Actius under Augustus through to the recurrent types of Concordia, Salus, Pietas,
Vesta, and Genius, among others, down to the early fourth centuryad, they form
an important group of types with parallels on other media (fig. 11.23). We will return
to them later.Symbolic Motifs
As well as depicting the actual places and things of cult religion, Roman coinage
illustrated a range of more allusive symbols with a general religious content. These
usually referred to a presumed state of good fortune, peace, plenty, order, and pros-
perity, all of which were believed to flow as much from divine favor elicited by Roman
piety as from the secular success of Roman arms. This category includes symbols
such as the caduceus, cornucopia, rudder, and corn-ears, all of which appear both
as symbols in their own right, often combined with one another, and as attributes
of various appropriate divinities. In contrast to the very specific reference of the154 Jonathan WilliamsFigure 11.21 Gold aureusof Augustus, 17 bc, showing the emperor sacrificing. 21 mm.Figure 11.22 Brass sestertiusof Caligula (ad37– 41), showing the emperor pouring a
libation like a god on the obverse and sacrificing on the reverse. 35 mm.
Figure 11.23 Denariusof Augustus, 16 bc, showing Apollo Actius pouring a libation on
the reverse. 19 mm.