IOVI FVLGERATORI -- to Jupiter the Thunderer
I was recently talking about this coin on another forum recently. Someone had it misdescribed as RIC 168 variation, the difference between 167 and 168 being the eagle. It seems that many of the online descriptions of RIC 167 are described as a variation of 168, including examples on Wildwinds and a previous CNG sale.
The confusion is due to an inadequate description in RIC -- "Jupiter walking l., holding thunderbolt; at foot, eagle"
The reverse of this coin shows Jupiter stepping back in the act of preparing to hurl a thunderbolt, which RIC 168 describes a bit better as “drawn back in act to throw thunderbolt r. foot†but this coin has no eagle.
Anyone that is familiar with any of the RIC volumes knows that there are errors and this is just another example; but it doesn’t mean that you should call the coin a variation of 168. It is 167, just poorly described. Besides the inaccurate description of the way Jupiter is standing, the position of the thunderbolt is not clear- is it being held low or high etc. There is also no mention of the cloak, which is fluttering behind. Also nothing about the way Jupiter is facing—head right.
Hunter has a better description cross referenced to RIC 167-- "Jupiter, naked except for cloak over l. arm, advancing l., head r., brandishing thunderbolt. At feet left., eagle standing l., head r." This description still doesn’t reflect that Jupiter is not so much advancing left, but is just drawing his foot back in preparation to hurl his thunderbolt.
So taking bits of RIC 168 and Hunter 26 descriptions and cobbling them together might make a better RIC 167 description, something like this-- “Jupiter, naked except for cloak fluttering over l. arm, r. foot drawn back in act to throw thunderbolt, which is raised up in r. hand; head r., At feet left., eagle standing l., head r.â€
The description below is the mostly accurate Hunter entry.
Diocletian
A.D. 290
22mm 4.7gm
IMP DIOCLE-TIANVS AVG; radiate and cuirassed bust right.
IOVI F-VLGERATORI; Jupiter, naked except for cloak over l. arm, advancing l., head r., brandishing thunderbolt. At feet left., eagle standing l., head right.
In ex. XXIB
RIC V Rome 167; Hunter 26
