Sol Invictus: The Roman Sun God and his Coins

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

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[@GordonGrant-o1h]

Thanks Leo, marvelous video.

[@theconqueringram5295]

This brings back memories when I was in middle school and I saw a documentary about Emperor Aurelian. When two regions of the empire attempted to break away, it was Aurelian who had to reincorporate them. In order to do this, he devoted his religious activities to the worship of Sol Invictus.

[@ElliotCarson]

Ave Aurelianus Augustus!

[@SouthSideFrankie]

The Aurelian coin is fabulous. I am now on the look out for one of these! A very interesting era for monetary reform also.

[@YaMumsSpecialFriend]

Babe! Wake up, it’s classical numismatics…oh, that’s right, I’m single, damn it. Well, I’m awake anyway and very glad to see a new upload, mate. Love your work. You got me very interested in classical numismatics a couple of years ago when I came across your channel, though I don’t own a single coin as yet, let alone a nice collection..one day I will, one day! 🪙👌🏻

[@theeccentrictripper3863]

No time like the present, go get yourself a little bronze of your favorite emperor and snowball it from there! I am by no means a man of means but I have a small halfway decent little collection; assuming you don't have a drinking problem or debt it's a very affordable hobby, especially if you limit yourself to base metal coins.

[@NYCNAP]

I have a Probus with Sol. The chariot seems to want to ride right out of the coin's light green patina. I love it

[@fificrossnails]

Very informative as usual! I’ve only been collecting Roman coins for a few months, but have always been fascinated by the Romans, Ancient Greeks, Egyptians etc, and your channel has helped me gain so much knowledge. I only have 50 or so coins so far (mainly Denarii), but hope to purchase more very soon.

[@allanwestphall8108]

Excellent talk, I also have that Probus of Sol with hooded coming towards us. I consider it one of the coolest designs and it's one of my favorite, though it was a cheap coin!

[@donklaser217]

I have several Sol reverse coins, including the Probus you featured. Thanks for another great video!

[@caracallaavg]

Love the video! I have a similar Aurelian's antoninianus with Sol and captives

[@christopherevans2445]

Thank You Leo for doing this video. As I hope you might remember I have been asking and Hoping for this Video and you nailed it!. All of the Gods deserve a vid when it comes to ancient coins, but for me Sol/Helios has always had a special personal feeling to me and has showed up in my collection a good bit under many names as Sol, Sol Invictus, Helios, Shamash. It's so easy to see how they would think of it as a god, and put a persona to worship. As many wonder still today about a higher power, its easy to see our Sun is as close to a God as we have seen with our own eyes with its massive power and energy. Sol ride that Quadriga across our sky's every day!!!

[@delavalmilker]

As someone who is interested in Roman history, I really enjoy your videos. Not so much as wanting to collect Roman coins, but the history behind the the coins is fascinating. Have you ever considered publishing a book on the subject? Maybe with an angle on the use of money in the Roman Empire? I've been trying to find a good book on Roman coins and their context within Roman history. But haven't been able to find any. Most of the books on Roman coins are concerned with prices, etc.

[@colbystearns5238]

I have this really cool antoninianus from Aurelian with Sol standing over captives in chains on the back (much like the one you show at 0:34) which is one of my favorite reverses on any coin that I own. It's a fascinating link between the Classical polytheism of Antiquity and the Christian monotheism of the Middle Ages.

[@CharlesDogworth]

Wonderful video sir! Absolutely important insight that has been forgotten. Thank you for this video! Gives me hope for a new age of enlightenment which inevitably yields a Renaissance of ideology! Very important work you are doing sir!

[@neptunesmarsh]

Even when Sol is not directly portrayed on a coin, his crown graces the portraits of deified emperors; all posthumous portraits of Augustus show him wearing the radiate crown. Apparently, the crown itself symbolizes eternal being, and I would imagine is similar to the nimbus cruciger around the head of Christ.

[@avesorath]

Hail Sol Invictus. Sorath 💥

[@Dataism]

Sol invictus, the Unconquered Sun! the most underrated god.

[@christopherevans2445]

Ohh Yes. Who do you know who has More power that you have seen with your own eyes. Or at least from there point a view I mean.Theres nothing wrong with honoring the Sun and honoring the "Son" as God creats all ....

[@Ivlianvs105]

I have a nummus of Constantine the Great with the god Sol.

[@DarthStacker]

Awesome video! Very informative. I love your channel.

[@Bluelobster36.5]

Sol is my favorite god i also have a gallianus coin with sol Invictus on it

[@christopherevans2445]

Glad you're in the club.

[@NMMD1531]

Love your videos, always learn something new. Consider Sol Invictus worship to be the result of the losing faith in the divine worship of the emperor. All the bad emperors of the third century crisis created this public perception. Please consider the stars and crescents on Roman coins to be representative of Solar Eclipses. Solar darkening events are central to the fears of ancient societies. Great leaders emerged from solar eclipse events and were perceived to have been sent from the gods as a way to deal with the omen. Solar Eclipses at birth, major life event(war, conquest, founding cities), and death all coincided with great leaders. Alexander The Great’s life followed this pattern. The early Roman emperors followed this pattern, follow the stars and crescents on their coins and you will see it plainly. Jesus Christ was likely born around two solar eclipses, baptized and started His ministry at the AD 29 solar eclipse and died at the great solar darkening event of the crucifixion. Romulus and Remus were conceived at a solar eclipse, founded Rome during a solar eclipse and Romulus disappeared at a solar eclipse according to mythology.

[@christopherevans2445]

Very well put.

[@はやし-y8n]

参考になります

[@Anamericanhomestead]

Something I noticed: the US is currently and historically the only silver and gold coin producer to rarely put a goddess (Libertas) on the obverse of a coin. Most all throughout history put gods/goddesses on the reverse. Don't you find this odd?

[@colbystearns5238]

I think it's because the US is a republic and since it would be more appropriate to place a manifestation of Liberty on the obverse of its silver and gold coins than any temporal leader while they're still alive (every president on our coins died before having their image placed on them), just like the Roman Republic used to do on their coins.

[@neptunesmarsh]

Not at all. Let us not forget, the Greek city-states portrayed their patron (or matron) deities on the obverse, w/ Athens being the most famous of them. The portraits of various Roman deities were seen on the obverse of Roman Republican coins. The Eastern Roman emperors portrayed Christ on the obverse of their gold coins, following the end of the Iconoclasm.

[@colbystearns5238]

American Gold and Silver Eagles actually do have the goddess Liberty on the obverse.

[@isabelcrb]

Praise the Sun!

[@LongLivedCoins]

👍

[@lukec1146]

Great video! I think I have a coin with Sol but a couple of oddities. It may be from Vicorinus who's reign ended a couple of years before the 274 promotion of Sol. The figure on the reverse is a youth who seems to have fire under him and fire from his head. One arm is raised and one seems to hold an orb. The strange thing is that he seems to have an erect penis. Do you know any other examples of this? It's bronze.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Sol was a very important deity for soldiers, therefore, any other types of "manly" visual attributes were commonly given to the Sun-god. A phalus was definitely amongst one of them

[@listentomerantaboutuseless34]

I like your content a lot but I am personally not a fan of AI images as B-roll. There's almost certainly more relevant historical images to use, than what was shown around 2:15

[@petar.dj98]

I think you misspeled Invictus in the title

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thank you for the heads up! Corrected :)

[@jonathannwonye2754]

Emerald Gold and silver

[@EduardoGarcia-u7l]

They still do. It iswhy "Nativity" is the 24th. Cesar=Pope, Senate = Convlave😉😉