Rebuilding the Temple of Jupiter

[David Atherton]

I was thrilled to have recently acquired this grail coin. As a huge fan of architecture on Roman coins, it was a must have!

 

 

Vespasian
Æ As, 9.69g
Rome mint, 71 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: S C in field; Temple of Capitoline Jupiter with six columns
RIC 323 (R2). BMC 614. BNC 588.
Ex Harlan J Berk BBS 225, 30 November 2023, lot 453. Ex Harlan J Berk, Summer 1986, lot 439.

In December 69 AD the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter was set ablaze and destroyed during factional warfare in the city of Rome between Vitellian and Flavian forces. Upon Vespasian's victorious arrival in October 70, one of his first acts was to lavishly rebuild the temple, supposedly carrying the first basket of rubble from the site himself. As it was the first major building project of the reign, the opening religious ceremonies were conducted with great fanfare. This extremely rare as from 71 commemorates the rebuilding of the structure and is the earliest appearance of it on a Flavian coin. The reverse depicts an idealised rendition of the Vespasianic temple, as it was still a work in progress and would not be completed for several more years. The rebuilt temple would again succumb to fire in 80 under Titus. A double die match with the Oxford cast and the BM and Paris specimens.

 

Here it is in hand.

Please share your coins depicting buildings and temples.

Thanks for looking!

Edited November 13, 2023 by David Atherton

[expat]

Beautiful example of the Temple, and a nice portrait of Vespassian, well done.

On a co-incidental note, I picked up my first coin with a temple last week.

GALLIENUS AR Antoninianus. 259-260 Lugdunum mint.
Gallienus AR Billon Antoninianus. GALLIENVS (dot) P (dot) F (dot) AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust right / DEO MARTI, tetrastyle temple with Mars standing left within, left hand holding inverse spear and resting right hand on shield. RIC 10 var (dots in legend). Goebl 889g. Elmer 85; RSC 149; Cohen 615. Sear5 10195.  2,2 g - 21 mm

 

[ambr0zie]

I like this temple on a Probus antoninianus. 

A distyle temple on a Volusian sestertius 

 

Diva Faustina I

 

Temple of Vesta

[CPK]

Fantastic coin! I have been waiting (and hoping) to see some of the Flavians from HJB's latest batch posted here. Congratulations!

[Curtisimo]

An excellent coin @David Atherton. The temple of Jupiter had a hard life. It was also burned in the fighting that accompanied Sulla’s occupation of Rome in the 80s BC. Here is a Republican coin that shows the temple with its three doors for Juno, Jove and Minerva while it was still being rebuilt.

ROMAN REPUBLIC
M. Volteius M.F. (Moneyer)
AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck 78 BC
Wt.: 3.65 g
Dia.: 17.1 mm
Obv.: Laureate head of Jupiter right.
Rev.: Façade of the Aedes Iovis Optimi Maximi Capitolini (Temple of Jupiter the Best and Greatest on the Capitoline Hill), with winged thunderbolt in pediment; M. VOLTEI. MF in exergue.
Ref.: Crawford 385/1; Sydenham 774; Volteia 1
Ex Minotaur Coins (private purchase May 2022)

[David Atherton]

5 hours ago, Curtisimo said:

An excellent coin @David Atherton. The temple of Jupiter had a hard life. It was also burned in the fighting that accompanied Sulla’s occupation of Rome in the 80s BC. Here is a Republican coin that shows the temple with its three doors for Juno, Jove and Minerva while it was still being rebuilt.

ROMAN REPUBLIC
M. Volteius M.F. (Moneyer)
AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck 78 BC
Wt.: 3.65 g
Dia.: 17.1 mm
Obv.: Laureate head of Jupiter right.
Rev.: Façade of the Aedes Iovis Optimi Maximi Capitolini (Temple of Jupiter the Best and Greatest on the Capitoline Hill), with winged thunderbolt in pediment; M. VOLTEI. MF in exergue.
Ref.: Crawford 385/1; Sydenham 774; Volteia 1
Ex Minotaur Coins (private purchase May 2022)

It's nice to see an earlier version of the temple. Interesting to note the number of columns differ!

