The star and crescent symbols have a long history in art, astronomy,
astrology, and numismatics. On coins of the Roman era, the depiction
of these symbols would seem to indicate celestial arrangements of
the planets. There are never more than seven stars depicted, which
would account for all of the "roaming" objects in the heavens (Sun,
Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars. Jupiter, and Saturn). Almost all of the
appearances of the star/cresent motif occurred during the reigns of
Hadrian, Commodus, Septimus Severus, Caracalla, Geta, and Percennius
Niger. The Severan dynasty was particularly taken (obsessed) by
astrology. The provincial coins of Septimus Severus seem to be
centered at Nikopolis. Interestingly, all 5 of the visible planets
were aligned in the night sky just recently. Furthermore, the
grouping of these coins in the latter part of the 2nd century may
have significance. Computer models have suggested that two eclipses,
one annular the other total, occurred in the northern hemisphere in
186 CE. This would place it in the reign of Commodus. Two eclipses
in the same year (July 4, and Dec. 28) would have been exceedingly
rare and noteworthy especially with the Annular eclipse occurring
almost at the new year (the July 4, eclipse was total). All of the
emperors mentioned above ruled within 19 years of each other.
Whether the purpose of the crescent/star motif is related to
eclipses (in which planets become visible by day), lunar or
planetary conjunctions of the Plaeidies (7 sisters) and/or other
planets, or simple repesentation of Roman cosmology may never be
known for sure. The coin with Zeus on the obverse and a leaping ram
on the reverse represents a planetary conjunction in the
constellation Aries. According to Michael Molnar, the now famous
"Star of Bethlehem" coin supposedly depicts Jupiter's occultation of
Aries twice in April 6, BCE. A later coin from Antioch with a
similar theme - Tyche on obverse with Venus(?) occulting the moon in
Aries. Another famous depiction of a planetary conjunction is Julian
II's two stars in Tarus reverse. Celestial objects depicted on coins
makes for a very interesting focus for collecting.
The last two coins are from the Middle East. The Parthian coin of
Orodes II depicts two stars and the crescent moon. Other coins of
his have one star with the crescent while others do not have the
crescent. The final coin is from the Artuqid dynasty and dates from
the 12th century. The two figures on the obverse represent the Sun
and Mercury. Other Artuqid coins have personifications of different
combinations of planets and/or the sun. For more information on
Astronomical representations on coins visit my site and
Marshall Faintich's site on
Symbolic Messengers.
