Looking at the reverse sides of Roman era coins presents us with an interesting, and, at times, almost bewildering array of different personifications. Learning to tell which particular deity is represented can be challenging, and yet is important to helping to develop an appreciation for the messages that the coins intended to impart to the Roman population, and the rest of the known world.

As mentioned elsewhere, coins played an important part in spreading news and/or information (propaganda, if you prefer) to a mostly illiterate population. The citizens of Rome and its provinces may not have been able to read, but a coin in hand could send a message almost as well as the written word. By placing representitive visual messages on it's coins, the Roman rulers could convey almost subliminal ideas to the populace. Such messages could serve as a warning (ie: "This really, really powerful god is on OUR side, so, like, no one better mess with us"), as a way of establishing imperial authority ("Jupiter loves the emperor, and so should you"), as a method of showing the Roman people that their government would take care of them ("Abvndantia will make sure there is enough for everyone"), or perhaps to make a statement of what the emperor wanted the people to believe they had under his rule (IVSTITA= Justice....."Look, I know we're poor serfs living in a tiny hovel in a squalid slum, and we've never held anything in our hands more valuable than a clod of dirt, but, darn it, we've got Justice!!")

Below are listed some of the more common personifications found on the reverse of Roman coins, as well as some of the attributes often portrayed with them.

Aeternitas- The personification of stability or eternity. Attributes: globe, phoenix, scepter, torch. (From an As of Titus)
Aeqvitas - Equity, equality. Attributes: Scales, cornucopiae, scepter.
Abvndantia - Abundance, plenty. Attributes: Cornucopiae, grain stalks. (Reverse from an As of Trajan denoting his program for supporting widows and children.)
Annona - The goddess of the harvest, she watched over the grain supply that the Roman empire depended on. Attributes: Grain ears, cornucopiae, modius, prow of ship.
Apollo - The Greek Sun god. Patron of the arts and prophecy Attributes: Usually appears naked. Lyre, bow and arrows.
Diana - Goddess of the hunt and patroness of of children. Attributes: crescent moon, torch, bow and arrow, hunting dog, deer. (Here shown as DIANA LVCIFERA, or "Diana, bringer of light")
Felicitas - Happiness and success. Attributes: Caduceus, scepter. Sometimes portrayed leaning on column. (From an As of Vespasian)
Fides - Faithful discharge of one's duties. Attributes: Military standards , scepter. Examples: FIDES EXERCITVS (faithfulness of the Army), FIDES PVBLICA (promise to protect the public) (From an antoninianus of Philip I)
Fortvna - Personification of luck, or fate. Attributes: Cornucopiae, olive branch, patera, rudder (often resting on a globe), wheel. (From an antoninianus of Aurelian)
Genivs - Not the "genius" as we know it now, the Roman GENIVS was a guardian spirit. Attributes: Cornucopiae, patera (from which Genivs is often pouring a libation), altar.
Hercvles - A Greek hero, also revered by the Romans. Attributes: Club, Lion's skin
Iovi - Jupiter - the Father of the gods. The Roman form of Zeus. Protector of Rome. Attributes: Thunderbolts, scepter, eagle, Victory (often on globe). (From an antoninianus of Caracalla)
Ivstita - The personification of justice. Attributes: Olive branch, patera, scepter. (From a denarius of Caracalla)
Liberalitas - Generosity. Often used to refer to a Imperial donative. Attributes: Abacus, cornucopiae. (From a denarius of Geta, announcing a donative)
Mars - The god of war, as well as the god of Spring. Attributes: Spear, shield, trophy, crested helmet. (From a denarius of Caracalla. An interesting propaganda piece: Mars, the god of war, is holding his implements of destruction behind him, and offering an olive branch. "We are offering peace, but if you're not interested.......")
Minerva - The Roman version of Athena. Attributes: Spear (often raised to strike), shield, crested helmet, owl, Victory, prow of ship.May be difficult to differentiate from Mars. Some coin descriptions read: "Mars/Minerva".
Moneta - A form of Juno, the patroness of money. Mother of the Muses. Attributes: Scales, cornucopiae
Pax- The personification of peace. Attributes: Olive branch, scepter, cornucopiae, caduceus. (From an antoninianus of Gallienus)
Pietas- The personification of devotion; to the gods, the state, the emperor, or one's duties. Attributes: Veiled, usually sacrificing over altar. (From an antoninianus of Otacilia)
Pvdicitia- Modesty, virtue or chastity. Attributes: Pulling veil from face. These types are usually found on coins of the empresses. (From an antoninianus of Otacilia)
Salvs- Goddess of health and safety. Attributes: Feeding a snake, which is usually rising from an altar or being held in her arms.
Vesta- The goddess of the public hearth. Her altar was attended by the Vestal Virgins, who made sure that her fire was kept burning all the time. The head of all the spirits that looked after each Roman household. Attributes: Patera, scepter, simplum, palladium. (From a sestertius of Julia Mamaea)