It's almost over, but I haven't had time to post until just this evening. Vulcan -- the Roman version of the Greek Ἥφαιστος -- was the the god of fire, volcanoes, and of smiths. The festival of Vulcan, the Vulcanalia, was celebrated on August 23rd each year, when the summer heat placed crops and granaries at the greatest risk of burning. Valerian I, AD 253-260. Roman AR antoninianus, 2.69 g, 21.2 mm, 7 h. Colonia Agrippina (Cologne) mint, AD 259-260. Obv: VALERIANVS·P·F·AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev: DEO VOLKANO, Vulcan standing left within tetrastyle temple, hammer raised in right hand, tongs downward in left. Refs: RIC 5 (inaccurately attributed to the Lugdunum mint); Cohen 2 (inaccurately attributed to Valerian II); RSC 50c; Göbl 884d; Hunter IV 56; RCV 9934.
@Roman Collector has one with a better reverse legend than usual. Doug's piece and mine are more typical: I was pleased to get this one. At least the hammer and tongs are pretty clear.
Mine, also typical. If I'm not wrong, some of these like Warren's have a little blob in the left corner of the temple which would be Vulcan's anvil. Mine, Doug's and RC's all do not.
Another type I want! The list is long. I was unaware of Vulcanalia too... I'll put it on the calendar for next year Roman Republic, Lucius Aurelius Cotta 105 BCE Fourree AR serrate denarius, 20 mm, 3.8 gm Obv: draped bust of Vulcan right, wearing laureate pileus; tongs and star behind; all within wreath and dotted border Rev: eagle standing on thunderbolt, head left; L·COT below, V to right; all within laurel wreath and dotted border Ref: c.f. Crawford 314/1c; Sydenham 577a; Aurelia 21b formerly slabbed, NGC ChVF, 5/5 strike, 3/5 surface Roman Republic, L. Caesius 112-111 BCE AR denarius, 3.92 gm Obv: bust of Vejovis (some references say Apollo?) from behind, head turned left, holding a thunderbolt, legend AP; dotted border. Rev: Lares praestites seated with heads left, dog between, bust of Vulcan above with tongs behind; legend LA-RE; dotted border. Ref: Crawford 298/1. Sydenham 564. RSC Caesia 1
...i have some Valerians on the "table of coins" somewhere..i'll have to find them now, but i dont think i have any Vulcan types.. kool coins OP and all!...party &.. live long and prosper!
Don't have one of this type yet. Is it possible to get one with a better obverse portrait? Probably not...
Rare is it I am the one posting a solid when someone else has the fourree. I really need a new photo of this one.
