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The Pantheon - Gods, Goddesses and Personifications

AphroditeAphrodite is the greek goddess of beauty and love. She is much older and more primordial than Venus. Venus was a more local goddess and came to Rome not before the 4th century. Aphrodite is melted together of indoeuropean-hellenistic, aegaean-anatolean and semitic-oriental elements. The origin of her name is unknown, perhaps it is related to the sem.*asthart. Her relation to Cyprus is referring to that origin. Possibly the name of the month April comes from etruscan *aprodita. So there could be an etruscan intermediation. She seems to be a conglomerate of old fertility goddesses. Her attributes dolphin and shell points to marine, dove, sparrow and and swane to caelestic and apple, rose and pomegranat to herbal sexual spheres. With Homer Aphrodíte replaces the dark weird deities as a light goddess of charm and gracefulness. She was called 'philommeides', the smiling, and she was the mistress of the Graces.
On the rev. of this coin we see Aphrodite as a later depiction as goddess of grace and seduction. She holds a mirror as the symbol of vanity. Her companions are two Erotes with torches to ignite love.
2 commentsJochen

Virtus (female)Gordian III Pius, AD 238-244
AR - Antoninian, 4.84g, 22mm
Rome 1st emission, 5th officina, July 238 - July 239
obv. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG
Bust draped, cuirassed, radiate r.
rev. VIRTVS AVG
Virtus in military dress, standing front, head l., resting r. hand on oval shield,
set on ground, holding vertical spear in l.
RIC IV/3, 6; C.381
about EF, mint luster

VIRTVS, personification of military virtue, a female figur, here shown clearly by her bare breast r., so looking like an Amazon, helmeted and with military cloak. From the time of the Civil Wars AD 69 until the time of Honorius she played a big role in the imperial coinage. Later often as VIRTVS MILITVM or VIRTVS EXERCITI.Jochen

Hygieia, the personification of healthGordian III and Tranquillina
Moesia Inferior, Tomis. Æ 4 Assaria (?) (27mm, 11.2 gm), struck AD 241.
Obv: AVT K M ANTWNIOC GORDIANOC, TRANKVLI/NA, Laureate bust of Gordian III, facing right, confronting diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina, facing left.
Rev: MHTROPONTOV TOMEWC, Hygeia standing, feeding snake from patera.
Moushmov 2288. (Contributed by EmpressCollector).

Hygieia is usually said to be a daughter of Asklepios, along with her sisters, Panacea and Iaso. Hygieia, though, was the most important of the attendants of Asklepios and was thought by some in antiquity to be not his daughter but his wife. She was more important than other members of the family and more on par with Asklepios himself. Hygieia is remembered today in the word, "hygiene." She appears on numerous coins, usually depicted feeding the sacred snake from a patera. She was often identified with Salus, an old Roman goddess.

HerculesThis medallion of Gordian III represents the third labour of Hercules. This labour was to capture the Hind of Cerynaea, the hind was known as Cerynitis. Eurystheus bestowed this task upon Heracles knowing full well that the animal was the sacred property of Artemis, that meant he would be committing impiety against the goddess. Artemis found a small herd of five while out hunting, she captured four to harness to her chariot, but the fifth escaped to Mount Cerynaea which borders Arcadia and Achaea. The animal was larger than a bull, brazen-hoofed also with huge golden horns or antlers of a stag.
With the hind being swift of foot it took Heracles a whole year to get close to the creature. He tracked the hind through Greece and into Thrace, (in some versions it says the chase took Heracles as far as Istria and the northern lands of the Hyperboreans). Never daunted by the long chase, Heracles was waiting for the hind to tire, this was not to be, and the hind seemed to have plenty of stamina and agility left.
Heracles knew he must disable the creature in some way, then by chance the hind stopped to drink at a river. Taking an arrow and removing the blood of the Hydra from the tip, Heracles took aim and hit the hind in the leg, making it lame, this made catching the creature much easier. Heracles bound the wound and then set off on his long journey home. On the way to the palace of Eurystheus he was met by the goddess Artemis and her twin brother Apollo. On seeing the Ceryneian Hind, the huntress accused Heracles of sacrilege. Heracles pleaded with them, saying it was a necessity to return the sacred hind to the court of king Eurystheus, as he was bound by the labor imposed on him. Artemis granted Heracles forgiveness and he was allowed to carry the hind alive to the palace.
Upon bringing the hind to Eurystheus, he was told that it was to become part of the King's menagerie. Heracles knew that he had to return the hind as he had promised, so he agreed to hand it over on the condition that Eurystheus himself come out and take it from him. The King came out, but the moment Heracles let the hind go, it sprinted back to its mistress, and Heracles left saying that Eurystheus had not been quick enough

5 commentsbenito

MenSeptimius Severus Ae23
Obv:– L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP, Radiate bust right
Rev:– ANTIOCH COLONIA CCA, Mên standing facing, head right, wearing phrygian head, holding sceptre and Nike, left foot on bucranium (cowhead); to left, a rooster
Minted in Pisidia, Antioch.
The temple of Mên was situated on a hill three and a half kilometres to the south-east of Antioch in Pisidia, on a small mountain, 2,000 metres high. The temple was also dedicated to Cybele. Antioch in Pisidia is mentioned in the bible as one of the locations that St. Paul visited.maridvnvm

DianaAR Denarius, Rome mint, 79 BC
Obv: Diademed and draped bust of Diana right, bow and quiver over shoulder. S.C. before. Border of dots
Rev: Victory in biga right, holding palm branch and reins in left hand, and laurel wreath in right hand. Control-mark A.IIII above exergue. TI.CLAVD.TI.F/ APN in exergue. Border of dots.
Weight: 3.88g
Crawford 383/1 Sear RCV I 310 RSC Claudia 6

Diana, the sister of Apollo, was regarded as the moon-goddess, but she was also the protectress of the young and the goddess of the chase. It is in this latter guise that she is depicted here with her attributes of bow and quiver depicting her as a huntress.
nemesis

Luna LuciferaAR Antoninianus, Rome mint, struck in A.D.215 (under Caracalla)
Obv: IVLIA PIA - FELIX AVG Diademed, draped bust right, crescent behind shoulders
Rev: LVNA LVCIFERA Luna, crescent on her head, driving biga pulled by horses left, drapery billowing in a semi-circle behind her head.
Weight: 5.12g

RIC.C.379a Sear RCV II 7096

ex F Sternberg Auction, Zurich, November 1975, Lot 153

Luna, the moon-goddess, is depicted only rarely on Roman coins, and is usually equated with Diana Lucifera (the Light Bringer). She is only named on coins of Julia Domna, Gallienus and Salonina. Luna is depicted in a biga pulled by two horses only on coins of Julia Domna, as in this example. However, a very similar depiction is shown on another coin of Caracalla, where the biga is pulled by bulls that have a definite attribution to Diana Lucifera. Otherwise Luna Lucifera is depicted with a crescent on her head standing holding a long torch.
nemesis

NemesisHadrian, AR Denarius, Rome mint, A.D.135
Obv: HADRIANVS - AVG COS III P P Bare head right
Rev: VICTORIA AVG Nemesis advancing right, holding out branch downward in left hand, pulling out fold of dress with right hand.

