FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Ancient Coin Discussions In Other Languages => Forum de numismatique classique en Francais => Topic started by: frederic W on October 16, 2007, 02:50:59 pm

Title: medaillon de Faustine
Post by: frederic W on October 16, 2007, 02:50:59 pm

Un membre de mon forum m'avait montré un médaillon unique et inédit de Faustine I il y a quelques temps. Je l'ai rencontré et il m'a donné une meilleure photographie :

(https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/images/BadTiPic.JPG)

Le revers de cette magnifique monnaie semble représenter la Lune dans un bige volant à droite, sous les étoiles (7 ou 8 étoiles) à la rencontre de l'Océan couché à gauche.

La Lune a un croissant sur le frond, et l'Océan a deux pinces de crabes sur la tête.

J'aurais voulu avoir l'avis de Curtis sur la scène représentée.

Title: Re: medaillon de Faustine
Post by: Joe Sermarini on October 01, 2017, 05:17:06 pm

Sorry to see the obverse image lost...

Please upload photos to Forum.

Title: Re: medaillon de Faustine
Post by: *Alex on October 01, 2017, 05:44:38 pm

I have a photo of the whole medallion. Though not in as good resolution.

Alex.

Title: Re: medaillon de Faustine
Post by: Joe Sermarini on October 01, 2017, 08:38:53 pm

Thanks.  It is a magnificent coin.

Title: Re: medaillon de Faustine
Post by: Roma_Orbis on December 23, 2017, 02:41:02 pm

Pictures from the auction, Millon 21 May 2008, lot 74 (expert J.B. Forestier).
These pics highlight the natural surfaces aspect better.

Jérôme

Title: Re: medaillon de Faustine
Post by: Joe Sermarini on December 23, 2017, 04:43:40 pm

Thanks Jerome. 

Title: Re: medaillon de Faustine
Post by: Akropolis on December 23, 2017, 05:52:18 pm

Spectacular!
PeteB

Title: Re: medaillon de Faustine
Post by: SC on April 24, 2018, 09:03:21 pm

Beautiful coin.

According to Matsson (The Gods, Goddesses and Heroes on the Ancient Coins of the Bible Lands) the world-encircling river Oceanus was used by Helios to glide back to his starting point in the East during the night so he can set out again to ride across the sky in his blazing chariot.

The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World notes that the sun and stars were believed to set in and rise from Oceanus.

However, I can't find any reference to Oceanus being used this way by the moon.

Another option is that it is Oceanus' wife Tethys.  Though I can find no record of her portrayed in this form, there is a myth involving her and Callisto who is turned into the constellation Ursa Major.  Could the stars represent Ursa Major??

SC

Title: Re: medaillon de Faustine
Post by: septimus on April 29, 2018, 11:33:24 am

Yes, the stars represent Ursa Maior also called the septem triones by the Latins.
The iconograpy of this medallion is discussed by D. Hollard in 2009 with the article "De l’Océan à la Grande Ourse : une image inédite de la divinisation de Faustine mère sur un médaillon découvert à Chouppes (Vienne)" published by the Société d’Études Numismatiques et Archéologiques (Numismatique et archéologie en Poitou-Charentes - Actes du colloque de Niort, 7-8 décembre 2007, Musée Bernard d’Agesci.