[Limes]

On 10/8/2023 at 10:24 AM, David Atherton said:

I was thrilled to have recently acquired this grail coin. As a huge fan of architecture on Roman coins, it was a must have!

 

 

Vespasian
Æ As, 9.69g
Rome mint, 71 AD
Obv: IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG COS III; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: S C in field; Temple of Capitoline Jupiter with six columns
RIC 323 (R2). BMC 614. BNC 588.
Ex Harlan J Berk, MBS 225, lot 453. Ex Harlan J Berk, Summer 1986, lot 439.

In December 69 AD the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter was set ablaze and destroyed during factional warfare in the city of Rome between Vitellian and Flavian forces. Upon Vespasian's victorious arrival in October 70, one of his first acts was to lavishly rebuild the temple, supposedly carrying the first basket of rubble from the site himself. As it was the first major building project of the reign, the opening religious ceremonies were conducted with great fanfare. This extremely rare as from 71 commemorates the rebuilding of the structure and is the earliest appearance of it on a Flavian coin. The reverse depicts an idealised rendition of the Vespasianic temple, as it was still a work in progress and would not be completed for several more years. The rebuilt temple would again succumb to fire in 80 under Titus. A double die match with the Oxford cast and the BM and Paris specimens.

 

Here it is in hand.

Please share your coins depicting buildings and temples.

Thanks for looking!

Fantastic coin! I really love coins with temples or other structures on the reverse.

If my eyes are not mistaken, the reverse of this coin shows the three statues of the capitoline triad (Jupiter, Juno and Minerva) in their cella, with an arched colonnade in front, of which the middle one (Jupiter) is larger than the other two. Above the arch is what appears to be an additional architrave, with the entablature of the temple above it. I wonder if this could be the simplified depiction of an arched doorway into the temple, with the two outer columns being part of the side gallery. In any case, the four middle columns don't appear to be just part of the hexastyle facade. I dont know of any other coins of the temple showing the arches. Fascinating! 

 

[DonnaML]

A fantastic find, @David Atherton!

Here's my own example of the M. Volteius/Capitoline Temple type -- apparently the first depiction of any temple on any Roman coin. The footnote attempts to address the apparent inconsistency in the number of columns depicted for the Temple on different coins.

Roman Republic, M. [Marcus] Volteius M.f., AR Denarius, 78 BCE (Crawford) or 75 BCE (Harlan). Obv. Laureate head of Jupiter right (anepigraphic) / Rev. Capitoline Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, tetrastyle (four columns flanking three cella [inner chamber] double-doors, one each for Jupiter in center [with lock or handle] & Minerva and Juno on sides), with Jupiter’s thunderbolt in pediment and prominent acroteria [roof decorations usually consisting of sculptures]; in exergue, M•VOLTEI•M•F. 18 mm., 3.84 g. Crawford 385/1; RSC I Volteia 1 (ill. p. 100); BMCRR I 3154 (ill. BMCRR III Pl. XLII No. 1); Sear RCV I 312 (ill. p. 131); Harlan, RRM I Ch. 12 pp. 70-73 [Harlan, Michael, Roman Republican Moneyers and their Coins, 81 BCE-64 BCE (2012)]; Yarrow, pp. 168-169 (ill. p. 169 Fig. 4.6) ) [Yarrow, Liv Mariah, The Roman Republic to 49 BCE: Using Coins as Sources (2021)]; Hollstein pp. 11-13 (ill. Tafel 1) [Hollstein, Wilhelm, Roman Coinage in the years 78-50 BC, etc. [Die stadtrömische Münzprägung der Jahre 78-50 v. Chr., zwischen politischer Aktualität und Familienthematik (Munich 1993)]; Albert 1280 (ill. p. 178) [Albert, Rainer, Die Münzen der Römischen Republik (2011)]; RBW Collection 1414 (ill. p. 291); E.E. Clain-Stefanelli, Life in Republican Rome on its Coinage (Smithsonian 1999), p. 87 (ill. at same page). Purchased from Lucernae Numismatics, Alcalá la Real, Jaén, Spain, Auction XIV, 25 May 2023, Lot 137.*

