Author Topic: Eyes to Heaven ?  (Read 1154 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Genio popvli romani

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 285
  • Country: fr
Eyes to Heaven ?
« on: January 11, 2017, 02:00:29 PM »
Here is an interesting coin of Helena (Constantinople RIC.33) which shows the augusta clearly represented looking upward.
And if you take a look at RIC.33,34,48,49, you can see other specimens looking upward.

http://www.nummus-bible-database.com/rechercher-une-monnaie.htm?page=3&personnages=24&ateliers=9&collections=&vendeurs=&motscles=&numric=&numnbd=&legendes=41&nombreResultats=110&btRechercher=Rechercher

So, the question is : Is there any significance for this representation of Helena ?
ROMA CAPVT MVNDI REGIT ORBIS FRENA ROTVNDI

Offline Victor

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4100
  • Country: us
  • all my best friends are dead Romans
    • Victor's Imperial Coins
Re: Eyes to Heaven ?
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2017, 02:22:19 PM »
I think that it was probably just the engraver's decision to portray the bust this way. I have seen many Constantinian coins with the "eyes to heavens" that I think were just artistic license by the engraver. Below is an example of a Constantinopolis. I have also seen VRBS ROMA with the head tilted.