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Auction: 25055 - British Medals and World Coins featuring The Hurter-Amman Collection of Ancient and European Gold
Lot: 1098

NGC Choice AU | Roman Empire, Julia Domna (193-211), AV Aureus, struck AD 196, Rome, IVLIA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, rev. DIANA LVCIFERA, Diana standing left, holding torch in both hands, 7.30g, 6h (BMC 14; Calicó 2610 same dies; Cohen 31; Hill 223; RIC IV, Part I, 548 variety), struck from rusted dies, otherwise attractively lustrous and appealingly cabinet toned, a most pleasing extremely fine, a true connoisseur's specimen, in NGC 'Ancients' holder, righteously graded Choice Almost Uncirculated (Cert. #8534355-005) [Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5]

Provenance

The "Hurter-Amman" Collection of Ancient and World Gold and Silver Coins and Medals


Messrs Spink & Son, by private treaty, 20 April 1938 - £17.10.0 [with this green stock ticket, ref. G8010 - £20.0.0]


H Helzfelder, privately transacted with Spink - £15.0.0



This fittingly lustrous aureus bears a reverse of Diana Lucifera, 'the light-bringer', one of the many goddesses and personifications of ideals with which Julia Domna, empress and wife of Septimius Severus, sought to associate herself. As was typical in dynastic monarchies, Julia Domna's public image focussed around attributes related to the creation of suitable heirs: fertility, motherhood, virtue and piety; indeed, Julia adopted several motherly titles including the unprecedented Mater Senatus and Mater Patriae (Mother of the Senate and Mother of the Country). These titles, alongside the great number of coins minted in her name, suggest that Julia shared imperial power on a much more equal footing than previous empresses.


Diana was naturally associated with fertility and childbirth on account of being goddess of the moon. With her father being the priest of sun cult, Julia introduced a new eastern divine association of emperor and empress as sun and moon, according themselves with Sol Invictus and Diana.


https://www.ngccoin.uk/certlookup/8534355-005/NGCAncients/

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Estimate
£5,000 to £8,000

Starting price
£3200