RIC.282 BMCRE.757 RSC 1454 Sear RCV II 3547

Nemesis was latterly regarded by the Romans as the avenger of crimes and punisher of wrong-doers. She is usually depicted as winged, like Victory, and has a number of different attributes. On this coin she holds out an olive branch downwards, but on other coins the object she holds can be a winged caduceus. She can be featured with a snake at her feet or a wheel, although the latter object is usually only associated with Eastern mint coins. However, one constant feature that identifies her as Nemesis on coins is that she is always holding out a fold of her dress.
Nemesis features only rarely on Roman coins, mostly during the 1st and 2nd Centuries. Coins of all metals depicting her are mostly found on those of Claudius, Vespasian and Hadrian.
nemesis

Luna LuciferaBase AR Antoninianus of Cyzicus of Gallienus, Sole Reign, A.D.260-268

Obv: GALLIENVS AVG Radiate draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: LVNA LVCIFERA Luna, crescent on head, holding long torch in both hands.

RIC S646 RSC IV 601a Not listed in Sear RCV III
Weight: 3.58g

This is the alternative depiction of Luna Lucifera, the Light-Bringer, where she is shown holding a long torch and wearing the distinctive crescent on her head.
nemesis

MercuryAR Serrate Denarius, Rome mint, 82B.C. by C. Mamilius C.f.Limetanus

Obv: Draped bust of Mercury right, wearing winged petasus, caduceus over shoulder, control letter M behind.
Rev: Ulysses walking right, holding staff and extending his right hand to his dog, Argos. C MAMIL on left, LIMENTAN (TA in monogram) on right.

Crawford 362/1 Sear RCV I 282 RSC Mamilia 6

Mercury was alleged to be the son of Jupiter and daughter of Maia, daughter of Atlas. It is thought that he was originally an Etruscan deity who was borrowed by the Romans. They later transferred all the myths and legends of the Greek god Hermes to Mercury. One of his main characteristics was his faithful attendance to Jupiter, to whom he acted as messenger. Among other occupations he was regarded as the patron of merchants and thus denoted by the winged hat (petasus) he wore. It was said that all business negotiations should be kept hidden under the hat and that the wings signified that the bargaining should be swiftly completed, like a bird flying through the air.
2 commentsnemesis

MercuryOctavian, AR Denarius of Eastern Mint (?), B.C.32-31

Obv: Bare head of Octavian right
Rev: Naked Mercury seated on a rock, petasus hanging down his back, playing a lyre. CAESAR DIVI F

RIC.257 Sear RCV I 1550 RSC I 61 BMCRE.596 BMCRR East 236

In addition to Mercury's position as messenger of the gods and patron of merchants there was another belief about him that on occasion he was a cunning thief, and was thus the patron of thieves. One story relates how he stole some oxen from Apollo. Whilst in hiding he found a tortoise in a cave. From the shell and some strings drawn across it he invented the lyre. As he was playing it Apollo heard the sound and was so charmed by it that he allowed Mercury to keep the oxen, and the lyre was from then on was also associated with Apollo. However, with this coin here the petasus denotes that the lyre is being played by Mercury.
1 commentsnemesis

Apollo SauroktonosNikopolis ad Istrum/Moesia inferior, Geta 198-202
AE 25, 11.38g
obv. L CEPTIMI GETAC KAICAR
bust draped, bare head r.
rev. [YP AVR G]A[LL]OC NIKOPOLITWN PROC ICTRON
Apollo, naked, laureate, with crossed legs, stg. r., r. hand raised behind holding arrow, l. hand resting on tree before him; at the tree a lizard, touching Apollo
AMNG 1654, VF, lizard only partially visible due to a weak strike, but nice green patina
Rare, only one spec. in AMNG ex coll. Löbbecke

From Pliny the Elder we know the detailed description of a famous bronze sculpture of Praxiteles (4th century BC) named Sauroktonos, the Lizard-killer. The original sculpture is lost. We have two Roman marble copies in the Louvre and in the Musei Vaticani in Rome. May be the coin is the pic of Pliny's description or may be not. But the reverse shows clearly the two sides of Apollo: Here the youthful smiling bringer of light and in the same moment the merciless killer for fun.Jochen

NobilitasGeta 198 - 207 Caesar
AR - Denar, 3.46g, 18mm
Rome AD 199
obv. P SEPT GETA - CAES PONT
bust draped, cuirassed (?), bare head r., youthful portrait
rev. NOBI - LITAS
Nobilitas standing frontal, head r., holding sceptre r. and palladium l.
RIC IV, 13(a); C.90; BMCR. 199
Scarce; about EF

NOBILITAS, Nobility. Unlike other personifications she does not seem to have a cult at Rome. She was a imperial virtue which was claimed by the emperors.
PALLADIUM, from Pallas, a cognomen of Athena. The original P. was stolen from Troy and brought to Italy by Aeneas. It was said to have been preserved with great reverence by the Romans as the protector of their own city.Jochen

FORTUNA REDUX.AE sestertius. Rome, 211 AD. 28.05 gr. Laureate head right. P SEPTIMIVS GETA PIVS AVG BRIT. / Fortuna seated left on throne, holding rudder on globe and cornucopiae, wheel under seat. FORT RED TR P III COS II P P S C. BMCRE 40. RIC 168a.
Fortuna is the Roman Goddess of Luck, Fate, and Fortune. Usually depicted holding in one hand a cornucopia, or a horn of plenty, from which all good things flowed in abundance, representing her ability to bestow prosperity; in the other she generally has a ship's rudder, to indicate that She is the one who controls how lives and fates are steered. She could also be shown enthroned, with the same attributes of rudder and cornucopia, but with a small wheel built into the chair, representing the cycles of fate and the ups and downs of fortune.
Fortuna Redux, one of the many aspects of Fortuna, was in charge of bringing people home safely, primarily from wars—redux means "coming back" or "returning". She may be one of the later aspects of Fortuna, as the earliest mention of Her is of an altar dedicated by the Senate in 19 BCE for the safe return of the Emperor Augustus3 commentsbenito

SOLSol - god of the sun

Gallienus AE Antoninianus

Attribution: RIC 465a, Mediolanum
Date: AD 267-268
Obverse: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate
head r.
Reverse: AETERN AVG, Sol stg. l.,
r. hand raised & l. holding globe,
MT in exergue
Size: 19.1 mm
3 commentsNoah

Zeus Ammon, Ptolemy VAE 36 28.4gm 12h
Svoronos 1058
Tyre Provincial Mint
Ptolemy V
ca. 205-180BC
Unusual Style - Stern and Expressive Zeus Portrait6 commentsPtolemAE

Zeus Ammon, Ptolemy III Euergetes - Alexandria - Hemidrachm - 246/222BCPtolemy III Euergetes - Alexandria - Hemidrachm - 246/222BC
AE 33.5-34.1mm : 32.9gm : 11h
OBV - Zeus Ammon f/R
REV - Eagle with closed wings standing on thunderbolt facing left w/cornucopia at left, CHI RHO monogram between legs
REF - Svoronos 965 (Plate 29 #20) SNGCOP 173-5 Weiser 72 Sear 7817PtolemAE

