Meeting the gods
Now Lucius has arrived at the Porticus Minucia, where a lot of people have gathered. He stands in line, which gives him time to look at the image on the coin again. There are two figures on the coin. They must be Annona and Ceres, according to the names on either side of the image. He recognizes Annona on the left, because she is holding the cornucopia, the horn of plenty, in her hand. Annona, however, was not a deity in the true sense of the word, but the personification of the delivery of grain to the people of Rome. Such personifications for all kinds of virtues, abstract entities such as provinces, rivers or events (so called numia) were quite common among the Romans (For example, Pietas (piety), Virtus (military strength) and Felicitas (luck)).
On the right he recognizes Ceres by the torch and the ears of corn she holds. They are signs of abundance. Ceres was the deity of fields and agriculture, and a sister of Jupiter, Neptune, Juno and Pluto. She belongs to the parental part of the deity family. She is always depicted as being seated and is in that way portrayed as a sort of mother figure. This is a positive image, which promises a lot of good for the future. Lucius is calmed down again.
The inscription reads: ANNONA AUGUSTI CERES. ‘Augusti’ (genitive case) indicates the emperor’s influence, because it demonstrates who provided the Annona. Lucius is reassured that the emperor has everything under control, because he promises grain through the Annona.
The letters ‘SC’ on this coin stand for senatus consultum (decree of the senate). The decree had a significant role, especially in the republic, and formed the first stage for the enactment of new laws (leges) and statutes. In the imperial era it can be understood as a mark of guarantee of the approval from the senate. This might not have meant much to Lucius, but was important for the emperor himself. He needed to convey that his reign, and also his coinage, was still approved of by the senate. This tradition stems from the time of the Roman Republic, when the Senate was the highest body of government and the institute that ordered the production of coins. The first emperor Augustus constantly made reference to the Senate, because he needed to make it seem like he continued the Republic, to keep the old aristocracy on his side. This tradition was continued under subsequent emperors.
Speaking of the emperor… Lucius turns the coin back around, to the emperor’s portrait.