 [For unknown reasons, seller's photo has reverse to left and obverse to right]

*The depiction of the Capitoline Temple of Jupiter on the reverse of this coin is not only “the earliest representation of a temple on the Roman coin series” (Yarrow p. 169), but, according to Hollstein (p. 11) is actually “der ersten Abbildung eines Gebäudes auf römischen Münzen” (the first depiction of a building [of any kind] on Roman coins).

The original construction of the Capitoline Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, “the most significant temple of ancient Rome,” was traditionally begun under the first King Tarquin, with the aid of Etruscan specialists, in payment of a vow he had made while fighting the Sabines. Also according to tradition, it was completed and dedicated under the newly-born Republic in 509 BCE. (Harlan p. 72). After more than 400 years, “the temple burned to the ground on 6 July 83. Its reconstruction, on the original foundation, was undertaken by Sulla, but he died in 78 before it could be completed.” (Id.) It was not finally completed and rededicated by Lutatius Catulus (Cos. 78) until 69 BCE (id. p. 73; see also Yarrow p. 69). Thus, the reconstruction “was still ongoing and far from completion when Volteius’ representation appeared on the reverse of this coin.”  (Harlan p. 73; see also Crawford p. 400).

 According to Hollstein (pp. 11-12), the thunderbolt of Jupiter depicted in the pediment “certainly served only to identify the temple” on the coin and was not part of the actual Capitoline temple, either originally or as rebuilt. Moreover, all the authorities appear to agree that the Capitoline temple as rebuilt was hexastyle, i.e., it had six columns across the front rather than the four depicted on the Volteius coin. See Hollstein p. 12 and Harlan pp. 73-74, both citing the representation of the rebuilt temple with six columns on Crawford 487/1, issued by Petillius Capitolinus in 43 BCE. Here's an example sold by NAC on 23.06.2021 for $10,345 (not my coin!): 

Partly because temples in the Etruscan style were usually hexastyle, both Harlan and Hollstein are skeptical of the suggestion [see Hill, Philip V., “Buildings and monuments of ancient Rome on republican coins, c.135-40 B.C.,” Rivista Italiana di Numismatica 82 (1980) at pp. 33–52], that the tetrastyle depiction on the Volteius coin was intended to represent the original temple before it burned down, which would mean that the temple originally had only four columns in front rather than six. See Harlan p. 73:

 “Did Volteius not care about accuracy, or were there originally only four front columns? Probably not. The temple was about [61 ½] meters long and [57] meters wide. [Citing Dionysius of Halicarnassus, 4.61.3.] If there were originally only four columns, the space between each column would have been nineteen meters, an unreasonably long open span for the architrave. . . . Since the reconstructed temple of Jupiter Capitolinus matched the original size, it is most likely that the temple seen on Petillius’ coin reproduced the ancient temple’s [original] design,” as well as the reconstructed temple’s design, by depicting six columns across the front.

 Therefore,

 “Rather than try to precisely depict the new temple, whose columns may not have been set in place when he minted, Volteius seems to have chosen to emphasize the tripartite nature of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. In typical Etruscan style, the temple was divided into three cellas [inner chambers], the larger central one occupied by Jupiter, the one on the left belonged to Minerva, the one on the right to Juno. Volteius depicted this feature of the temple by using four columns to divide the space into three sections and his uneven spacing of the columns makes the central cella the largest. The representation of the doors to the separate cellas can be seen between the columns. Such a representation, true to the nature of the temple but not to the details of the completed reconstruction, would have been best suited to a time when Catulus had not yet erected the columns at the entrance. He did not dedicate the temple until 69 and even then its embellishment was not complete. The incentive for accuracy in column numbers would have been much more compelling further along in the reconstruction process.”

