Owner Comments:
Little is known regarding the life and reign of Magnia Urbica. Based on numismatic evidence – coinage inscriptions and designs – she wedded Roman Emperor Carinus. Although it has long since fallen out of favor, an older theory put forth Emperor Carus as Magnia Urbica's husband. Either way, we know that Magnia Urbica was bestowed the title of Augusta circa 283-285 AD.
The obverse of this particular aurelianianus features the draped bust of the Empress atop a crescent. This depiction nicely complements the Emperor's radiate Crown as featured on contemporaneous coins of Rome's Augusti. On this coin's obverse, the identity of featured Empress is inscribed MAGN VRBICA AVG, confirming Magnia Urbica’s status of Augusta.
The reverse features the figure and inscription of VENVS VICTRIX. This victorious version of the goddess Venus was worshiped in Rome from at least Sulla’s time, and her followers surged during Julius Caesar’s civil war that ultimately saw the Republic transform into an Empire. On this coin's reverse, in exergue below Venus there are three letters: K A ς. The first two of these letters denote in Greek the denominations 20 and 1, respectively (equivalent to the Roman XXI), in accordance with a numismatic convention introduced a few decades earlier by Aurelian that the metal should be comprised of 20:1 copper:silver, i.e., ~5% silver. The last letter in the three letter sequence probably refers to the specific officina that produced the coin.
Magnia Urbica's numismatic run came to an end, presumably abruptly, in 285 AD when her husband Carinus was murdered by his own treacherous troops. Notably, the next Emperor, Diocletian, subjected Carinus to
damnatio memoriae, i.e., the erasure of his very memory. As a result, Magnia Urbica's coins are relatively rare, although enough have survived to witness the ephemeral Empress' history.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Magnia Urbica (Augusta, 283-285 AD), BI Aurelianianus (3.62g, 21 mm), Rome, NGC Grade: MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5, Obverse: Draped bust right, wearing stephane and set upon crescent, MAGN VRBICA AVG, Reverse: Victorious Venus standing left, holding helmet and scepter, shield to left, VENVS VICTRIX / KAς, Reference: RIC 343.
Image: Sony ɑ 7R Ⅴ camera / Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS lens.