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Topical Collection - Architecture: Shrines


Trajan, AE23, 98-117, Syria-Seleucia and Pieria
AVTOKP KAI NEP TPAIANOC APICT CEB GERM DAK
Laureate head right
CELEVKEWN-PEIEPIAC
Shrine, consisting of canopy supported by four columns, containing sacred stone of Zeus Kasios
ZEVC | KACIOC in exergue
23mm x 24mm, 12.65g
Sear GIC 1081


Antoninus Pius, AR Denarius, Rome
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVI
Laureate head right
COS IIII
Tetrastyle shrine with semi-circular arch, in which stands a male figure on a low base
RIC III, 269; BMC 915; RSC 329
Ex Centurion Coins, Mail Bid, 2001; Ex Pristina Hoard

Note from Doug Smith:  BMC suggests the shrine figure attributes suggest either Pius as Pacifier or Genius Senatus. At this time (c.158) Pius restored the temple of Augustus and Livia and dedicated one to Hadrian as well as one to Faustina (big year for buildings). I am not aware of the appearance of the temple of Hadrian or if any images of it survive to suggest that this would possibly be that one. Your coin shows a bearded figure suggesting this is not Augustus or one of the women so your next stem might be to research the appearance of Hadrian's temple or accept the figure as a generic Pius shown as builder of all those projects.

Marvin Tameanko added these comments: In 477 BC, a tholos (round shrine) was built on the Esquiline Hill dedicated to Spes (Hope).  Later it was called the Spes Vetus, the Old Spes (presumably because a new and larger temple to Spes replaced it).  Ant. Pius was an antiquarian who commemorated lots of old shrines on his coinage and this may be one of them.  The figure is Spes holding a flower and sometimes a staff or standard.


Antoninus Pius, AE As, 159-160, Rome
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXII
Laureate head right
COS IIII
Tetrastyle shrine with semi-circular arch, Victories with long palms or lit torches as acroteria, in which stands a male figure on a low base, short staff in left hand, flower in right
S C in exergue
24mm x 25mm, 11.65g
RIC III, 1039 (S)
Ex Centurion Coins, July 2003

Note: The figure in the temple is unresolved, however, with being a togate, male figure with scepter and flower, it appears to me to be most closely resembling the Genius of the Roman Senate as on Pius' early denarii.


Divus Constantius I, AE Follis, Autumn 307-Spring 308, Group IV, Class I, Ticinum, Officina 2
DIVO CONSTANTIO AVG
Veiled head right
MEMORIA DIV_I CONSTANTI
Eagle surmounting domed shrine with closed doors
ST in exergue
23mm x 25mm, 6.25g
RIC VI, 97 (C)
Ex Jean Elsen, Auction 76, Lot 618, October 2003


Divus Maximianus, AE Follis, Late 309-October 312, Group I, Class II (a), Ostia, Officina 3
IMP MAXENTIVS DIVO MAXIMIANO PATRI
Veiled head right
AETERNA-MEMORIA
Eagle surmounting domed hexastyle shrine with right door ajar
MOSTT in exergue
22mm x 25mm, 5.38g
RIC VI, 26 (R)
Ex CNG, Electronic Auction, October 2003

Note: Issued by Maxentius


Divus Constantius I, AE Follis, Late 309-October 312, Group I, Class II (a), Ostia, Officina 3
IMP MAXENTIVS DIVO CONSTANTIO ADFINI
Veiled head right
AETERNA-MEMORIA
Eagle surmounting domed hexastyle shrine with right door ajar
MOSTT in exergue
22mm x 23mm, 5.82g
RIC VI, 29 (R2)
Ex CNG, Electronic Auction, October 2003

Note: Issued by Maxentius


Romulus, AE Half-Follis (?), Late 309-October 312, Group I, Class II (b), Ostia, Officina 3
DIVO ROMVLO N V BIS CONS
Bare head right
AETERNAE-MEMORIAE
Eagle, wings spread, standing right, head left, on domed shrine with no columns, door ajar
MOSTT in exergue
16mm, 1.90g
RIC VI, 59 (C)
Ex Centurion Coins, July 2003; Ex Joel Malter Company, August 19, 1972; Ex Vatican duplicate from St. John's College Collection

Note: David Vagi's book, Coinage and the History of the Roman Empire, Vol. I, indicates the obverse legend N V BIS CONS to mean Nobilissimus Vir (most noble man) and BIS CONS meaning twice consul. RIC lists this series of half-folles with weight range of 3.25-2.75g and when this example was sold, it was described as a "quarter-follis". Reviewing the examples on Coin Archives of those sold by major auction houses, this issue is described as either a half or quarter-follis. As an interesting note, this issue is contemporary with the third-follis produced at the Rome mint and perhaps is actually also a third-follis? A survey of known examples would be exceptionally helpful in determining if there are two separate follis fractional issues of this series or an extremely wide range of weights. Click here to see the Rome mint page with the third-follis issue (RIC VI, 281c for Maxentius).

Another interesting observation is the "half-follis" of Maxentius in RIC with a VICTORIA AETERNA AVG N reverse on the Ostia mint page (RIC VI, 61) measuring 21mm x 22mm and weighing 3.05g. Since these two issues were minted at the same time, I am speculating this "quarter- or third-follis" is unlisted in RIC and RIC VI, 59 is a separate and deliberate "half-follis" issue.

 


Divus Galerius, AE Follis, c.311, Group IV, Class I, Thessalonica, Officina 1
DIVO MAXIMIANO
Veiled head right
MEM DIVI M_AXIMIANI
Domed, horned, shrine with closed doors, surmounted by eagle
A in right field
. SM . TS . in exergue
24mm x 25mm, 4.18g
RIC VI, 48 (R5)
Ex Gantcho Zagorski, Yahoo, October 2003