Harlan p. 73. See also Hollstein p. 13, characterizing the depiction of the Capitoline Temple on the Volteius coin as not necessarily a realistic representation of the original temple, but “rather an ideal image, generally understandable through the Jupiter on the [obverse], the lightning bolt in the pediment and the three indicated cellae” [citing G. Fuchs, Architekturdarstellungen auf römischen Münzen der Republik und der frühen Kaiserzeit p. 66 (Berlin 1969)].

 It should be kept in mind, however, that Harlan’s conclusion that the original temple was too large to have been tetrastyle was partly based on an assumption that the estimates concerning the size of the original temple made by Dionysius of Halicarnassus, who wrote during the reign of Augustus (and was personally familiar only with the rebuilt temple) were accurate. In fact, the original temple’s “size remains heavily disputed by specialists.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Jupiter_Optimus_Maximus. The article notes: “Five different plans of the temple have been published following recent excavations on the Capitoline Hill that revealed portions of the archaic foundations. According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, the same plan and foundations were used for later rebuildings of the temple, but there is disagreement over what the dimensions he mentions referred to (the building itself or the podium),” among other things. See also Ronald T. Ridley, “Unbridgeable Gaps: the Capitoline Temple at Rome,” Bullettino della Commissione Archeologica Comunale di Roma, Vol. 106 (2005), pp. 83-104 (available at https://www.jstor.org/stable/44515842), giving a detailed account of the history of the scholarship and scholarly disputes regarding the design and dimensions of the Capitoline Temple in its different incarnations, and concluding as follows at pp. 103-104: “we must squarely admit that we have no description of the original temple, which lasted traditionally more than four centuries, unless it is Volteius’ coin [depicting a tetrastyle temple], which has to be claimed to be a memory of the recently destroyed Tarquinian building” -- even though “it is generally agreed (following later evidence) that it was hexastyle.” Regardless of the number of columns, though, “It should now be clear on any number of grounds that the standard reconstructions of a temple at Rome c. 500 BC measuring anything approaching 55 x 60 meters is highly improbable.” Id. Among other things, it would have been “four times the area of contemporary temples in Central Italy.” Id.  

In any event, wholly apart from the questions concerning the accuracy of the depiction of the original Capitoline Temple on this particular issue of M. Volteius, it is largely accepted that the type relates, like the other four Volteius coins, to one of the five principal agonistic festivals which were celebrated annually at Rome. See Crawford p. 402. This type relates specifically to the Ludi Romani (originally known as the Ludi Magni and then the Ludi Maximi), held each year from 5 to 19 September.

Harlan cites Dionysius Halicarnassus as tracing the first presentation of the Ludi Romani (Roman games) back to the payment of a vow made on behalf of the state by the dictator Aulus Postumius Albus before the Battle of Lake Regillus against the Latin League (led by Rome’s ousted king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus), which traditionally took place circa 499 BCE. See Harlan p. 71. After describing the ceremonies at length (id.), Harlan states:

 “The design of Volteius’ coin with the head of Jupiter on the obverse and his Capitoline temple on the reverse focuses on the central part of the festival which occurred on [September] 13th, when the Epulum Jovis, the feast of Jupiter, was held. This was one of the most spectacular scenes in Roman religion. It began with a sacrifice, and then the huge public feast was laid out. The Capitoline triad Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva were present in visible form, for the images of the gods were decked out in their best attire and seated on their couches. The priesthood of septemviri epulones created in 196 had special charge of the ceremony. The 13^th was also the birthday of the great temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitol, the most significant temple of ancient Rome. Tacitus called it the ‘seat of Jupiter, founded by our ancestors under propitious auspices as a pledge of our imperium.’” (Harlan pp. 71-72, citing Tacitus, Histories, 3.72.)

[Discussion of other Volteius types omitted.]

[Prieure de Sion]

On 10/8/2023 at 10:24 AM, David Atherton said:

Please share your coins depicting buildings and temples.

