Sestertius - Julia Domna MATRI MAGNAE S C; Cybele
| Bronze | - | - |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Empress | Julia Domna (193-211) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 196-211 |
| Value | 1 Sestertius = ¼ Denarius |
| Currency | Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-06 |
| Numista | N#270352 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Cybele, towered, draped, seated left on throne, holding branch in extended right hand and resting left arm on drum set on left knee; to either side of throne, lion.
Script: Latin
Lettering: MATRI MAGNAE S C
Translation:
Matri Magnae. Senatus Consultum.
To the great mother. Decree of the senate.
Comment
Source:Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
The Sestertius coin featuring Julia Domna, the wife of Emperor Septimius Severus, is notable for its depiction of the goddess Cybele on the reverse side. Cybele was an ancient Roman goddess of fertility, agriculture, and nature, and was often depicted with a turreted crown and a lion, as seen on this coin. The inclusion of Cybele on the coinage of Julia Domna may have been a nod to her role as a powerful and influential empress, as well as a symbol of the Roman Empire's connection to the natural world and the cycles of life and fertility.
