wore a diadem.  Stephanos is indeed for honorary crowns.  To this day, where German calls a volume of essays for an eminent scholar usually a Festschrift, they can be Latinate and call it a Corona, as "Corona Curtius", and in modern Greek, I have seen Stephanos used in the title to mean 'volume in honor of...'.  A laurel or oak wreath is stephanos or corona.  And, do I recall correctly, Demosthenes' de corona is, in the original peri stephanou?  Now, what either language called a 'radiate crown', I do not know.  Helios's rays would be a glory.  Go to some essay on Sol!
That's as good as I can do without research on 1st c. usage.  I assume you've been to TWNT: Theologisches Wörterbuch to the New Testament--and it's probably by now ALL of it in English.  Volumes and volumes.
Pat L.
My booboo: Corolla Curtius!

[basemetal]

I'll toss this out:
Have you ever noticed that the radiate crown often looks like the wearer was in a high wind?
Extremely streamlined. Visualize it.  Not like a modern (meaning from say 1100 A.D. to the present)
but almost conical?