You're welcome... 😄 

 

Imperator Caesar Divi filius Augustus; Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 19 BC; Material: Silver; Diameter: 22mm; Weight: 3.54g; Mint: Colonia Patricia, Lusitania; Reference: RIC I (second edition) Augustus 64 var. (head right); Provenance: Ex Roma Numismatic London, Ex Dr. Gernot Heinrich Collection; Obverse: Head of Augustus, bare, right (var.). The Inscription reads: CAESAR AVGVSTVS for Caesar Augustus; Reverse: Jupiter Tonans, standing left, in hexastyle temple, holding thunderbolt in right hand and leaning left on sceptre. The Inscription reads: IOV TON for Iovi Tonans (Jupiter thundering).

 

Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius; Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 145/161 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 19mm; Weight: 3.35g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC III Antoninus Pius 124; Provenance: Ex Emporium Numismatics Hamburg Germany; Obverse: Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P for Antoninus Augustus Pius, Pater Patriae (Antoninus Pius, Augustus, father of the nation); Reverse: Octostyle temple containing statues of Divus Augustus and Livia. The Inscription reads: AED DIVI AVG REST COS IIII for Aedes Divi Augusti Restitutae, Consul Quartum (Temple of the deified Augustus restored, consul for the fourth time). Minted to celebrate the restoration of the Temple of Augustus.

 

Marcus Iulius Philippus I Arabs; Antoninianus of the Roman Imperial Period 244/249 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 21mm; Weight: 3.92g; Mint: Antiochia ad Orontem, Syria; Reference: RIC -, RSC -, Bland 52; Provenance: Ex Dr. Gernot Heinrich Collection; Obverse: Bust of Philip I the Arab, radiate, cuirassed, right. The Inscription reads: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG for Imperator Philippus Augustus; Reverse: Hexastyle temple with statue of Roma in centre. The Inscription reads: SAECVLVM NOVVM for Saeculum Novum (New century).

 

Marcus Aurelius Probus, as Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Probus Augustus; Antoninianus of the Roman Imperial Period 277 AD; Material: BI Silver; Diameter: 25.50mm; Weight: 3.15g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC V Probus 195; Provenance: Ex Artemide Aste Numismatica San Marino; Obverse: Bust of Probus, radiate, cuirassed, right. The Inscription reads: IMP PROBVS AVG for Imperator Probus Augustus; Reverse: Hexastyle temple, Roma seated in centre, holding Victory in right hand and sceptre in left hand. The Inscription reads: ROMAE AETERNAE R*Γ for ROMAE AETERNAE, RGamma (Everlasting Rome, 2nd emission of Rome).

 

Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus; Bronze of the Roman Imperial Period 184/190 AD; Material: AE; Diameter: 23mm; Weight: 6.33g; Mint: Alexandria, Troas; Reference: RPC IV.2 3172, BMC 65; Obverse: Laureate head of Commodus to right. The Inscription reads: IMP CAI M AV COMMODO [AVG] [ANTONINVS?] for Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Augustus Antoninus.; Reverse: Temple with four columns in perspective enclosing statue of Apollo Smintheus standing on short column, right, having quiver at shoulder, holding patera over lighted tripod and bow. The Inscription reads: COL AVG TROAD for Colonia Augusta Troad (Troas).

 

[Limes]

10 hours ago, Prieure de Sion said:

You're welcome... 😄 

 

Imperator Caesar Divi filius Augustus; Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 19 BC; Material: Silver; Diameter: 22mm; Weight: 3.54g; Mint: Colonia Patricia, Lusitania; Reference: RIC I (second edition) Augustus 64 var. (head right); Provenance: Ex Roma Numismatic London, Ex Dr. Gernot Heinrich Collection; Obverse: Head of Augustus, bare, right (var.). The Inscription reads: CAESAR AVGVSTVS for Caesar Augustus; Reverse: Jupiter Tonans, standing left, in hexastyle temple, holding thunderbolt in right hand and leaning left on sceptre. The Inscription reads: IOV TON for Iovi Tonans (Jupiter thundering).

