Abundantia

'Abundance' here is shown seated in a chair made of

crossed cornucopiae. Other issues will show her
Trajan
holding the cornucopia and grain ears.
denarius

Aequitas
'Fairness' holds a scales and cornucopia. The same
Septimius
figure is used for 'Moneta' (below).
Severus
denarius

Aeternitas
'Eternity' here holds a scepter but other coins will
Faustina I show a globe, phoenix or heads of the sun and moon.
denarius

Annona 'Harvest' shows a lap full of grain and the prow of a

ship. The imported grain harvest was a matter of great
Domitian concern to the people at Rome (here shown as a
dupondius child).

Bonus
Eventus 'Good luck' holds a tray of food and grain ears. Other
coins show this personification holding a cornucopia.
Septimius This figure appears female but the gender of the name
Severus suggests a male.
denarius

Clementia
'Mercy' holds a branch and scepter. She is identified
no photo yet
most often by legend.
Concordia
'Harmony' holds a cornucopia and pours a libation
from a patera over a low altar. Often coins with
Aquilia
Concordia in the legends will show two figures (gods
Severa
or rulers) shaking hands.
denarius

Fecunditas
'Fertility' shows a child or children (here in the
Julia Domna background).
denarius

Felicitas
'Happiness' holds a cadeuceus and cornucopia.
Philip I
antoninianus

Fides
'Good faith' here shows a figure of victory and staff
surmounted by an eagle in her function as Faith of the
Septimius
Legions. More commonly we see a patera, cornucopia
Severus
or food items as attributes.
denarius

Fortuna
'Fortune' usually hold a rudder and cornucopia. Often
Tyche
there is a globe or wheel (here under the chair). This is
one of the personifications commonly found on Greek
Commodus
Imperial issues.
denarius
Genius
'Spirit' is a male personification, usually nude, holding
Galerius a patera and cornucopia.
follis

Geographical Places often were shown as personifications. These

were many to many to list here individually and each
Trajan Decius have their distinctive attributes. Our example shows
antoninianus the Province of Dacia holding a wolf headed staff.

Hilaritas 'Rejoicing' holds a long palm and cornucopia. This

figure is sometimes shown with other legends of
Faustina II happy events like the Fortunate Return of the ruler
denarius from battle.

Honos
'Honor' is a male usually with cornucopia and scepter
no photo yet
or branch.

Indulgentia 'Indulgence' holds a patera and scepter. This

'INDVLG FECVNDAE' coin of Caracalla is thought
Caracalla to commemorate his mother Julia Domna's indulgence
denarius following the murder of Geta.

Justitia

Septimius 'Justice' holds a patera and staff.

Severus
denarius
Laetitia
'Joy' holds a wreath and anchor. Other coins show a
Julia Domna scepter or rudder.
denarius

Liberalitas
'Generosity' holds a counting board (tablet or tessera)
and cornucopia. Legends of this and the next are
Septimius
easily confused so care need be taken to identify the
Severus
unique attribute in the figure's hand.
denarius

Libertas
'Freedom' holds a triangular pileus or cap given to
freed slaves. This same cap is shown on very early US
Commodus
coins.
denarius

Moneta
'Money' holds scales and cornucopia. If shown as a
Septimius trio, these figures represent the three metals used for
Severus coinage. The same figure is used for Aequitas (above).
denarius

Nobilitas
'Nobility' holds a scepter and Palladium (statue of
Commodus Minerva).
denarius
Ops
'Wealth' holds grain ears and (sometimes) a scepter.
Pertinax This personification rarely was used on coins.
denarius

Patientia 'Patience' holds a scepter and was very rarely used on

no photo yet coins. While the type is listed in literature, I have not
seen an example.

