Happy Birthday Sol Invictus - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 9 / Views: 1,584
willieboyd2 Pillar of the Community United States 525 Posts	Posted 12/18/2019 7:25 pm December 25 is the birthday of the Roman Sun God, Sol Invictus. Dies Natalis Solis Invicti means "the birthday of the unconquered Sun". The use of the title Sol Invictus allowed several solar deities to be worshipped collectively, including Elah-Gabal, a Syrian sun god, Sol, the god of Emperor Aurelian, and Mithras, a soldiers' god of Persian origin. Emperor Elagabalus (AD 218-222) introduced the festival, and it reached the height of its popularity under Aurelian, who promoted it as an empire-wide holiday. The festival was placed on the date of the solstice because this was on this day that the Sun reversed its southward retreat and proved itself to be "unconquered". These coins are from the emperors Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161), Elagabalus (AD 218-222), Aurelian (AD 270-275), and Constantine (AD 306-337). Antoninus Pius Provincial AE 23 - Emesa, Syria Bronze, 23 mm, 8.71 gm, struck AD 138-161 Emesa, catalog: BMC 1 Obverse: Laureate bust right AVT KAI TI AIL ANTWNEINOC CEB EV Reverse: Eagle standing right on sacred stone of Elagabal, B in right field EMICHNWN Elagabalus Denarius - Sol Advancing Silver, 19 mm, 1.49 gm, struck AD 221 Rome, catalog: RIC 40 Obverse: Laureate and draped bust right IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Reverse: Sol advancing left with raised hand and whip PM TRP II II COS III PP Elagabalus Denarius - Sol Standing Silver, 18 mm, 2.98 gm, struck AD 219 Rome, catalog: RIC 17 Obverse: Laureate and draped bust right IMP ANTONINVS PIVS AVG Reverse: Sol standing left, right hand raised, left hand holding whip PM TRP II COS II PP Aurelian Antoninianus - Sol Invictus with Captive Bronze, 22 mm, 3.60 gm, struck AD 274 Serdica (Modern day Sofia Bulgaria), catalog: RIC Serdica 276 Obverse: Radiate and cuirassed bust right IMP AVRELIANVS AVG Reverse: Sol standing left, right hand raised, holding globe, captive at foot ORIENS AVG - Exergue: S (Serdica mint) Aurelian Antoninianus - Sol Invictus Walking Bronze, 22 mm, 3.94 gm, struck AD 274-275 Rome, catalog: RIC 64 Obverse: Radiate and cuirassed bust right IMP AVRELIANVS AVG Reverse: Sol walking right with laurel-branch and bow, treading down an enemy ORIENS AVG, letter A to left - Exergue: XXIR (Rome mint) Catalog: RIC Rome 64 Constantine AE Follis - Sol Invictus Bronze, 19 mm, 2.64 gm, struck AD 313-314 Ticinum, catalog: RIC Ticinum 8 Obverse: Laureate cuirassed bust IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG Reverse: Sol standing left with orb and raising right hand SOLI INVICTO COMITI - Exergue: ST (Ticinum Mint) Constantine AE Follis - Sol Invictus Bronze, 21 mm, 2.66 gm, struck around AD 326 Rome, catalog: RIC Rome 2 Obverse: Laureate cuirassed bust IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG Reverse: Sol standing left with orb and raising right hand, captive to left of Sol SOLI INVICTO COMITI - Exergue: RP (Rome Mint) https://www.brianrxm.com The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin Coins in Movies Coins on Television Edited by willieboyd2 12/18/2019 7:26 pm Report this Post to the Staff

Kamnaskires Pillar of the Community United States 7066 Posts	Posted 12/18/2019 8:01 pm Well, happy early birthday, Sol Invictus. Nice set of coins, Willie. Report this Post to the Staff
Spence Moderator United States 34426 Posts	Posted 12/18/2019 8:33 pm @WB2, this is a great idea for a thread--I hope you don't mind me posting my Follis featuring Sol--it is very similar to yours. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push." -----Ghanaian proverb "The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed." -----King Adz Report this Post to the Staff
echizento Moderator United States 23731 Posts	Posted 12/18/2019 9:08 pm Very nice coins. Happy Birthday. Report this Post to the Staff
Novicius Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1168 Posts	Posted 12/18/2019 9:49 pm @willieboyd2 A very nice group. Thanks for sharing. Happy Birthday Sol. @Spence This is indeed a very good idea for a thread. May I add one of mine? Constantine AE Follis. 314-315 AD. IMP CONSTANTINVS PF AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. / SOLI INVICTO COMITI, Sol standing left, holding globe and raising right hand, R over X in left field, F in right field. Mintmark RQ. Report this Post to the Staff
Palouche Pillar of the Community Spain 2752 Posts	Posted 12/19/2019 04:45 am @willieboyd2....Nice group of coins! I especially like the Aurelian with captive "Pixie"..Great looking coin!.... My first ever ancient was a Sol reverse..Here it is... Licinius I (RIC VII#155 Arles)-Unlisted-AE Follis 20mm/3.43gr (Emperors name Misspelled) Obverse-IMP LICINVS PF AVG- laureate, cuirassed bust right Reverse-REV SOLI INVICTO COMITI- Sol standing right, looking left, chlamys across chest and over his left arm, holding globe and raising right hand. C-S across fields Exergue-PARL- minted 313-318AD Arles Report this Post to the Staff
Novicius Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1168 Posts	Posted 12/19/2019 07:40 am On the reverse of this Probus coin Sol is in a different pose, driving a quadriga. Probus, AE antoninianus, Cyzicus. IMP CM AVR PROBVS PF AVG, radiate bust left, wearing imperial mantle, holding eagle-tipped sceptre / SOLI INVICTO, Sol standing facing in spread quadriga. CM in lower centre. Mintmark XXIQ. Sorry, the image is not great. Report this Post to the Staff
oriole Pillar of the Community Canada 5246 Posts	Posted 12/19/2019 1:09 pm Of course we need to explain why the date was December 25, not the actual solstice of the 21st or the day after which was the first day of the reversed course. Report this Post to the Staff
Palouche Pillar of the Community Spain 2752 Posts	Posted 12/20/2019 05:08 am @Novicius....Nice coin!... I'm on the look out for one of these as I really like the reverse design and a plus is they don't break the bank.....Good find....Paul Report this Post to the Staff
Novicius Pillar of the Community United Kingdom 1168 Posts	Posted 12/20/2019 06:05 am @Palouche It was the reverse design that attracted me to this coin as well Paul. I don't remember exactly what I paid for it, but you are right, it wasn't much. Jim Report this Post to the Staff
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