Zeus Ammon, Ptolemy IV Philopater - 221/205BC - Alexandria - TetrobolAE 37.2-38.1mm : 41.8gm : 12h
OBV - Zeus Ammon, facing right
REV - Eagle standing on thunderbolt, wing open on right side of coin, head turned right over open wing, SIGMA control letter between legs, no symbol in left field
REF - Svoronos 1148 - no countermark or symbol in left field PtolemAE

ZEUS, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, Syracuse Issue of Hieron II, Diobol - 285/246BCAE 26.3-27.5mm : 18.282gm : 3h
OBV - Laureate Zeus facing right
REV - Eagle standing on thunderbolt facing left, wing open, head facing left, no leg monogram, shield in left field. BASILEOS right, PTOLEMAIOY left
REF - Svoronos 610 (Plate 12 #17) SNGCop 114 Weiser 18
NOTE - This type actually struck in Syracuse by Hieron II ca. 265BC. New research just published on this subject (2007). The paper that presents this new attribution is available online at www.ptolemybronze.com.7 commentsPtolemAE

Zeus Ammon, Ptolemy III Euergetes - Alexandria - Diobol - 246/222BCAE 30.8-31.5mm : 22.97gm
OBV - Zeus Ammon, facing right
REV - Eagle standing on thunderbolt, closed wings, head facing left, cornucopia in left field, CHI RHO monogram between legs
REF - Svoronos 966
NOTE - Denomination series of Svoronos 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 9692 commentsPtolemAE

Zeus Ammon, Ptolemy II Philadelphos Drachm - 285/246BC - AlexandriaAE 47.4-48.1mm : 95.66gm
OBV - Zeus Ammon, facing right
REV - Eagle standing on thunderbolt, wing open on right side of coin, head reverted over open wing, EPSILON control letter between legs. BASILEOS on left, PTOLEMAIOY on right.
REF - Svoronos 446 SNGCOP 142 2 commentsPtolemAE

ZEUSPtolemaic Egypt, Ptolemy Coin GAE099
Ptolemy II Philadelphos Drachm - 285/246BC - Alexandria
AE 47.4-48.1mm : 95.66gm
OBV - Zeus Ammon, facing right
REV - Eagle standing on thunderbolt, wing open on right side of coin, head reverted over open wing, EPSILON monogram between legs. BASILEOS on left, PTOLEMAIOY on right. Denomination A.
REF - SNGCOP 142 Svoronos 446 (Plate 17 #2)4 commentsPtolemAE

Pantheon of Greek GodsHere are some of the Greek gods depicted in full length form. As you might expect Athena seems to be a favorite deity as attested by these ancient coins. All are found on the reverse side except the stater coin from Tarsos.

Top Row: Zeus on Alexander III Tetradrachm; Apollo on Myrina Stephanophoric Tetradrachm; Dionysos on Maroneia Tetradrachm; Baal on Tarsos Stater.
Middle Row: Zeus on Bactrian Drachm; Athena Itona on Thessalian League Stater; Nike on Side Tetradrachm; Apollo on Seleukid Drachm; Athena on Cappadocian Drachm.
Bottom Row: Athena on Pergammon Tetradrachm; Athena on Seleukid Tetradrachm; Athena on Lysimachos Tetradrachm; Athena on Aigeaian Tetradrachm.
Jason T

Aeternitas, Personification of eternity and stabilityFaustina Senior, wife of Antoninus Pius, Augusta 138-141 C.E.
AR Denarius, Rome mint, 147-161 C.E.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, Draped bust, r.
Rev: AETERNITAS, Aeternitas standing l., holding phoenix and lifting fold of skirt.
RIC-347; Sear-4576; BMC-354; Cohen-11.

Aeternitas personifies eternity and stability. She is depicted with a variety of attributes which may include a torch, globe, phoenix, cornucopiae, scepter or the heads of Sol and Luna; she is often shown leaning against a column or seated on a globe.
1 comments

Fecunditas, goddess of fertilityFaustina Junior, wife of Marcus Aurelius. Augusta, 147-175/6 CE.
AR Denarius (19mm, 3.16g), Rome mint, 161-175 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, a double band of pearls around her head.
Rev: FECVNDITAS, Fecunditas standing right, holding scepter & child.
RIC 677; RSC 99; BMC 91; Sear 5252; Cohen 99.

Although many coin reference books classify Fecunditas as a personification of fertility rather than as an actual deity, Fecunditas was recognized as a Roman divinity by Nero, who erected a statue to her. Tacitus notes that upon the birth of Claudia Neronis, the senate decreed the construction of a temple of Fertility to be built at Antium.

Fecunditas is always portrayed as a female figure holding a child, or children and often a scepter, cornucopia, palm branch or caduceus. Sometimes the children are depicted standing at her feet. Coins portraying her usually advertise the fertility of the imperial family who issued the coin.

Artemis (Diana) as the huntressThrace, Augusta Trajana. Æ 24mm, 8.9 g.
Obv: FAVCTEINA CEBACTH, draped bust right.
Rev: AVGOVCTHC TRAIANHC, Artemis standing right, holding bow, drawing arrow from quiver, hound at her side.
Similar to SGI 1729; BMC 3.177, 1.

Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo. As the huntress, she holds a bow with arrows, accompanied by a hound.

Laetitia, the personification of gladness and happiness.Faustina Junior, wife of Marcus Aurelius. Augusta, 147-175/6 CE.

Æ As (25 mm, 8.6 gm), Rome mint, 161-175 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, wearing circlet of pearls, hair in chignon behind.
Rev: LAETITIA SC, Laetitia standing right, holding scepter and wreath.
RIC-1657; Sear-5300; BMC-987; Cohen-152.

Laetitia personifies happiness, and as such, she resembles Hilaritas. There seems to be no set iconography for her and she has a variety of attributes: she may hold a scepter, ears of grain, a wreath, an anchor or a rudder on globe.

Jones (1990), p. 156, states that on the coins of empresses, Laetitia may signal a birth in the Imperial family.

Diana (Artemis) as the moon goddessFaustina Junior -- Died 175/6. Wife of Marcus Aurelius. Augusta, AD 147-175/6.
Orichalcum sestertius (30 mm), issued posthumously, Rome mint, AD 176-180.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, Bare-headed and draped bust right.
Rev: SIDERIBVS RECEPTA S C, Diva Faustina, as Diana Lucifera, draped, wearing crescent on shoulders behind neck, standing r., holding lighted torch in both hands.
RIC-1715; BMC-1584; Cohen-215.

Diana in her lunar aspect here holds a torch and is shown with a crescent moon on her shoulders. SIDERIBVS RECEPTA = "received by the stars". Diana Lucifera lit the way for the dead to journey to their new home among the heavens, appropriate for a posthumous issue.

Fortuna, Personification of good luckFaustina Junior, wife of Marcus Aurelius, Augusta 147-175/6 C.E.
AR Denarius (18.5 mm), Rome mint, 161-175 C.E.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Bare-headed & draped bust r.
Rev: FORTVNAE MVLIEBRI, Fortuna enthroned left, holding rudder and cornucopiae.
RIC-683; Sear-5253; BMC-96; Cohen-107.