Pax
'Peace' holds a branch and scepter. Some coins show a
Maximinus I branch with cornucopia or cadeuceus.
denarius

Pietas
'Dutifulness' sacrifices over an altar from a patera.
Lucilla
denarius

Providentia
'Forethought' points at a globe on the ground with a
Septimius
baton. She often holds a staff.
Severus
denarius

Pudicitia
'Modesty' is veiled and makes a gesture with her hand
on her breast. Some coins show her pulling away the
Julia Domna
veil.
denarius
Salus
'Health' holds or feeds a snake from a patera.
Elagabalus
denarius

Securitas
'Security' holds a scepter and usually has her legs
Macrinus crossed. Here she appears to be adjusting her hair.
denarius

Spes
'Hope' walks holding a flower and lifting the hem of
Septimius
her garment.
Severus
denarius

Tranquillitas
'Tranquillity' holds a staff and capricorn. This
personification was rarely used on coins. (Tranquillity
Philip I
was rarely the situation at Rome!)
sestertius

Ubertas

Trebonianus 'Fertility' holds a cornucopia and purse.

Gallus
denarius
Victoria
'Victory' is the most common personification. She is
Nike
always winged and often holds a wreath, palm, trophy
or shield. She is also common on Greek Imperial
Severus
coins and appears in hundreds of minor variations
Alexander
both at Rome and throughout the Empire.
denarius

Virtus 'Courage' is a helmeted soldier in armor holding a

spear, victory or shield. Virtus can be distinguished
Septimius from the god Mars who is usually shown nude. Some
Severus coins appear to show Virtus as a female figure
denarius (appropriate since the word is feminine declention).

Aesclepius
Aesclepius, god of medicine, holds a serpent entwined
Postumus staff.
antoninianus

Apollo Apollo, god of brightness, music and art, is shown in

many various ways. Here he wears a long dress and
Commodus carries a lyre. The image is a copy of a statue that
denarius stood on the Palatine Hill.

Apollo Apollo was shown in so many ways a second sample

seemed necessary. Here he is shown nude with bow
Septimius and snake. Apollo often is shown in more graceful
Severus poses than other male gods. There are many other
provincial variations on Apollo as a reverse type.
Liber
Bacchus
God of wine, Liber carries a thyrsus (decorated spear)
Septimius and wine cup. He is accompanied by a panther.
Severus
denarius

Ceres
Demeter
Ceres, goddess of agriculture, carries grain ears and a
torch used when she descended into the underworld in
Septimius
search of he daughter Persephone.
Severus
denarius

Cybele
Cybele, a Great Mother goddess imported from the
East, appears with twin lions, turreted crown and
Julia Domna
branch.
sestertius

Dea
Imported from North Africa the 'Bright Goddess' is
Caelestis
limited to the Severan period. Here she rides a lion
springing from the water. The coin probably
Septimius
commemorates Septimius' building of water works at
Severus
Carthage.
denarius

Diana Diana, sister of Apollo, was worshipped in two rather

Artemis separate manners. Often she is shown with a bow as
goddess of the hunt. Here she carries a torch and has a
Julia Domna moon on her shoulders in her role as bringer of light to
denarius the night.
Dioscuri
Rarely used in the Empire, the twin gods Castor and
Pollux were often used by Republican moneyers.
Republican
Castor alone appears on a coin of Geta.
denarius

Hercules
Herakles The hero Hercules carries a club and bow and wears
the skin of the Nemean lion. Son of Zeus and a mortal,
Septimius Hercules was popular as a symbol of strength and
Severus perseverance.
denarius

Hecate
Hecate was a Greek goddess of the underworld who is
Septimius shown holding a torch. She is shown only on
Severus provincial coins and is easily confused with Artemis.
provincial

Isis was imported from Egypt and was popular at

Isis
Rome in the 3rd century AD. She is shown here
nursing her infant son, Horus. At her feet are a plow
Julia Domna
and forepart of a ship to remind people that Egypt
denarius
provided Rome with a steady supply of grain.

