Vulcanus, one of the twelve great celestial deities, the god of fire and of smiths, son of Jupiter and Juno, and husband of Venus. He is the same as the greek Hephaestus. A temple is said to have been erected at Rome to him in the earliest times, and the principal festival to his honour, called Vulcanalia, was celebrated at Rome on the 23rd of August.
The head of Vulcan may be found on several coins of the republic: on those of L. Aurelius Cotta, 90 BC (Aurelia gens), Marcus Metellus, 122 BC (Caecilia gens), and on a rare small brass coin attributed to the gens Statia; also as a symbol on coins of L. Caesius, 104 BC (Caesia gens). His cap is figured on the coins of Paullus Aemilius Lepidus, 54 BC (Aemilia gens), and together with various coining implements on the coins of |Titus| Carisius, 48 BC (Carisia gens); also as a symbol on early denarii, Victoriati and semisses. He is designated Ultor: avenger as also is Mars (q. v.).
On coins attributed to the period between the reigns of Nero and Vespasian [VOLCANVS VLTOR; see also VOLCANO and VOLCANOM]. Vulcan is frequently represented on the brass medallions of Antoninus Pius (1) forging a helmet, or, on other examples, the thunderbolt of Jupiter, by order of Minerva, who stands by; (2) the forge itself, showing statue of Minerva carrying |Victory| shield, helmet, etc, objects already finished by Vulcan, whilst he, holding a hammer, is forging a greave on the anvil.