This legend, unique to this empress, dedicates the type 'to the Fortune of Women'. Festus speaks of a statue of this goddess at the fourth milestone from Rome.

Fortuna personifies good fortune, luck and prosperity. She is usually depicted holding a rudder or cornucopiae; she sometimes holds a wheel at her side.

Talos and never missing hound LaelapsPhaestos, Crete. 300 - 250 BC
AE17, 4.4 g
GCV 3208, Plant 1078, Lindgren III A128b7 commentsPekka K

Athena Panthea - Goddess of one-stop shoppingAttributes: the wings of Nike, the rudder of Tyche, the sistrum of Isis, the grain ears of Demeter, the cornucopia of nearly everybody, and her own shield.1 commentsEd Flinn

Horus (Harpokrates) & BesΑVΤ Κ Π ΛΙΚ ΓΑΛΛΙΗΝΟC CΕΒ, Laureate draped cuirassed bust right / LΙ_Ε, Horus (Harpokrates) standing facing, head right, palm in right field, Bes in left. Regnal year across fields.3 commentsEd Flinn

Elagabalus, AE25, Hermes, Varbanov I 1457Elagabalus
Augustus, 218 – 11th March 222 A.D.

Coin: AE25

Obverse: AVT K M AVPH ● ANTΩNEINOC, Laureate bust facing right.
Reverse: VΠ CEPΓ TITIANOY MAPKIANOΠOΛΙΤΩΝ, Hermes, standing, facing left, holding a Purse with his right hand and a Caduceus with his left.

Weight: 10.65 g, Diameter: 25.3 x 26 x 3 mm, Die axis: 20°, Mint: Marcianopolis, Consular Legate: Sergius Titianus, Reference: Varbanov I 1457

Rated Rare (R3, 500 - 1000 examples known)Constantine IV

MARS VICTOR - Elagabalus Silver AntoninianusEmperor Elagabalus (AD218-222)
obv: IMP CAES M AUR ANTONINUS AUG - Radiate bust right, draped and cuirassed.
rev: MARS VICTOR - Mars, nude except for cloak flowing in the wind and helmet, walking right holding spear, and carrying trophy over shoulder.
5.73grams.rexesq

PanAE27 Elagabalus (218-222)
Nikopolis ad Istrum, consular legate Novius Rufus
Obv: AVT K M AVPH ANTÎ©NINOC. Laur. draped and cuir. bust r.R
Rev: VÎ NOBIOV ROVÎ¦OV NIKOÎ OÎ›ITÎ©N Î PO; In ex: CICTPÎ©· Pan, stg.r., horned, holding rabbitcatcher (lagobalon) over shoulder, flute in hand, foot on panther lying supile on the ground.
27 mm / Porosity
Moushmov 14364 commentsGert

Three Graces, Goddesses of charm, beauty and culture.Julia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus, Augusta, 193-217 CE.
Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis, Æ (24mm, 8.6 gm).
Obv: IOLAIA DOMNA CEB, Draped bust right, hair in bun.
Rev: MARKIANOPOLITWN, Statuary group of the Three Graces side by side.
Sear Greek Imp. 2313; AMNG (Pick) 603; Moushmov 417.

The three Graces, named Euphrosyne, Aglaia and Thalia, were the attendants of Venus/Aphrodite. They are shown on Roman provincial coins as a statuary group, nude and sometimes holding apples.2 comments

Four SeasonsJulia Domna, wife of Septimius Severus, Augusta, 193-217 C.E.
AR Denarius (3.24g, 20.0mm), Rome mint, AD 207.
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right.
Rev: FECVNDITAS, Terra reclining left under tree, left arm on basket of fruits, right hand set on globe, spangled with stars, in background four children representing the four Seasons.
RIC 549, RSC 35, BMC 21, Sear 6579.
Ex FORVM Ancient coins.

The four seasons--spring, summer, fall and winter--are typically personified by four nude boys at play.1 comments

MinervaDomitian 81 - 96
AR - Denar, 3.62g, 18mm
AD 95/96
obv. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TRP XV
laureate head r.
rev. IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P PP
Minerva standing r. on columna rostrata(!), brandishing
javelin and and holding shield; owl at her feet; below two
figures (Jupiter and worshipping figure, ref. to Curtis Clay)
RIC II, 191; C.293
EF
MINERVA, a war-goddess and also patron of wisdom and handicraft.
One of the 'Capitoline Triad', with Jupiter and Juno a grouping certainly of
Etruscian origin. Her bird is the owl, head covered with a helmet.
Jochen

MinervaMinerva - Romano/Etruscan goddess of wisdom

Domitian AR Denarius

Attribution: RIC II 764,
RSC 290
Date: AD 93-94
Obverse: IMP CAES DOMIT
AVG GERM PM TR P XIII,
laureate head r.
Reverse: IMP XXII COS XVI
CENS PPP, Minerva stg. l.
Size: 17.9 mm
Weight: 3.61 grams
Noah

Dionysus and DemeterPerinthos, Thrace. AE 25
Circa 1st Century BC-1st Century AD.
Wreathed head of Dionysos right.
Demeter standing left, holding grain ears and torch.
Very Rare; Mionnet Supp II 1171

MonetaDiocletian 284 - 305
AE - AE 2, 10.5g, 25mm
Ticinum 2. officina, ca. 300- 303
obv. IMP C DIOCLETIANVS PF AVG
laureate head r.
rev. SACRA MONET AVGG - CAESS NOSTR
Moneta standing l., r. holding scales, r. cornucopiae
exergue: ST dot
RIC VI, Ticinum 43(a); C.436
VF

MONETA, appears first as a title of Juno. 344 BC a temple was dedicated to JUNO MONETA on the Capitoline hill. The origin of this name from lat. monere = warning is doubtful. Because the first Mint of Rome stands near this temple MONETA became the personification of the Mint itself. Her attributes are like those of Aequitas: Scales and a Cornucopiae.
SACRA MONETA means: Mint of the emperor(s).1 commentsJochen

Artemis, (Diana of Ephesus), in her TempleTI. CLAVD CAES AVG. Claudius bare head, facing left. / DIAN-EPHE Cult statue of Diana (Artemis) of Ephesus inside a tetra style temple, set on three tiered base; pediment decorated by figures flanking three windows.
RIC I 118; RPC I 2222; BMCRE 229; RSC 30; Sear Millennium 1839. Ephesus ca. 41-42 AD.
(25 mm, 11.14 g, 6h)

The statue of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Depicted on this coin, which was minted shortly after Claudius’ accession to the throne, there remains no trace of the statue, or the temple that housed it, other than some recently stacked column remnants to mark the location. Pliny The Elder described the temple as 115 meters in length, 55 meters in width, made almost entirely of marble; consisting of 127 Ionic style columns 18 meters in height. The original temple, which stood on the site from about 550 BC, was destroyed by arson in 356 BC. It was rebuilt around 330 BC in the form depicted on the coin, only to be destroyed by the Goths in 262 AD. Again rebuilt it was destroyed for the final time by Christians in 401 AD. The columns and marble of the temple were used to construct other buildings. Some of the columns found their way into the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (Istanbul).