Janus Janus, god of beginning and ending, is rarely seen on

Imperial coins but common in the Republic. He is
Republican easily recognized, even in full length depictions, by the
denarius two faces looking in opposite directions.
Juno
Hera
Juno, queen of the gods, is accompanied by a peacock.
Julia Maesa
denarius

Jupiter
Zeus
Jupiter, king of the gods, is bearded and accompanied
Septimius by an eagle.
Severus
sestertius

Mars
Ares Mars, god of war, is usually shown as a helmeted nude
distinguishing him from the personification Virtus. He
Septimius frequently carries a trophy over his shoulder and a
Severus spear.
denarius

Men Men was a local god of the East often seen on

provincial coins. He wears a Phrygian cap and has a
Julia Domna crescent behind his shoulders. Usually he is
provincial accompanied by a chicken.

Mercury
Hermes Mercury, messenger of the gods, wears a winged
helmet, wings on his feet and carries a caduceus and
Septimius purse. He was the patron of merchants, travelers and
Severus thieves.
provincial
Minerva
Athena
Goddess of wisdom and courage, Minerva is shown
wearing helmet and armor. Some coins also show a
Septimius
shield and her pet owl.
Severus
denarius

Nemesis, goddess of retribution, is winged and

Nemesis accompanied by a snake. Other attributes are a wheel
or bridle. As here (apologies for the condition of the
Claudius fourree specimen) she often pulls open the front of her
denarius garment to spit on her breast, her standard gesture of
aversion.

Neptune
Poseidon
God of the sea, Neptune is shown nude with a trident.
Often, as here, he is shown with one foot raised on a
Septimius
rock.
Severus
denarius

Pluto
Hades
Pluto, god of the underworld, is accompanied by
Cerberus, the three headed dog.
Caracalla
antoninianus

Various river gods appear on both Roman and

River Gods
provincial issues. The example shows the Nile as
issued at Alexandria, Egypt. River gods tend to be
Hadrian
shown reclining and accompanied by flowing water or
provincial
water animals like this crocodile.
Roma
Roma, the city goddess, resembles Minerva as a female
warrior but is usually shown seated on a throne and
Gordian III
identified by legend.
antoninianus

Romulus
Romulus, founder of the city, shares the attributes of
Hadrian Mars and is identified by legend.
denarius

Saeculo
Frugifero An African god, the fruitful age, was imported to
Rome by the African rulers Clodius Albinus and
Clodius Septimius Severus. His attributes are similar to those
Albinus of Mercury and he can be identified by legends.
sestertius

Serapis Imported from Egypt and popular at Rome in the 3rd

century AD, Serapis is bearded, wears a tall headdress
Postumus and carries a staff. He usually is shown gesturing with
antoninianus a raised hand. Here, at his feet, is the prow of a ship.

Saturn
Saturn, father of Jupiter, was god of time and inventor
of agriculture. He is shown as an old man holding a
Gallienus
sickle.
antoninianus
Sol
Under several names the god of the sun became
Helios
popular during the late 3rd century AD. He wears a
Oriens
radiate crown and usually carries a whip. Technically,
Oriens is the rising sun while Sol and Helios are names
Valerian
for the sun disk.
antoninianus

Tellus
Tellus, goddess of the earth (ground), holds tools of
Hadrian agriculture and is identified by legend.
denarius

Euphrosyne, Aglaia and Thalia, also known as the

Three Graces
Charities, were minor goddesses of refinement and
grace. They are shown on Greek Imperial coins nude
Gordian III
posed together with the center Grace's back to the
provincial
viewer.

Venus, goddess of love, is shown here copying a statue

Venus
of unknown location. She holds an apple and palm.
Aphrodite
This view from the rear is an exception to the general
rule that goddesses were shown fully clothed. Other
Julia Domna
depictions of Venus show her fully dressed and
denarius
carrying a helmet and scepter.

Vesta Goddess of hearth and home, Vesta is shown seated

with a small statue of victory and a scepter. Other
Julia Domna common attributes are a patera (dish for sacrifice) and
denarius covered head.
Vulcan
Vulcan, god of fire, is rarely used on Roman coins. He
is shown here inside a temple holding the hammer and
Valerian I
tongs of a blacksmith.
antoninianus