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God of war and bloodshed. Symbols include the boar and the spear. Son of Zeus and Hera.
Roman Republic, Q. Minucius M.f. Thermus, 103 B.C.
The reverse refers to the moneyer's ancestor, Q. Minucius Q. f. L. n. Thermus, consul in 193 B.C., who distinguished himself by his bravery against the Ligurians. RR88379. Silver denarius, Crawford 319/1, Sydenham 592, RSC IMinucia 19, BMCRR Italy 653, RBW Collection 1174, SRCV I 197, gVF, attractive style, light marks, some die wear, exergue not fully struck, weight 3.670 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 60o, Rome mint, 103 B.C.; obversehead of Mars left, wearing crested helmet, side ornamented with feather and annulet; reverse Roman soldier, on the left, fighting a barbarian, on the right, protecting a fallen comrade in center below, each holding a sword and shield, Roman soldier holds oval shield ornamented with a thunderbolt, barbarian wears a horned helmet, Q•TERM•MF in exergue; $270.00 (€229.50)
Roman Republic, Cn. Cornelius Blasio Cn.f., 112 or 111 B.C.
Crawford notes this type was issued with 12 different symbol pairs, each used for one month of the year. This bust was traditionally identified as Scipio Africanus but Crawford convincingly rejected that identification. The bust on the right is Scipio Africanus. Perhaps there is some resemblance that was the source of the tradition?
RR88375. Silver denarius, Crawford 296/1d (same controls), RBW Collection 1136 (same), BMCRR Italy 628 (same), Sydenham 561b (scarce), RSC ICornelia 19, SRCV I 173, VF, toned, light marks, some die wear, reverse slightly off center, edge crack, weight 3.898 g, maximum diameter 18.8 mm, die axis 45o, Rome mint, 112 or 111 B.C.; obverse CN BLASIO CN F upward on right, beardless helmeted head of Mars right, X (mark of value=16 asses) above, acrostolium (control symbol) behind; reverseJupiter standing facing, nude, long scepter in right hand, thunderbolt and paludamentum in left hand, between Juno (on left), and Minerva (on right) placing wreath on his head with her right hand and holding spear in left hand, Π (Greek control letter) inner right, ROMA in exergue; ex Wayne G. Sayles; scarce; $210.00 (€178.50)
Romano-British Empire, Carausius, Mid 286 - Spring or Early Summer 293 A.D.
In 288 or 289, Maximian prepared an invasion of Britain to oust Carausius, but it failed. A panegyric delivered to Constantius Chlorus attributes this failure to bad weather, but notes that Carausius claimed a military victory. Eutropius says that hostilities were in vain thanks to Carausius' military skill, and peace was agreed. Carausius began to entertain visions of official recognition. He minted his coins acknowledging and honoring Maximian and Diocletian.RA73267. Billonantoninianus, RIC V-2 1038 (S), Webb Carausius 1174, Carausian Hoard 77, Hunter IV -, SRCV IV -, Burton Latimer -, Bicester Hoard -, F, green patina, obverse off center, slightly irregular ragged flan, weak centers, earthen deposits, weight 3.160 g, maximum diameter 23.0 mm, die axis 270o, unmarked mint, c. mid 286 - 287; obverse IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassedbust right, early reign moustache portrait; reverseVIRTVS AVG (the valor of the Emperor), Mars standing right, nude but for cloak over shoulders, spear vertical in right hand, resting left hand on grounded shield, no mint marks; from the Charles Peters Carausius Collection; scarce; $135.00 (€114.75)
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.
"Mars the Pacifier" may be seen as ironic today, but the Romans knew that victory in war (hopefully including the total destruction of your enemy) is an effective way to achieve peace.RS87264. Silver denarius, RIC IV 23, RSC III 231, SRCV II 7895, VF, well centered, edge cracks, weight 2.792 g, maximum diameter 20.4 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 223 A.D.; obverseIMP CM AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassedbust right, from behind; reverseP M TR P II COS P P (high priest, holder of Tribunitian power for two years, consul, father of the country), Mars the Pacifier standing left, olive branch in extended right hand, reversed spear in left hand; $120.00 (€102.00)
Constantine the Great, Early 307 - 22 May 337 A.D.
Although Ares was viewed by the Greeks primarily as destructive and destabilizing, worthy of contempt and revulsion, for the Romans, Mars was a father (pater) of the Roman people. He was the father of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome. In early Rome, he was second in importance only to Jupiter, and the most prominent of the military gods in the religion of the Roman army. Most of his festivals were held in March, the month named for him (Latin Martius), and in October, which began and ended the season for military campaigning and farming.RL87890. Billonfollis, RIC VII 80 (R2), SRCV IV 15984, Cohen VII 345, Hunter V 49 var. (2nd officina), Choice VF, dark patina, well centered and struck, die wear, weight 3.222 g, maximum diameter 20.8 mm, die axis 180o, 1st officina, Treveri (Trier, Germany) mint, autumn 307 - end of 308 A.D.; obverse IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG, laureate and cuirassedbust right; reverseMARTI CONSERVATORI (Mars the Protector), Mars standing right, wearing military garb, inverted spear in right hand, left hand on grounded shield, A left, S right, PTR in exergue; ex Beast Coins, ex HarlanBerk (CICF April 2013); $120.00 (€102.00)
Philip I the Arab, February 244 - End of September 249 A.D.