The site of the temple was rediscovered in 1869 by an expedition sponsored by the British Museum, but little remains to be seen today. A Christian inscription found at Ephesus reads Destroying the delusive image of the demon Artemis, Demeas has erected this symbol of Truth, the God that drives away idols, and the Cross of priests, deathless and victorious sign of Christ. This Christian zeal explains why so little remains of the site despite its repute in the ancient pre-Christian world.

This coin is rare with a few dozen examples known. In contrast to most examples, which show a four tiered temple base, the reverse of this coin shows a three-tiered temple base. The rectangles on the pediment of the temple are frequently identified as tables, or altars. However, it is more likely that these are windows in the pediment to facilitate lighting of the statue in the interior of the temple. The Ionic style of the columns, as described by Pliny, is clearly visible in the reverse image.
1 comments

Athena and Deified AlexanderThe deified Alexander the Great is depicted on the obverse of this coin of Lysimachos, dating to the early third century BC.

In the years following his death Alexander the Great came to be the subject of cult worship throughout the Mediterranean basin. His corpse was appropriated by Ptolemy I who transported it to Egypt, initially interring it at Memphis, then to a mausoleum and center of worship in Alexandria. It survived until the 4th century AD when Theodosius banned paganism, only to disappear without trace.

Athena depicted on the reverse of this coin was the patron goddess of Athens. She came to be worshiped throughout much of the Mediterranean basin during Hellenistic period.
7 comments

Salus, goddess of health safety and general welfare.Crispina -- Died 182/3 CE. Wife of Commodus. Augusta, 177-182/3 CE.
Orichalcum Sestertius (31 mm, 21.12 gm). Rome mint, 177-182 CE.
Obv: CRISPINA AVGVSTA, Bare-headed & draped bust r.
Rev: SALVS SC, Salus seated l., feeding out of patera snake coiled round altar, l. arm on side of chair.
RIC-672a, BMC-420, Cohen-33, Sear-6010.

Salus was an old Roman goddess often identified with Hygieia, a daughter of Aesculapius. While the name SALVS appears on many Roman coins, it is often not in a true medical context, but rather in a political sense that peace and safety prevailed in the Empire. She usually holds a scepter and is shown feeding a snake from a patera.
4 comments

Neptune and AmphytriteAR denarius. 72 BC. 3,78 grs. Bust of Amphytrite right,seen from behind letter C before, symbol (crab) behind / Neptune,brandishing trident, in sea chariot right,drawn by two hippocamps,above C.Q.CREPER.M.F. / ROCVS in two lines below.
Craw 399/1b. RSC Crepereia 2. CNR Crepereia 2/3.

Amphytrite daughter of Nereid and Doris was courted by Neptune. But she fled from his advances to Atlas, at the farthest ends of the sea. There the dolphin of Neptune sought her through the islands of the sea, and finding her, spoke persuasively on behalf of Poseidon. As Hyginus writes he was rewarded by being placed among the stars as the constellation Delphinus.

1 commentsbenito

Athena, Corinthian StaterLeucas, Akarnania, Greece, 350 - 300 B.C.
Silver stater, BMC Corinth p. 133, 97 - 101 var (Λ behind neck and mast, monogram below), rough VF, Leucas mint, weight 8.132g, maximum
diameter 22.4mm, die axis 270o, 350 - 300 B.C.; obverse Pegasos with pointed wing flying left, Λ below; reverse head of Athena (or Aphrodite)
left wearing Corinthian helmet over a leather cap, mast with yard behind;

SRukke

Selene, Commodus, Billon Tetradrachm, Milne 2688 Commodus
Augustus, 180 - 192 A.D.

Coin: Billon Tetradrachm

Obverse: MA KOM ANTω - CЄB ЄVCЄB, laureate bust facing right.
Reverse: Bust of Selene, facing left, a Crescent before her, LΛ in the right field.

Weight: 10.76 g, Diameter: 24 x 22.3 x 3 mm, Die axis: 0°, Mint: Alexandria, Year: 30 (LΛ), struck between 189 - 190 A.D. References: Milne 2688, BMC 1404, Emmett 2558Constantine IV

UberitasClaudius II Gothicus 268 - 270
AR - Antoninian, 2.78g, 19mm
Siscia 1. officina
obv. IMP CLAVDIVS AVG
cuirassed bust, radiate head r.
rev. VBER[IT]AS AVG
Uberitas standing l., holding cornucopiae and purse
RIC V, 193; C.286
good F, portrait!
UBERITAS, personification of richness and abundance,
go on from the idea of fertility goddesses. Introduced AD 249
by Decius. The object in her r. hand is interpreted as
1 purse,
2 bundle of grapes, or
3 udder of a cowJochen

Vulcan, Claudius II antoninianusIMP C CLAVDIVS AVG
REGI ARTIS
RIC 215 ; Cohen 239 (30 fr.)
RIC rate it Common, but it's a very rare coin, Volkano is rarely seen on roman imperial coins.
fredericweber.com 2 commentsfrederic W

MinervaTI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P
Bare head of Claudius, left.
S C
Minerva advancing, right, brandishing spear and holding shield.
Copper As. 28.5 mm 10.9 gm 180 die alignment

Ancient even for the Romans. Italian or Etruscan origin for this goddess and directly identified with the Greek Athena. Shown here wearing a Corinthian helmet. Although a war goddess, she is also the patron of wisdom and handicrafts. This latter is probably what made her attractive to Claudius who reportedly authored several histories, none of which, unfortunately, have survived.
Massanutten 1 comments

Luna/DianaCaracalla AD 198 - 217
AR - Denar, 3.13g, 19mm
Rome AD 217
obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM
laureate head r.
rev. PM TRP XX COS IIII PP
Luna/Diana with crescent on head and scarf flying
behind her, standing in bull-biga, driving l.
RIC IV, 284; C.396
Scarce; good EF

LUNA, goddess of the moon. Her usual attribute is a crescent worn at top of her head. She first appears early 2nd century BC on Bigati. Equated with DIANA and sometimes impossible to make any clear distinction between these two. The bull is connected to DIANA by a myth, in which sacrificing a big bull would bring great power to the city of the person who sacrificed him. Thus Rome was given the imperium! Diana was the patron of the Biga racing driver too!2 commentsJochen

Pluto(n)Caracalla 198-217
AR - Antoninianus, 5.3g
Rome AD 215
obv. ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM
cuirassed bust, radiate head r.
rev. PM TRP XVIII COS IIII PP
Pluto with polos on head seated l. on throne, sceptre in l. hand, r.
extended towards three-headed Cerberus l., before him.
RIC IV/1, 261(d); in Cohen only with Minotaur
Rare; nice EF, one of the earliest Antoniniani!
added to www.wildwinds.com

PLUTO(N), Greek HADES, god of the underworld, identified by the three-headed Cerberus. But the polos shows, that at this time Pluto was mixed up with Serapis. Caracalla should have built a Serapeion on the Quirinal. 2 commentsJochen

VENUS VICTRIXCARACALLA - Denar

A) ANTONINVS PIVS AVG GERM
Laureated head right

R) VENVS VICTRIX
Venus standing left, holding Victoriola (?) and sceptre , she is leaning on a shield, which is placed on a helmet

Weight:3,4g; Ø: 17mm; Reference: RIC IV/I/311b; ROME mint; struck: 213-217 A.D.

