Sale: Triton XII, Lot: 675. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Monday, 5 January 2009.  Sold For $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Julia Domna. Augusta, AD 193-217. AR Antoninianus (5.25 g, 1h). Rome mint. Struck under Caracalla, AD 215-217. IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right, wearing stephane, set on crescent / LVNA LVCIFERA, Luna, with fold of drapery floating around and above head, driving biga of horses left. RIC IV 379a (Caracalla); RSC 106; BMCRE 9 (Caracalla). Choice EF, lustrous.

Julia Domna was associated with Luna Lucifera, “the light-bearing Moon”, while Septimius Severus associated himself with Sol, god of the Sun. The concept of identifying themselves with Sun and Moon speaks of the eternal nature of the imperial house.