Star and Crescent Coins2
Star
and Crescent Coins
The severan dynast was particularly obsessed by astrology
Hadrian's star coin
The provincial coins of Septimus Severus seems to be centred on Nikopolis
Interestigly all five of visibles planets were alied in the night sky recently.
Septimus Severus star coins
Furthermore, the grouping of these coins in the later part of the second century may have significance.
Geta star coin
Computer models have suggested that two eclipses , one annular the other total, occured in the northern hemisphere in the 183 CE ( Common Era = AD) . This would place it in the reign of Commodus
Commodus star coin
Two eclipses in the same year (July 4, and Dec. 28) would have been exceedingly rare and noteworthy especially with the Annular eclipse occurring almost at the new year (the July 4, eclipse was total)
All of the emperors mentioned ruled within 19 years of each other.
Caracalla star coin
Whether the purpose of the crescent/star motif is related to eclipses (in which planets become visible by day), lunar or planetary conjunctions of the Plaeidies (7 sisters) and/or other planets, or simple repesentation of Roman cosmology may never be known for sure
The coin with Zeus on the obverse and a leaping ram on the reverse represents a planetary conjunction in the constellation Aries
Antioch star coin
According to Michael Molnar, the now famous "Star of Bethlehem" coin supposedly depicts Jupiter's occultation of Aries twice in April 6, BCE.
A later coin from Antioch with a similar theme - Tyche on obverse with Venus(?) occulting the moon in Aries. Another famous depiction of a planetary conjunction is Julian II's two stars in Tarus reverse.
Celestial ******s depicted on coins makes for a very interesting focus for collecting.
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