Indulgentia, Personification of indulgence and mercy.Caracalla
AR Denarius, Rome mint, 211 C.E.
Obv: ANTONINVS PIVS AVG BRIT, Laureate head right.
Rev: INDVLG FECVNDAE, Julia Domna as Indulgentia, wearing polos, seated l. on curule chair, extending r. hand and holding scepter.
RIC-214; Sear-6805; BMC-370,73; Cohen-104.
This coin is thought to commemorate Julia Domna's indulgence following the murder of Geta.

Indulgentia personifies gentleness, leniency or mercy. She is typically portrayed with a scepter and sometimes a patera.

Poseidon - ΠοσειδῶνPoseidon is portrayed on the reverse of this Baktrian tetradrachm issued by Antimachos I (ca. 175-170 BC). A uniquely curious choice for a landlocked country, although the association of Poseidon with earthquakes (which regularly shake the region of Afghanistan) may have been a determining factor in Antimachos choice of a patron god.

Poseidon (Ποσειδῶν) was the god of the sea and the earth-shaker (god of earthquakes) of Greek mythology. He was the protector of many Hellenic cities, although he lost the contest for Athens to Athena. The contest revolved around a gift of each god to the city, with the preferred one of the Athenians determining the outcome. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident, whereupon a spring came into being, only its water proved salty. Athena on the other hand, offered an olive tree making the choice of the Athenians decisive. To placate Poseidon on their choice the Athenians erected a temple to him (Poseidon) at Cape Sounion to the south of Athens.

4 comments

Athena and her owl In Greek mythology, a Little Owl baby (Athene noctua) traditionally represents or accompanies Athena, the virgin goddess of wisdom, or Minerva, her syncretic incarnation in Roman mythology. Because of such association, the bird often referred to as the "owl of Athena" or the "owl of Minerva" has been used as a symbol of knowledge, wisdom, perspicacity and erudition throughout the Western world.
The reasons behind the association of Athena and the owl are lost in time. Some mythographers, such as David Kinsley and Martin P. Nilsson suggest that she may descend from a Minoan palace goddess associated with birds and Marija Gimbutas claim to trace Athena's origins as an Old European bird and snake goddess.
On the other hand, Cynthia Berger theorizes about the appeal of some characteristics of owls such as their ability to see in the dark to be used as symbol of wisdom while others, such as William Geoffrey Arnott, propose a simple association between founding myths of Athens and the significant number of Little Owls in the region (a fact noted since antiquity by Aristophanes in The Birds and Lysistrata).
In any case, the city of Athens seems to have adopted the owl as proof of allegiance to its patron virgin goddess, which according to a popular etiological myth reproduced on the West pediment of the Parthenon, secured the favor of its citizens by providing them with a more enticing gift than Poséidon.
Owls were commonly reproduced by Athenians in vases, weights and prize amphoras for the Panathenaic Games. The owl of Athena even became the common obverse of the Athenian tetradrachms after 510 BC and according to Philochorus, the Athenian tetradrachm was known as glaux throughout the ancient world and "owl" in present day numismatics. They were not, however, used exclusively by them to represent Athena and were even used for motivation during battles by other Greek cities, such as in the victory of Agathocles of Syracuse over the Carthaginians in 310 B.C. in which owls flying through the ranks were interpreted as Athena’s blessing or in the Battle of Salamis, chronicled in Plutarch's biography of Themistocles.
(Source: Wikipédia)
1 comments

Athena ParthenosAttica, Athens, ca. 264-267 AD, Æ 21
Helmeted head of Athena right. / AÎ˜HN-AIÎ©N Athena Parthenos standing left holding Nike, shield and spear.
Kroll, Agora, 284; Sv-pl 82, 5ff; SNG Copenhagen 384.
(21 mm, 4.98 g, 6h)

The statue of Athena depicted on the reverse of this coin is a representation of Phidias cult statue of Athena in the Parthenon on the acropolis of Athens. The statue is stood in the Parthenon until the Fifth century AD, when it was destroyed by fire.

This is amongst the last of the “Roman series” of coins issued from the mint in Athens. In 267 AD Germanic raiders sacked the city bringing to an end the operations of the Athenian mint.

Athena Greek Goddess of WarSilver tetradrachm, references: SNG Cop 1130; condition: VF, mint: uncertain, weight: 16.590g, maximum diameter: 30.5mm, die axis: 270o, date struck: after 297 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Alexander the Great wearing the horn of Ammon; reverse BASILEWS LUSIMACOU, Athena enthroned left, rests arm on shield, transverse spear against right side, holds Nike crowning name, monogram under arm, lion's head in exergue;
Sam Mansourati Collection
An absolute beauty EX FORVM auction Sam

Apollo DelphiosApollo seated on the omphalos (Apollo Delphios) was the patron god of the Seleukids from the time of Antiochos I Soter who established this reverse coin image, which was to become emblematic of the early Seleukid dynasty.

This coin was issued by Antiochos II Theos 261-241 BC and is a previously undocumented emission of Antioch on the Orontes

Further background and attribution http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-621071 comments

SalusOrichalcum sestertius (25,61g, 30mm, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 140-144.
ANTONINVS AVG PI[-]VS P P TR P COS III laureate head right
SALVS AVG / S C [in ex.] Salus seated left, holding a patera to feed a snake coiled around altar, and resting left elbow on chair
ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf., Auction 401 (2010)
Salus Aug(usti) refers to the health of the emperor. Salus is the Roman goddess of health and a temple was dedicated to her in 302 BC.Charles S

Tiber river godorichalcum sestertius (22,9g). Rome mint. Struck AD 140-144.
ANTONINVS AVG [-] PIVS P P TR P COS III laureate head of Antoninus Pius facing right
TIBERIS S C River god the Tiber, draped about waist, reclining to left, leaning with elbow on urn which pours out water, resting right hand on ship's prow and holding reed in the left.
RIC 642a (rare), Cohen 819 (fr.20), BMC 1313-15, Foss (Roman Historical Coins) 129:60
ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. Auction 401; Ex NAC AG, Auction 54; ex Busso-Peus Nachf sale 351 (1997).

