Thank you for your patience while we retrieve your images.


Vesta Temple

Vesta Temple

The reverse of this remarkable aureus depicts a sacrifice before the Temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum, a structure deeply tied to Roman religious and cultural identity. Vesta, the goddess of the hearth and marriage, was central to Roman life, and her temple housed the sacred flame believed to ensure Rome’s power and prosperity. This flame, tended by the Vestal Virgins, burned continuously from the seventh century BC until extinguished by Emperor Theodosius I in the late fourth century AD. The temple also served as a repository for sacred relics and critical documents, including wills, despite the inherent risk posed by the ever-present flame. The most famous relic housed within was the Palladium, a statue of Minerva believed to have been brought to Italy by Aeneas after the fall of Troy.

The temple’s history was one of repeated destruction and reconstruction, often due to fires caused by the sacred flame itself. Initially built by the legendary King Numa Pompilius, the temple was destroyed by the Celts during their sack of Rome in 390 BC. Subsequent fires led to reconstructions in 241 BC, during the reigns of Augustus and Nero, and finally in AD 191 after another devastating blaze. The rebuilding undertaken by Emperor Septimius Severus and commemorated on this coin is attributed to his wife, Julia Domna, whose contributions to the restoration are celebrated. The temple standing today reflects the design of this final reconstruction under Julia Domna’s oversight.

This coin exemplifies the artistry and historical significance of Severan-era minting, with its intricate depiction of the temple. The attention to detail by the die engraver allows viewers to discern features such as the Palladium through the central columns of the temple. The aureus not only celebrates the restoration of one of Rome’s most sacred sites but also highlights the pivotal role of Julia Domna in preserving the city’s cultural and religious legacy. This coin serves as a tangible link to the enduring importance of the Temple of Vesta and the symbolic power it held in Roman society.

Julia Domna (AD 193-217). AV aureus (20mm, 7.41 gm, 1h). Rome, AD 215. IVLIA PIA-FELIX AVG, draped bust of Julia Domna right, seen from front, hair waved in ridges and bound at back of head in small chignon / VES-TA, front view of round Temple of Vesta, surmounted by standing statue and seated statue in center; Julia Domna and Vestal Virgin, both veiled and draped, standing vis-à-vis to left and right, dropping incense from boxes over a lighted altar in foreground, two more veiled and draped Vestal Virgins flanking, looking inward, accompanied by Caracalla and Geta as children. RIC IV.I (Caracalla) 392c. Calicó 2650 (this coin)

From the Monaco Collection. Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 3089 NYINC (21 January 2021), lot 31065; Harlan Berk, private sale with old dealer tag; Ex. NAC 23, lot 1605; M&M Basel Sale (December 1948), lot 630; Ars Classica XVIII (1938), lot 330; Ex. Biaggi 1160 - Privately purchased by Biaggi from Ratto in 1958; Ex. Mazzini; J. Hirsch 30, lot 1079; Karnak Hoard, Egypt 1901