Thread by @VeraCausa9

A thread on Roman coins minted during the Republican & Imperial periods from the vast @mfaboston numismatic collection:

Head of Janus, laureate, with features of Cn. Pompey Magnus-Reverse-Prow of ship-Republican Period ca. 43–36 B.C. bronze minted [Spain?] under Sex. Pompey

This Janus/Pompey Magnus coin is fascinating, a symbol of power saying Pompey has the power of beginnings & ends, that is of changing history as well as holding the door towards war or peace [with war ship projecting maritime power] [1]

Silver denarius with head of Gaul with chain around neck, at left, Gallic shield. Reverse: Naked warrior, shield in left hand, spear in right, standing backwards in biga driven by seated charioteer. Minted under L. Hostilius Saserna, Rome-Republican Period ca. 48 BC

The moneyer Lucius Hostilius Saserna struck this denarius around 48 BC two yrs after the execution of Vercingetorix in Rome , 46 BC. The captive Gaul warrior could be a representation Vercingetorix himself as Gallia after Caesar's conquest. [1]

Silver denarius with head of C. Julius Caesar, wreathed. At left, lituus.
CAESARDICT QVART-Reverse: Juno Sospita, spear in right hand & shield, standing in biga galloping to right-struck under M. Mettius, Rome, Republican Period 44 BC [The Year of the Ides of March ]

The most interesting aspect of this silver denarius besides being struck in 44 BC before or after the Ides of March is the accuracy of Julius Caesar's visage, engraved by contemporaries.

As Juno Sospita ["The Saviour"], Romans viewed her as a protectress of the Roman State. [1]

*Correction on captive Gallic coin: The moneyer Lucius Hostilius Saserna struck this denarius around 48 BC so is contemporary with Caesar's Gallic Wars and also with Vercingetorix's execution in 46 BC. [2]

Silver tetradrachm with laureate head of Augustus-[Inscription in Greek]-Reverse: Tyche of Antioch seated on a rock, palm-branch in right hand. At her feet, river god Orontes swimming. [Inscription in Greek]-Minted in Antioch, Syria, Roman Provincial-Imperial Period 1 B.C.–A.D. 1

Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient Greek city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. Its ruins lie near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey. The city of Antioch on the Orontes is identified with Tyche, goddess of fortune and protector of the city. [1]

Bronze sestertius w/ busts of twin sons of Drusus, Germanicus II (right) & Tiberius Gemellus (left), on crossed cornucopiae, winged caduceus-Reverse: SC (large) around: DRVSVSCAESARTIAVGFDIVIAVGNPONTTRPOTII-struck under Tiberius, Imperial Period c. A.D. 23 [year of Drusus' death]

According to Tacitus' Annals: "With the help of Livilla, Drusus was poisoned & died of what passed as natural causes on 14 Sept. AD 23" [w/ Sejanus as accomplice]

Cassius Dio says Sejanus' treachery was revealed in a letter by Apicata following his death in October AD 31 [1]

Germanicus II & Tiberius Gemellus were twin sons of Drusus & Livilla [grandsons of Tiberius]-Gemellus nickname means “the twin”. Germanicus II died as a child in 23 AD [year of above coin] whereas Tiberius Gemellus killed himself 37/38 AD on the orders of his cousin Caligula [2]

Gold aureus with bust of Domitian, DOMITIANVS CAESARAVGF-Reverse: A Sarmatian kneeling to right, holding a military standard, with vexillum attached. Minted under Emperor Vespasian, Imperial Period A.D. 77–78

A fascinating coin, the Sarmatians were used as mercenaries by the Romans, so this representation of a kneeling Sarmatian warrior could mean they're part of a Roman cavalry unit because he holds up the vexillum, a Roman military standard that was closely defended in combat [1]

Gold Aureus with bust of Hadrian, laureate, draped, cuirassed-IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIANO AVG DIVITRA PARTHF-Reverse: Bust of Sol (Oriens), radiate, draped-DIVINERNEPPMTRPCOS ORIENS (in exergue)-minted in Rome AD 117 [1st year of Hadrian's emperorship]

Sol Invictus ["invincible one"] & Sol Oriens ["rising one"] have a natural link w/ the emperor, ruling earth as vicegerent of the supreme god.The Pantheon completed by Hadrian [AD125] is a physical representation of Sol [oculus] radiating its light around Heaven's vault [dome] [1

Silver denarius with bust of empress Julia Domna, IVLIA AVGVSTA-Reverse: Bust of Geta as a boy [emperor's younger son & Caracalla's brother] PSEPTGETA CAESPONT struck in Rome under emperor Septimius Severus, Imperial Period A.D. 196–211

Empress Julia Domna was born in Emesa in the Roman province of Syria, into a family of priests of the deity Elagabalus. A remarkably learned woman & politically influential empress. Geta was supposed to rule together w/ Caracalla until the latter killed him in AD 211 [age 22] [1]

Finishing this numismatic thread with this exquisite silver denarius with head of a Sibyl, her hair enveloped in broad bands-Reverse: Sphinx seated, enclosed in a beaded circle: TCARISIVS in exergue: IIIVIR struck in Rome under T. Carisius, Republican Period ca. 46 BC

This denarius has a wonderfully paradoxical juxtaposition: the prophetic Sybil speaks in riddles versus the Sphinx who guards riddled secrets yet they both speak in riddles from the liminal threshold separating the profane and sacred realms [1]