Struck in preparation of the 900th anniversary of Rome celebrated in AD 147.
The river god Tiber plays a very important role in ancient Roman legends such as Rhea Silvia, the mother of Romulus and Remus, who was thrown into the river to be drowned. She fell into the arms of the River god who married her; Romulus and Remus were saved by the river god Tiber who safely left the twins in a pool where they were rescued by a wolf. 1 commentsCharles S

Juno Sospitaorichalcum sestertius (26.6g) Rome mint. Struck AD 140-144.
ANTONINVS AVG PI[-]VS P P TR P COS III laureate head of Antoninus Pius facing right
IVNONI SISPITAE (around edge) S C (in field) Juno Sospita wearing goat skin advancing right preceded by a snake, brandishing javelin and holding shield which is pinched in the middle.
RIC 608 (Scarce), Cohen 473, BMC 1248

Juno Sospita was the goddess of Lanuvium, the birthplace of Pius, and one of the most ancient figures in the Roman pantheon.Charles S

AeneasOrichalcum sestertius (25.15,33mm, 12h) Rome mint. Struck AD 140-144.
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III laureate head of Antoninus Pius facing right.
S C Aeneas wearing a short tunic and cloac, advancing right, carrying Anchises on his left shoulder and holding Ascanius by the hand. Anchises (veiled and draped) carries a box in left hand, Ascanius wears a short tunic and Phrygian cap and caries a pedum in left hand.
RIC 627[R2], BMCRE 1292, Cohen 761; Banti (I Grandi Bronzi Imperiali) 373 (4 specimens); Foss (Roman Historical Coins) 128:57b

This issue is one of a series issued by Antoninus Pius in preparation of the 900th anniversary of Rome, figuring scenes from ancient Roman legends. The scene depicts Aeneas leaving Troy with Ascanius and Anchises. One of the descendants of Aeneas' son Ascanius (known now as Iulus) was Rhea Silvia, who, impregnated by the god Mars, gave birth to the twins, Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome.

ex John Jencek (2009)
Charles S

Opsorichalcum sestertius (24.0g, 33mm, 6h) Rome mint. Struck AD 140-144
ANTONINVS AVG PI[-]VS P P TR P COS III laureate head of Antoninus Pius facing right
OPI AVG / S C [in ex.] Ops seated left, holding sceptre, left hand drawing back drapery.
RIC 612 (Scarce); Cohen 569 (fr.8); BMC 1258-62; Foss (Roman Historical Coins) 130:67

Ops stands for plenty, properity, power, fertility... Her cult goes back to the earliest times, supposedly founded by Romulus. She is the wife of Saturn, sometimes equated with Cybele. Appears on Roman coins only twice (also on issues of Pertinax). The issue under A. Pius is most probably associated with the 900th anniversary of Rome.1 commentsCharles S

GeniusGenius - male spirit of the Roman family

Antoninus Pius Denarius

Attribution: RIC 70, BMC 207,
RSC 405
Date: AD 140-144
Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS
P P TR P COS III, bare head r.
Reverse: GENIVS POP ROMANI,
Genius standing front, head r., with
scepter & cornucopia
Size: 18.9 mm
1 commentsNoah

TranquillitasAntoninus Pius 138-161
AR - Denar, 3.27g, 18.0mm
Rome AD 148-149
obv. IMP CAES T AEL HADR ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP
head laureate r.
rev. TR POT XIIII COS IIII
Tranquillitas standing r., holding rudder and corn-ears
in exergue: TRANQ
RIC III, 202b; C.825 (without PIVS, a slip); BMC 736
scarce; EF

TRANQUILLITAS, tranquillity, an abstraction personified for the first time on coins of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. She is shown with the attributes which seem to hint at an association with the grain supply, a rudder and ears of grain, sometimes a modius or a prow.
TRANQUILLITAS reappears on an antoninian of Philip I with sceptre and capricorne. Here she must considered an imperial virtue like Pietas or Nobilitas rather than a blessing. The legend occurs once more on the coinage from Licinius II to Constantine II in the form of BEATA TRANQVILLITAS accompanied by the type of a globe on an altar. Here the message is similar to Hadrian's, the peaceful security of the Roman Empire.Jochen

Gorgon, Greek, Apollonia PonticaSilver Drachm
Obverse : Gorgon Facing with tongue protruding.
Reverse :Upturned anchor, crayfish and A to either side.
Apollonia Pontica Mint , 450 - 404 BC ( Before Christ ).

XF , Max Dia 14mm , 2.9 gr. scarce.
References : SNG 160f

Historical & Numismatic Note:
This is a scarce and interesting authentic ancient silver drachm from Apollonia Pontika.
Apollonia Pontika was a Greek colony on the Black sea in Thrace. It was settled around 600 B.C., and was first called Antheia before being renamed after the town's most prominent feature, a Temple dedicated to Apollo centering around a colossal statue of the Greek God. The city's name means, literally, “City Of Apollo On The Black Sea.” This coin features a spectacular image of Medusa on the obverse side. In ancient Greek mythology, if you gazed at Medusa's face you would immediately turn to stone. Perseus overcame this obstacle, slaying Medusa and using her head to adorn the face of his shield. And despite it's frightening visage, the image of Medusa was used as a protection talisman in many of these ancient Greek societies. The reverse of this coin shows the city's connection with the Black Sea, and displays an anchor turned upside down, flukes up, as if it were hanging off the edge of a ship. There is a crawfish to the right and an A, for Apollonia Pontika, to the left.

Mrs. Amy Savasta - Gauthier Collection.

EX The Sam Mansourati Collection. Sam

Aphrodite Aeneias Akarnania, Leukas, 167-100 BC, AR Didrachm
Cult statue of the goddess Aphrodite Aeneias with stag standing right, holding aplustre, bird on standard behind; all within a laurel wreath. / ΛΕΥΚΑΔΙΩΝ ΦΙΛΑΝΔΡΟΣ (Leukadion Philandros) above prow of galley right.
BCD Akarnania 313-314; BMC 180, 101-103; Postolokas, Lambros 67, 688 var.
(23 mm, 7.90 g, 11h)

This coin was issued as the Hellenistic age was in decline, succumbing to the expansionary drive of Rome. The coins of this issue were often struck from relatively crude dies in an advanced state of wear. Yet they retain a charm and aesthetic that in some sense seems to speak of the last gasps of a dying Hellenistic age. The obverse image is thought to depict the cult statue of Aphrodite Aeneias, whose sanctuary was situated near the town of Leukas, overlooking the shipping canal that separated the island from the mainland.

SALUS AUGUSTI - Emperor Gordian III - AD 240Gordian III AR Denarius. 240 AD.
obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG - laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right.
rev: SALVS AVGVSTI - Salus standing right, holding and feeding snake.

RIC 129a, RSC 325.

Comment: Last issue of the AR Denarius produced for mass circulation in the Roman Empire.
This was a special issue of six (RIC 115, 127, 129-131) struck marking the marriage of
Gordian III to Sabinia Tranquillina in the summer of 240. rexesq

Athena and Pegasos on AR Stater of LeukasCirca 320-280 B.C. AR Stater (22mm. 8.58g. 6h). BCD Akarnania 269 var. (no monogram). SNG Copenhagen 357 var. (same). Pegasi 134. Obverse Pegasus left, lambda below. Reverse helmeted head of Athena left, monogram below, lambda before stylis. EF, toned.

Ex Sukenik Collection (acquired from Brian Kritt). Ex CNG.