In 248, Trajan Decius put down the revolts of Pacatianus in Moesia and Iotapianus in Syria. In 249, after his legionaries proclaimed him emperor, Trajan Decius marched to Verona, where his forces defeated and killed Philip the Arab.RS86809. Silver antoninianus, RIC IV 7, RSC IV 145, Hunter III 40, SRCV III 8949, EF, excellent portrait, well centered and struck, toned, reverse die wear and minor damage, edge slightly ragged, weight 4.279 g, maximum diameter 23.4 mm, die axis 30o, 1st officina, Rome mint, 248 A.D.; obverse IMP PHILIPPVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassedbust right, from behind; reverseP M TR P V COS III P P, Marti Pacifero (Mars the Pacifier) standing left, wearing helmet and military garb, raising olive branch in right hand, supporting grounded shield with left hand, grounded inverted spear leaning on left arm, A (1st officina) left; ex Beast Coins; $115.00 (€97.75)
Licinius I, 11 November 308 - 18 September 324 A.D.
On 8 October 314, at the Battle of Cibalae, Constantine defeated Licinius near ColoniaAurelia Cibalae (modern Vinkovci, Croatia). Licinius was forced to flee to Sirmium and lost all of the Balkans except for Thrace. The two Augusti initiated peace negotiations, but they failed and they would not make peace until 1 March 317.RL76327. Billonfollis, Unlisted bust variety of a very raretype; RIC VIITicinum 4 (R4) var. (head), SRCV IV 15258 var. (same), Cohen VII 139, Hunter V -, VF, well centered, light contact marks and corrosion, weight 3.147 g, maximum diameter 21.5 mm, die axis 180o, 1st officina, Ticinum (Pavia, Italy) mint, 313 A.D.; obverse IMP LICINIVS P F AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassedbust right, from front; reverseMARTI CONSERVATORI (Mars the Protector), Mars standing right, helmeted, in military dress, reversed spear in right hand, left hand resting on grounded shield, PT in exergue; $105.00 (€89.25)
Romano-British Empire, Carausius, Mid 286 - Spring or Early Summer 293 A.D.
Mars, the god of war, and Virtus, the personification of courage and valor, are sometimes confused in coin descriptions. Mars is male and usually nude. Virtus is female and is never nude.RA73247. Billonantoninianus, apparently unpublished; RIC V-2 1034 var. (legends), Webb Carausius 1180 var. (obv.legend), Burton Latimer -, Carausian Hoard -, Bicester -, F, nice green patina, slight bend in coin, corrosion, weight 4.222 g, maximum diameter 24.3 mm, die axis 0o, uncertain British mint, c. 290 - summer 293 A.D.; obverse IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassedbust right; reverseVIRTVS AVG (the valor of the Emperor), Mars walking right, helmeted, nude but for cloak on his shoulders and flying behind, transverse spear in right hand, trophy across shoulder in left hand; from the Charles Peters Carausius Collection; extremely rare; $100.00 (€85.00)
Romano-British Empire, Carausius, Mid 286 - Spring or Early Summer 293 A.D.
Virtus was a specific virtue in ancient Rome. It carried connotations of valor, manliness, excellence, courage, character, and worth, perceived as masculine strengths (from Latin vir, "man"). Virtus applied exclusively to a man's behavior in the public sphere, that is to the application of duty to the res publica in the cursus honorum. Private business was no place to earn virtus, even when it involved courage or feats of arms or other good qualities. There could be no virtue in exploiting one's manliness in the pursuit of personal wealth, for example. It was thus a frequently stated virtue of Roman emperors and was personified as the deity Virtus.RA73256. Billonantoninianus, Webb Carausius 1172, RIC V-2 1040 (R), Hunter IV -, SRCV IV -, Burton Latimer -, Bicester -, F, green patina, obverse slightly off center, earthen deposits, scratches, weight 2.586 g, maximum diameter 20.8 mm, die axis 225o, unmarked mint, c. mid 286 - 287; obverse IMP CARAVSIVS P AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassedbust right; reverseVIRTVS AVG (courage of the Emperor), Virtus (or Mars) standing right, helmeted and draped, spear vertical in left hand, right hand resting on large grounded shield, no mint marks; from the Charles Peters Carausius Collection; rare; $100.00 (€85.00)
Tacitus, 25 September 275 - June 276 A.D.
Although Ares was viewed by the Greeks primarily as destructive and destabilizing, worthy of contempt and revulsion, for the Romans, Mars represented military power as a way to secure peace, and was a father (pater) of the Roman people.RA87254. Billon double aureliani, MER-RIC 4114 (11 spec.), BnF XII 1847, RIC V-1 214 (R), Hunter IV -, Venèra -, F, well centered, light corrosion, weight 4.323 g, maximum diameter 23.2 mm, die axis 0o, Tripolis (Tripoli, Lebanon) mint, issue 2, Jan - Jun 276; obverseIMP C M CL TACITVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassedbust right; reverseCLEMENTIA TEMP• (time of peace and calm), Mars standing left, wearing helmet and military garb, branch in right hand, vertical spear point up and shield at feet in left hand, star lower left, I A in exergue; very raretype, very raredenomination; $100.00 (€85.00)