Friday is Venus day. Post yours

[expat]

The word for Friday in most Romance languages is derived from Latin dies Veneris or "day of Venus" (a translation of Greek Aphrodī́tēs hēméra, Ἀφροδίτης Ἡμέρα), such as vendredi in French, venres in Galician, divendres in Catalan, vennari in Corsican, venerdì in Italian, vineri in Romanian, and viernes in Spanish.

Julia Domna AR Denarius. Rome, 215-7 AD. 19.8mm, 3.12gr.
IVLIA PIA FELIX AVG, draped bust right / VENVS GENETRIX, Venus seated left, holding sceptre and apple, Cupid standing right, legs crossed, resting his right hand on her right knee. RIC IV-1 389b.  Rome mint. RSC 205; Sear 7099.

[shanxi]

Domitia

Domitia
Ionia, Ephesus
Cistophorus (AD 82-96).
Obv.: DOMITIA AVGVSTA, Draped bust right.
Rev.: VENVS AVG, Venus standing right, back facing, leaning upon column to left, holding helmet and sceptre.
Ag, 10.39g, 26mm
Ref.: RIC² 847 (Domitian); RPC II 870.

 

 

Faustina II

Faustina Minor
AR-Denarius
Augusta AD 146 - winter 175/176
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, waved hair knotted behind
Rev.: VENVS GENETRIX, Venus standing left, holding Victory and leaning on figured shield with Dioscuri, helmet below shield
Ag, 3.39g. 18.8mm
Ref.: RIC III 734, RSC 280a, CRE 227 [S]

[Roman Collector]

Here is a rather recent acquisition that I haven't posted before. Its usual variety has a stephaned portrait. This one has a bare-headed portrait. This was one of three reverse types issued to commemorate the birth of Domitia Faustina to Faustina the Younger on 30 November 147 CE.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 21.26 gm, 29.3 mm, 11 h.
Rome, December 147 – early 148 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann Type 1 hairstyle).
Rev: VENERI GENETRICI SC, Venus Genetrix standing left, holding apple and child in swaddling clothes.
Refs: RIC 1386(a); BMCRE 2146n.; Cohen 237; Strack 1306; RCV –; Banti 128.
Note: Scarce with bare-headed bust. 

[Al Kowsky]

The sexiest depiction of Venus that I recall seeing is in this famous painting Venus of Urbino, by Titian, 1538. 😍

 

[Anaximander]

To continue @expat's concept: Friday in English also has a tenuous connection to Venus. Old English it's frīġedæġ, or "day of Frigg", associating the Nordic goddess Frigg -wife of Odin- with the Roman Venus. In Old Norse it's Frjádagr. It's Freitag in German, Fredag in Danish, and vrijdag in Dutch. 

When I think of Venus, I think of Roman empresses, and when I think of empresses, I think of the Severan dynasty. So many Julias! 

    

Roman Empire. Julia Soaemias, mother of Elagabalus. 218-222 AD. AR Denarius (2.74 gm, 19.1mm, 7h) of Rome, 220-222 AD. Draped bust right, IULIA SOAEMIAS AVG.  / Venus diademed and standing, facing, head left, holding apple and sceptre. Star in right field. VENVS CAELESTIS. gVF. Pegasi Numismatics Auction 22 #525.  RIC IV.2 #241 (Elagabalus); BMCRE 45; RSC III #8 (same obv die); SRCV II #7719 var (star to right, as #7717); M.Thirion 384.

    

Roman Empire. Julia Paula. First wife of Elagabalus. 219-220 AD. AR Denarius (3.51 gm, 20.4mm, 1h) of Rome, 219 AD. Draped bust right, IULIA PAVLA AVG.   / Venus enthroned left, holding apple and sceptre. VENVS GENETRIX. gVF. Light iridescence. RIC IV.2 #222 (Elagabalus, Rome) and note (Antioch); BMC 177 (same). RSC III #21, SRCV II #7658; M.Thirion 468.

[jdmKY]

Several from the Imperatorial Period

[Edessa]

Roman Republic. L. Memmius Galeria. 106 BC. AR Serrate Denarius (18mm, 3.62g, 1h). Rome mint. Obv: Laureate head of Saturn left; harpa and ROMA to right. Rev: Venus driving biga right, holding scepter and reins; above, Cupid flying left, holding wreath; V • below horses. Ref: Crawford 313/1c; Sydenham 574a; Memmia 2.