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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Gods, Olympians| ▸ |Ares or Mars||View Options:   | | | God of war and bloodshed. Symbols include the boar and the spear. Son of Zeus and Hera. |
The Lost Arch of Nero. This arch is undoubtedly the one that Tacitus says was voted to Nero for Corbulo's victory in Armenia in 58, and that he further reports was being constructed "in the middle of the Capitoline Hill" in 62, despite a successful invasion of Armenia by the Parthians in that year. No traces of the arch have ever been found. The arch was completely destroyed either shortly after Nero's death with the damnatio memoriae Nero received when the senate proclaimed him an enemy of the state, or in one of the two fires that consumed the Capitoline hill in 69 and 80. However, the quadriga on top of the arch is similar to that depicted on sestertii at the center of the Flavian amphitheatre (the Colosseum). It may have been reallocated.SH96391. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC I 144, BMCRE I 184, Cohen I 306, Mac Dowall WCN 134, SRCV I -, Choice gVF, excellent portrait, dark patina, well centered, light marks, scattered light porosity, weight 27.125 g, maximum diameter 35.0 mm, die axis 180o, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, c. 65 A.D.; obverse NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER PM TR P IMP P P, laureate head left, globe at point of bust; reverse triumphal arch; surmounted by statue of Nero in a facing quadriga, led by Pax on left and Victory on right, and flanked below by two soldiers; front ornamented with statue of Mars in a niche and bas-reliefs of small figures; garland hanging in arch; ex Pegasi Numismatics;
Numerian, February or March 283 - October or November 284 A.D.
Consular busts are scarce for this dynasty.RA93244. Billon antoninianus, Bastien 562 (3 spec. cited), RIC V-2 -, Cohen VI -, SRCV III -, Hunter V -, La Venčra -, Choice aVF, well centered, flow lines, tiny encrustations, scattered light porosity, weight 3.080 g, maximum diameter 22.85 mm, die axis 0o, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, 6th emission, c. 284 A.D.; obverse IMP C NVMERIANVS AVG, radiate bust wearing imperial mantle right, eagle-tipped scepter in right hand; reverse MARS VICTOR (Mars the Victor), Mars advancing right, nude except for helmet and cloak tied in belt at waist and flying behind, transverse spear in right hand, trophy over left shoulder in left hand, C in right field; very rare;
Severus Alexander, 13 March 222 - March 235 A.D.
In 231, Severus Alexander accompanied his mother Julia Mamaea to Syria and campaigned against the Persians. Military command rested in the hands of his generals, but his presence gave additional weight to the empire's policy. The Romans were defeated and withdrew to Syria. After heavy losses on both sides, a truce was signed accepting the status quo. In 233, Alexander celebrated a triumph in Rome to commemorate his "victory."RB89054. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC IV 635, BMCRE VI 843, Cohen IV 163, Hunter III 163, SRCV II 7979, VF, dark patina, centered on an oval flan, small edge cracks, slight double strike, weight 20.911 g, maximum diameter 33.6 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 231 - 235 A.D.; obverse IMP ALEXANDER PIVS AVG, laureate,draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse MARS VLTOR (Mars the avenger), Mars advancing right in military garb, spear transverse in right hand, shield in left hand, S - C (senatus consulto) flanking across field; ex John Jencek;
Galerius, 1 March 305 - 5 May 311 A.D.
In 294, Galerius, caesar in the Balkans, proved his worth campaigning on the Danube frontier, fighting the Goths, Marcomanni, Sarmatians, and Carpi. Galerius was assigned the job of land reclamation and repopulation, moving the entire tribe of the Carpi to settlements within the Roman Empire.RA92335. Billon antoninianus, Bastien XI 657 (9 examples), RIC V-2 Lugdunum 692 (C), SRCV IV 14317, Cohen VI 211, Hunter IV -, VF, well centered, traces of silvering, flow lines, bumps and marks, scattered mild porosity, weight 4.222 g, maximum diameter 23.1 mm, die axis 0o, officina 2, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, as caesar, 294 A.D.; obverse MAXIMIANVS NOB C, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse VIRTVS AVGG (valor of the two emperors), Mars standing slightly left, head left, wearing helmet and military garb, resting right hand on grounded shield, inverted spear in left hand, B in exergue; RIC V lists as common but market evidence indicates they type is at least scarce;
Probus, Summer 276 - September 282 A.D.
