Details of Venus personified

Venus was the goddess of beauty and love. She is sometimes shown only partially clothed and holding an apple (the prize awarded to her by the Trojan prince Paris). On other coins she holds a helmet, a sceptre or is accompanied by a cupid.

Venus appears on coins from Republican times until the early 4th century AD and most commonly on those struck in the name of the 2nd century empresses. She is often given the titles Caelestis (‘Heavenly’), Felix (‘The Fortunate’), Genetrix (‘Mother or Ancestress of the Romans’) and Victrix (‘The Victorious’).

Attributes

• Holding an apple
• Accompanied by Cupid
• Holds helmet and sceptre

Greek counterpart

Venus can be identified with the Greek deity Aphrodite