 

Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius; Denarius of the Roman Imperial Period 145/161 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 19mm; Weight: 3.35g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC III Antoninus Pius 124; Provenance: Ex Emporium Numismatics Hamburg Germany; Obverse: Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P for Antoninus Augustus Pius, Pater Patriae (Antoninus Pius, Augustus, father of the nation); Reverse: Octostyle temple containing statues of Divus Augustus and Livia. The Inscription reads: AED DIVI AVG REST COS IIII for Aedes Divi Augusti Restitutae, Consul Quartum (Temple of the deified Augustus restored, consul for the fourth time). Minted to celebrate the restoration of the Temple of Augustus.

 

Marcus Iulius Philippus I Arabs; Antoninianus of the Roman Imperial Period 244/249 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 21mm; Weight: 3.92g; Mint: Antiochia ad Orontem, Syria; Reference: RIC -, RSC -, Bland 52; Provenance: Ex Dr. Gernot Heinrich Collection; Obverse: Bust of Philip I the Arab, radiate, cuirassed, right. The Inscription reads: IMP PHILIPPVS AVG for Imperator Philippus Augustus; Reverse: Hexastyle temple with statue of Roma in centre. The Inscription reads: SAECVLVM NOVVM for Saeculum Novum (New century).

 

Marcus Aurelius Probus, as Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Probus Augustus; Antoninianus of the Roman Imperial Period 277 AD; Material: BI Silver; Diameter: 25.50mm; Weight: 3.15g; Mint: Rome; Reference: RIC V Probus 195; Provenance: Ex Artemide Aste Numismatica San Marino; Obverse: Bust of Probus, radiate, cuirassed, right. The Inscription reads: IMP PROBVS AVG for Imperator Probus Augustus; Reverse: Hexastyle temple, Roma seated in centre, holding Victory in right hand and sceptre in left hand. The Inscription reads: ROMAE AETERNAE R*Γ for ROMAE AETERNAE, RGamma (Everlasting Rome, 2nd emission of Rome).

 

Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus; Bronze of the Roman Imperial Period 184/190 AD; Material: AE; Diameter: 23mm; Weight: 6.33g; Mint: Alexandria, Troas; Reference: RPC IV.2 3172, BMC 65; Obverse: Laureate head of Commodus to right. The Inscription reads: IMP CAI M AV COMMODO [AVG] [ANTONINVS?] for Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Augustus Antoninus.; Reverse: Temple with four columns in perspective enclosing statue of Apollo Smintheus standing on short column, right, having quiver at shoulder, holding patera over lighted tripod and bow. The Inscription reads: COL AVG TROAD for Colonia Augusta Troad (Troas).

 

That Probus is fantastic!

[David Atherton]

16 hours ago, Limes said:

Fantastic coin! I really love coins with temples or other structures on the reverse.

If my eyes are not mistaken, the reverse of this coin shows the three statues of the capitoline triad (Jupiter, Juno and Minerva) in their cella, with an arched colonnade in front, of which the middle one (Jupiter) is larger than the other two.

 

Yes, that is correct! And you are right to point out the arched colonnade as an interesting detail, only showing up on the these rare early asses from Rome and missing from the later sestertii struck between 74-78 AD and the asses struck at Lugdunum in 77-78. I assume the later sestertii were struck in conjunction with the opening of the temple in 74 or so. The early asses being struck when construction commenced and thus may represent an idealised image, or perhaps the memory of the previous structure.

BTW, the OP coin is the only specimen I know of in private hands.* The other three examples I am aware of are in the BM and Paris collections and a plaster cast in Oxford from 'Hall' (all unsurprisingly double die matches). I cannot find any records for this variety in trade or at auction. If anyone knows of any other specimens please let me know!

*This as from 71 is so rare that M. Tameanko in his book Monumental Coins erroneously refers to it as a sestertius and R. Darwell-Smith in Emperors and Architecture calls it a dupondius! N. T. Elkins gets it some-what right in his Monuments in Miniature, but unfortunately links the as variety of 71 to a photo of a heavily tooled sestertius from the BM with a fabricated reverse! No COS III sestertii with the temple of Jupiter exist.

Edited October 10, 2023 by David Atherton