Roman Holiday Feast Day

[LONGINUS]

 

Since our American Thanksgiving holiday and the Roman Holiday Cerealia (honoring the goddess Ceres and occurring in April ) have so many similarities, I thought I’d post a few denarii featuring Ceres and Annona (Goddess of the grain supply).

This is a fantasy image concocted by D.R. and not necessarily historically accurate.

These are fantasy images concocted by D.R. and not necessarily historically accurate.

I invite you to post your Ceres, Annona, and grain modius coins.

 

 

Edited November 24, 2023 by LONGINUS

[expat]

Wonderful presentation and great coins.

Antoninus Pius AR denarius, Rome, AD 152-153. 18 mm, 3.35 g. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TR P XVI, laureate head right. / COS IIII, Annona standing left, holding corn-ears in left hand and resting right hand on modius set on prow to right. RIC 221; RSC 290; BMCRE 520

[AETHER]

Hadrian (117-138AD)
AE As- 12,70 gram- 26 mm, Rome mint, struck 134-138AD
obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, laureate head right
rev: ANNONA/ S-C, modius with corn-ears and poppy
RIC 798(?)

 

[DonnaML]

Nice post, @LONGINUS!  Question: did Romans ever actually sit at long tables like that for feasts? I thought they reclined on couches, resting on one elbow and eating with the opposite hand (which always struck me as rather awkward)!

Here are some coins featuring Annona. Ceres to follow later when I get a chance.

Titus Caesar (son of Vespasian) AR Denarius 77-79 AD, Rome Mint. Obv.: Laureate bust right, T CAESAR VESPASIANVS / Rev. Annona seated left, leaning elbow on seat and raising drapery, ANNONA AVG. RIC II-1 972V (2007 ed.), old RIC II 218 (1926 ed.), RSC II 17 (ill.), Sear RCV I 2436 (ill.), BMCRE 319. 18.55 mm., 3.01 g.

Hadrian AR Denarius, Rome Mint 137-Jul. 138 AD.  Obv. Bare head right, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P/ Rev. Four grain ears in modius with one poppy in middle, ANNO-NA AVG. RIC II.3 2318 & Pl. 41 (2019 ed.), old RIC II 230 (1926 ed.), RSC II 172. 18 mm., 3.2 g.

Antoninus Pius AR Denarius, 149 AD. Obv. Laureate head right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII / Rev. Annona standing left holding corn ears over modius left and anchor right, COS IIII.  RIC III 175, RSC II 284, BMCRE 657. 19.5 mm., 3.24 g.

 

Philip I AR Antoninianus, 246 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Radiate, draped, & cuirassed bust right, IMP M IVL PHILIPPVS AVG/ Rev. Annona standing left, holding grain ears over modius & cornucopiae, ANNONA AVGG. RIC IV-3 28c, RSC IV 25. 23 mm., 3.8 g.

[LONGINUS]

39 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

Question: did Romans ever actually sit at long tables like that for feasts?

Your right, Donna — I don’t think they ate at tables either. I confess that I used a generous amount of artistic license with that one. 🎨

I’d better add some historical disclaimers.

 

Edited November 24, 2023 by LONGINUS

[Heliodromus]

RIC V.2 Rome 156 from 285 AD

 

[DonnaML]

Ceres. Without the writeups, in order to save a lot of copying and pasting time!

L. Cassius Caeicianus w/bust of Ceres on obverse. Crawford 321/1.

Gaius Marius C.f. Capito, Ceres on obverse. Crawford 378/1c

M. [Marcus] Volteius, Liber on obv., Ceres in biga of snakes on reverse searching for her daughter. Crawford 385/3.

C. Memmius C.f., Quirinus on obverse, Ceres seated on reverse. Crawford 427/2.

Antoninus Pius AV aureus w/Ceres & Proserpina on reverse, probably representing Faustina II and (per @Roman Collector) Faustina III.

 

Diva Faustina I with veiled Ceres on reverse. Sear RCV II 4593

France, Second Republic, AV 20 Francs, 1849, Paris Mint. Obv. Head of Cérès right. KM (Krause-Mishler) 762.

 

Edited November 25, 2023 by DonnaML

[Roman Collector]

Great idea for a thread, @LONGINUS! Here are some Antonines.