Leukas is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea; and according to ancient sources, a former Corinthian colony. Their coinage reflect their ties with the mother city and almost identical with the coinage of Corinth which could only be distinguished by a small Greek letter to signify where the coins were made, in case of our coin, the letter lambda for Leukas. The coin we have is a beautiful specimen with exquisite details. We could strongly confirm from this coin that the winged Pegasus is a male mythical beast. The reverse is also quite interesting since Athena’s helmet is realistically well proportioned in relation to her head. Other coins of the same type show a smaller helmet which she could impossibly use! The engraver of this coin followed the rules of proportion. Of particular importance is that Leukas is associated with Sappho and the myth of her suicide at Cape Lefkada (Lefkada being the modern name of Leukas). Recently, some scholars suggested that Leukas is the actual place of Homer’s Ithaca. Passages from the Odyssey described Ithaca as an island reachable on foot, which is the case for Leukas since it is not really an island, that it was connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway.
3 commentsJason T

MinervaMinerva - Romano/Etruscan goddess of wisdom

Claudius AS

Attribution: RIC I 100
Date: 41-42 AD
Obverse: TI CLAUDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TR P IMP; bare head rt.
Reverse: Minerva advancing rt. brandishing spear and holding shield on lt. arm; large SC in lt. and rt. fields
Size: 25.8 mm
Noah

The Olympians (not the modern athletes)These are the gods and goddesses found feasting in Mount Olympus. There were supposed to be Twelve of them (not counting Herakles). Guess who were late for dinner?

Present are (from left to right, top to bottom):

Apollo, Ares, Demeter
Athena, Zeus, Aphrodite (with Eros*)
Artemis, Herakles**, Dionysius

*Eros is obviously a gate-crasher!
**Herakles is not part of the 12 Olympians but invited at the banquet after his famous 12 Labors and by virtue that he is a son of Zeus

(Please click picture for better resolution)1 commentsJason T

Vesta on Caligula asC CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT
VESTA / S C
RIC 38 (C) ; COHEN 27
fredericweber.com 1 commentsfrederic W

Janus on Geta denariusP SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT
TR P III COS II PP
RIC 79 (S); Cohen 197 (6 fr.)
Collection Frédéric Weber (ex. Spink) frederic W

SOLObverse: IMP CONSTANTINVS AVG

Reverse: SOL INVIC-TO COMITI

Left Field: T
Right Field: F
Exergue: BTR2 comments

ApolloDenarius 194 ; 1,97 g. ; 17 mm.
Obv:- L SEPT SEV PERT AVG IMP IIII His laureate head right.
Rev:- APOLLINI AVGVSTO Apollo draped standing in front, looking at left, holding a patera in the right hand and a lyre in the left.
Cohen 42, RIC 40.

This representation of apollo is probably a roman copy of a statue of Apollo citharede which we can see on Augustus and Antoninus Pius' coins too. This statue was in the temple on the Palatino.septimus

HilaritasThe most amusing goddess! Silver denarius, S 5254, RIC M. Aur. 686, RSC 111, gVF, 2.92g, 16.6mm, 180o, Rome mint, 161-175 A.D.; obverse FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right; reverse HILARITAS, Hilaritas standing left holding palm branch and cornucopia1 comments

IOVI VLTORISeverus Alexander, Denarius minted in Rome in AD 225
IMP C M AVR SEV ALEXAND AVG, Laureate head of Severus Alexander right
IOVI VLTORI, Jupiter seated left holding victory and spear
3.26 gr
Ref : RCV #7873, Cohen #974 commentsPotator II

ZEUS and AMALTHEABI Antoninianus. Cologne 257-258 AD. 3,41 grs. Radiate and draped bust right. VALERIANVS CAES / Infant Jupiter seated facing on goat (Amalthea) standing right,his right hand raised. IOVI CRESCENTI.
RIC 3. RSC 26.
The myth.
"Rhea, when she was heavy with Zeus, went off to Krete and gave birth to him there in a cave on Mount Dikte. She put him in the care of both the Kouretes and the nymphs Adrasteia and Ide, daughters of Melisseus. These Nymphai nursed the baby with the milk of Amaltheia, while the armed Kouretes stood guard over him in the cave, banging their spears against their shields to prevent Kronos from hearing the infant’s voice." Pseudo-Apollodorus.
She gave the god milk, but snapped her horn on a tree and was severed from half her loveliness. The Nympha picked the horn up, ringed it with fresh herbs, and took it fruit-filled to Jupiter’s lips. When he controlled the sky and sat on his father’s throne and nothing surpasses unconquered Jove, he made stars of the nurse and the nurse’s fruitful horn, which bears even now its mistress’ name." Ovid.

benito

DIANA and LELAPS.AR denarius. 74 BC. 3.52 gr. Bust of Diana huntress right,bow and quiver on shoulder. / Hound running right,hunting spear below. C. POSTUMI/TA (in monogram) below. Toned. Craw 394/1a . RSC Postumia 9
Myth of Lelaps and the fox.
Procris was a mortal woman, a great favorite of the Goddess Diana, the goddess of hunting. Diana (also famous for her hunting hounds) made a gift of a dog to Procris. Lelaps was the swiftest of dogs and could outrun any rival. Diana also gave a JAVELIN that would never miss its target to Procris.
Procris fell in love and married a beautiful youth by the name of Cephalus. Cephalus was also a great hunter, and so Procris gave the presents of the hound and javelin to her husband.
It came to pass that some angry deity had sent a ravenous fox to plague the country, snatching his prey from under the farmers very noses. All the hunters turned out in great numbers and strength to kill the fox, but their efforts failed. None had a hound that could run this supernatural fox to ground.
At last the people came to Cephalus and begged him to set Lelaps, the famous gift hound from Diana, after the fox.
Lelaps was loosed and darted away faster than the eye could follow. It was said that if the men had not seen his footprints in the sand they would have thought he had taken flight. Cephalus and the hunters stood on a hill and watched the pursuit.
The fox tried every trick, every sly, cunning art he knew to evade the hound. He ran in a circle and turned on his track, he doubled back, he leapt over water and trotted across fallen logs, but no trick he knew would fool swift and clever Lelaps. The hound came on relentless, breathing on the foxes heels and snapping at his brushy tail, missing by only a hair!
Cephalus threw the magic javelin when suddenly both dog and fox stopped, frozen in mid-motion. The heavenly powers that had given both hound and fox their powers were not willing that either should conquer - or lose. In that very moment, they turned to Stone .ZEUS cast them into the stars as the constellations Canis Major (Lelaps) and Canis Minor (the Teumessian fox).[

1 commentsbenito

VENVSJulia Titi, denarius minted in Rome, c.79-81 AD
IVLIA AVGVSTA T AVG F, Bust of Julia right
VENVS AVG, Venus leaning on a column, holding helmet and sceptre
3.03 gr
Ref : Cohen #12, RCV #26116 commentsPotator II

ROMANero Dupondius minted in Rome in 65 AD
NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER PM TR P IMP PP, Radiate head of Nero right
ROMA in ex, SC in field, Roma seated left holding wreath and parazonium, , right foot on a helmet
13.06 gr
Ref : RCV #1966, Cohen #2801 commentsPotator II

NEPTUNEPosthumous issue of Caligula, in honour of his grandfather Agrippa
Rome mint, ca AD 37/41
M AGRIPPA L F COS III, head of Agrippa left with rostral crown
Neptun standing left, holding trident and dolphin. Large S C in fields
10.9 gr
Ref : RCV #1812, Cohen #3
Ex Alwin collection4 commentsPotator II

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