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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Personifications| ▸ |Generosity||View Options:   | | | Liberalitas coin types attest to occasions when the emperor has displayed his generosity towards the people by a distribution to them of money, provisions, or both. The first mention of Liberalitas was on coins of Hadrian. It was a type frequently repeated by the succeeding emperors. Indeed these instances of imperial generosity are more carefully recorded on coins than they are by history. Liberality is personified by the image of a woman, holding in one hand a counting board, or square tablet with a handle on which are cut a certain number of holes. These boards were used to quickly count the proper number of coins or other items for distribution to each person. In the other hand she holds a cornucopia, to indicate the prosperity of the state and the abundance of wheat contained in the public graineries. |
Liberalitas coin types attest to occasions when the emperor has displayed his generosity towards the people by a distribution to them, in money, provisions, or both. The first mention of Liberalitas was on coins of Hadrian. It was a type frequently repeated by the succeeding emperors. Indeed these instances of imperial generosity are more carefully recorded on coins than they are by history. This coin advertises that Elagabalus has made his third distribution to the people. Liberality is personified by the image of a woman, holding in one hand a counting board, or square tablet with a handle on which are cut a certain number of holes. These boards were used to quickly count the proper number of coins or other items for distribution to each person. In the other hand she holds a cornucopia.RB110380. Orichalcum sestertius, Göbl MIR 66h, RIC V-1 J165 (S), Hunter IV J45; SRCV III 10468, Cohen V 110, VF/F, nice green patina, nice portrait, tight round flan, most of legends off flan, weight 17.182 g, maximum diameter 25.7 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 2nd issue, 255 - 256 A.D.; obverse IMP C P LIC VALERIANVS P F AVG, laureate, cuirassed and slightly draped, bust right; reverse LIBERALITAS AVGG, Liberalitas standing slightly left, wearing long chiton, counting board in right hand, cornucopiae in left hand, S - C (senatus consulto) flanking across field below center; this is the first specimen of this type handled by FORVM; ex Degani Venizia (Plaza San Marco, Venice, Italy); scarce; $240.00 (€242.40)
Marcus Aurelius, 7 March 161 - 17 March 180 A.D.
Liberalitas coin types attest to occasions when the emperor has displayed his generosity towards the people by a distribution to them of money, provisions, or both. The first mention of Liberalitas was on coins of Hadrian. It was a type frequently repeated by the succeeding emperors. Indeed these instances of imperial generosity are more carefully recorded on coins than they are by history. Liberality is personified by the image of a woman, holding in one hand a counting board, or square tablet with a handle on which are cut a certain number of holes. These boards were used to quickly count the proper number of coins or other items for distribution to each person. In the other hand she holds a cornucopia, to indicate the prosperity of the state and the abundance of wheat contained in the public granaries.RS111204. Silver denarius, RIC III 144, RSC II 408, BMCRE IV 394, Hunter II 30, SRCV II -, F, near centered, toned, a little rough, weight 2.878 g, maximum diameter 18.1 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, Dec 165 - Dec 166 A.D.; obverse M ANTONINVS AVG ARMENIACVS, laureate head right; reverse LIB AVG III TR P XX COS III, Liberalitas standing half-left, head left coin counting board in right hand, cornucopia in left hand; from the Michael Arslan Collection; $50.00 (€50.50)
Antoninus Pius, August 138 - 7 March 161 A.D.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
A rare and interesting type. LIBERALITAS coins commemorate largesses, distributions of money to the people of Rome, usually made upon important events or the return of the emperor after a longer absence. This coin commemorates Antoninus' seventh Liberalitas, perhaps on the occasion of the birth of a son to Marcus and Faustina in 152.
RIC only lists a draped and cuirassed bust obverse, and describes the reverse as Liberalitas holding an account board and a rod. The description must be based on a poorly preserved specimen, as our coin (and others) clearly show a male holding a simple fasces (rods bundled with an axe as seen on the back of a U.S. dime). The other object should be regarded more as a banner, on which dots were painted equal to the number of aurei distributed to each citizen. Another theory suggests it is actually a wooden shovel, with shallow pits which was used to draw an exact number of coins from a chest. True or not, we think it would be great fun to shovel through thousands of aureii.SH21931. Gold aureus, RIC III 229 var., Cohen II 520 var., Choice gVF, weight 7.276 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 152 - 153 A.D.; obverse ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVI, laureate bust right, very slight drapery on left shoulder; reverse LIBERALITAS VII COS IIII, Lictor, standing facing, head left, wearing cap and chlamys, fasces (rods bundled with an axe) in right, tessera in left; nice style, full circle centering on both obverse and reverse; very rare; SOLD
Hadrian, 11 August 117 - 10 July 138 A.D.
The generosity and munificent largesses of Hadrian, after having been recorded many times on various coins and in diverse ways, are on the reverse of a first brass medal of great rarity, glorified altogether by the above splendid title, "The Benefactor of the World," a superlative the more remarkable, inasmuch as, neither before nor afterward, is it found conferred on any other emperor. -- Dictionary| of Roman| Coins|RB87802. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC II 552 (R), Hunter II 324, BMCRE III 1137, Cohen II 914, SRCV II 3606 var. (band over shoulder, S - C at sides), Choice VF, excellent portrait, beautiful green patina, light marks, small spots of corrosion, weight 25.807 g, maximum diameter 35.1 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 123 A.D.; obverse IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG, laureate head right, "heroic" bare chest portrait, seen from the front, drapery on left shoulder; reverse PONT MAX TR POT COS II, Hadrian seated left on raised platform, before him sits an attendant distributing coins to a togate citizen climbing steps of platform, Liberalitas standing left on far side of attendant, holding coin counter, LIBERALITAS AVG / S C (senatus consulto) in exergue; very rare; SOLD
Pupienus, 22 April - 29 July 238 A.D.
A.D. 238 was the year of six emperors. Maximinus Thrax was killed (along with his son Maximus Caesar) when his soldiers mutinied. Gordian II was killed in battle. Gordian I hanged himself. Pupienus was lynched by his bodyguard. Balbinus was beaten and dragged naked through the streets of Rome before being killed by the Praetorians. Gordian III lived to become sole emperor.SH58649. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC IV-1 14 (S), Cohen V 15, BMCRE VI 10, Hunter III 16, SRCV III 8531, VF, flan crack, weight 20.102 g, maximum diameter 31.0 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, 22 Apr - 29 Jul 238 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG, Laureate and draped bust right; reverse LIBERALITAS AVGVSTORVM (the generosity of the Emperor), Liberalitas standing half-left, coin counting board in right hand, cornucopia in left hand, S - C divided across lower half of the field; scarce; SOLD
Macrinus, 11 April 217 - 8 June 218 A.D.
Liberality is personified by the image of a woman, holding in one hand a counting board, or square tablet with a handle on which are cut a certain number of holes. These boards were used to quickly count the proper number of coins or other items for distribution to each person. It appears they were held over a container, covered with coins and the excess swept away back into the container. The proper number of coins would fill the holes and then would be dumped out to the recipient. On coins this symbol indicated the prince had given to the people money, grain, or other articles of consumption. In the other hand she holds a cornucopia, to indicate the abundance of wheat contained in the public granaries.SH33746. Silver denarius, RIC IV 78, RSC III 41, superb EF, weight 4.106 g, maximum diameter 19.9 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, obverse IMP C M OPEL SEV MACRINVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse LIBERALITAS AVG (the generosity of the Emperor), Liberalitas standing half-left, coin counting board in right hand, cornucopia in left hand; sharp!; SOLD
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