We continue with the second part in which we discover new and fascinating gods from Roman mythology. The Romans had a very different way of defining and conceiving gods than the ancient Greeks, and it is through their coins that we can understand how the various emperors and empresses honored their gods.
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ASCULAPIO: Son of Apollo and Coronis, god of medicine; he is depicted as a mature man, dressed in a toga and carrying a staff with a snake wrapped around it.
From childhood, he was educated by the centaur Chiron, who taught him everything about the healing arts, especially medicinal plants. He became so skilled that he could bring the dead back to life. Zeus, fearful that the afterlife would be depopulated, killed him with a thunderbolt. Silver denarius minted in Rome in 215 AD by Septimius Severus. |
 | HERCULES: Son of Jupiter and Alcmene, famous for his strength and skill, he corresponds to the Greek Heracles. He is depicted with a beard, naked and carrying a club; he is usually accompanied by a lion or carrying a lion's skin. Silver coin of Emperor Septimius Severus minted in Rome in 197 AD. |
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ISIS: Of Egyptian origin, her cult became very popular among the Roman people. She was the sister of Osiris and mother of Horus. She is depicted with a scepter and a tall crown. She is known as "the great magician" for resurrecting her brother and husband Osiris, who was murdered by her brother Seth, and then conceiving with him and giving birth to Horus. Coin minted in Rome in 201 AD by Empress Julia Domna. |
 | JANUS: Mythical king of Latium, who, thanks to a gift from Jupiter, could read the future. He is depicted with two faces. He is the god of beginnings and endings. For this reason, the first month of the year was dedicated to him and he was publicly invoked on the first day of January. Coin minted in 119 BC during the Roman Republic (M. Furius). |
 | JUNO: Daughter of Saturn and Gaia, wife of Jupiter. She is the goddess of female nature and marriage. She corresponds to the Greek goddess Hera. She is depicted with a veil and scepter, sometimes accompanied by a peacock. She was part of the Capitoline Triad, along with Jupiter and Minerva. Coin minted by Empress Faustina Junior in 161 AD in Rome. |
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JUPITER: Supreme god of Roman mythology; he is the Greek Zeus. Depicted on a throne with lightning bolts, an eagle, and a scepter; in his child form, he is accompanied by a goat. In the largest Roman temple, built in his honor on Capitoline Hill, he was worshipped as Iuppiter Optimus Maximus (Jupiter, the best and greatest). Silver denarius minted in 215 AD in Rome by Emperor Caracalla. |
We currently have a small number of collections related to the Gods of the Roman Empire. This is an exclusive and very limited collection of 6 silver coins. Each piece has been carefully selected and encapsulated for proper preservation. We have also been able to create two smaller collections related to the Gods. Roman Empire Gods of Virtue Collection, consisting of 3 denarii; and finally, the Gods of War Collection, also consisting of 3 silver denarii.