Virtus to the ancient Romans included valor, manliness, excellence, courage, character, and worth, perceived as masculine strengths (from Latin vir, "man"). Curiously, despite the masculine characteristics of virtus, the personification or deity Virtus was usually depicted as a female warrior, in armor holding a spear, parazonium, victory or a shield. Virtus and Mars can usually be distinguished since Mars is usually shown nude and Virtus is always shown clothed.RA93237. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 815; Alföldi Siscia type 96, 6; Cohen VI 883; SRCV III -; Hunter IV-, Choice EF, broad flan, full borders, much silvering, reverse double struck, weight 3.655 g, maximum diameter 23.5 mm, die axis 180o, 6th officina, Siscia (Sisak, Croatia) mint, 5th emission, c. 278 A.D.; obverse IMP PROBVS AVG, radiate bust left in consular robe, eagle-tipped scepter in right hand; reverse VIRTVS PROBI AVG (the valor of Emperor Probus), Mars walking right, transverse spear in right hand, trophy over left shoulder in left hand, XXIVI in exergue;
Probus, Summer 276 - September 282 A.D.
In 279, Probus defeated the Burgundians and Vandals in Raetia and Pannonia (modern Switzerland and Hungary). RA87907. Billon antoninianus, Cohen VI 337, RIC V-2 83 corr. (neither this bust nor 1st officina listed), Hunter IV -, SRCV III -, Choice VF, full circles centering, much silvering, some porosity, weight 3.783 g, maximum diameter 24.3 mm, die axis 0o, 1st officina, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, 278 - 279 A.D.; obverse IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse MARS VICTOR (Mars the Victor), Mars advancing right, nude but for helmet and chlamys tied on belt at waist and flying behind, transverse spear in right hand, trophy over shoulder in left hand; ex Beast Coins; rare variety;
Gallienus, August 253 - September 268 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.RA93247. Billon antoninianus, Göbl MIR 1632a, RIC V-1 S649, RSC IV 607a, SRCV III 10286 var. (radiate hd. right), Hunter IV - (p. lxix), VF, broad flan, much silvering, light deposits, weight 3.654 g, maximum diameter 21.7 mm, die axis 150o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 264 - 266 A.D.; obverse GALLIENVS AVG, radiate bust left; reverse MARS VICTOR, Mars walking right, nude but for crested helmet and cloak on shoulders and flying behind, transverse spear in right hand, round shield on left arm, palm branch in exergue;
Probus, Summer 276 - September 282 A.D.
In 280, Proculus, a Roman usurper, started a rebellion at Lugdunum (Lyon, France) and proclaimed himself emperor. Probus suppressed the revolt and Proculus was executed.RA87906. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 84, Hunter IV 85, Cohen 334, Bastien Lyon 190, Pink VI-1 p. 68 - 69, SRCV III 11992, gVF, excellent portrait, good centering, light marks, light porosity, closed flan crack, reverse die wear, officina number weak, weight 3.600 g, maximum diameter 23.4 mm, die axis 0o, 2nd officina, Lugdunum (Lyon, France) mint, period II, 6th emission, c. 278 - 279 A.D.; obverse IMP C PROBVS P F AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right; reverse MARS VICTOR (Mars the Victor), Mars advancing right, helmeted, nude but for and cloak flying behind in belt at waist, transverse spear in right hand, trophy over shoulder in left, II in exergue; ex Beast Coins;
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. Billon antoninianus, 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 cuirassed bust right; reverse VIRTVS 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;
Romano-British Empire, Carausius, Mid 286 - Spring or Early Summer 293 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.RA73268. Billon antoninianus, RIC V-2 844 (S), Webb 940, Hunter IV -, SRCV IV -, aF, well centered, nice green patina, weight 3.971 g, maximum diameter 22.1 mm, die axis 180o, uncertain British mint, c. mid 286 - 287; obverse IMP CARAVSIVS P AVG, radiate and draped bust right, early reign "moustache" portrait; reverse MARS VICTOR (Mars the Victor), Mars walking right, transverse spear in right hand, trophy over shoulder in left, no field marks, nothing in exergue; from the Charles Peters Carausius Collection; scarce;
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