Female Head and Crescent Symbolism on Ancient Coins

Celtic Spain minted coins in the Roman Empire to market their goods both abroad and to honor astronomical deities. The above coin is from the mint of Ulia in modern Greater Cordoba, Montemayor, Spain. Numismatists think it was minted in the mid to early Second Century BC. Here is yet another example of Pre-Imperial Roman symbolism of a solar eclipse on a coin.

The female head represents the moon. She even has pearl necklaces which have lunar representations. The crescent is solar. The moon face is visible to the human eye and is able to be interpreted by humanity as feminine. Male solar symbolism is associated with kings. To look at a king in the face is both fearful and considered disrespectful to their splendor. Many Middle Eastern kings and queens considered themselves brothers and sisters of the sun and moon, hence the star and crescent symbolism with their portraits on coins.

A solar eclipse that may be represented on this coin is found below.

We now see the agricultural products offered by this region of Spain on their money. Barley or wheat on the obverse and clusters of grapes on the reverse. We can see the roots of the vine below the place name of the Ulia mint. They may have placed opium poppy heads on the vine to advertise another commodity. Today, Spain is one of the world's largest exporters of opium. It should be noted that the combination of barley, wheat, grapes and opium poppies can produce mind altering drinks. Most pagan Mediterranean cultures interacted with their gods by drug induced visions. Their cultures promoted becoming man-gods by ascending cultural ladders of leadership.

Judeo-Christianity was the exception. One sought rational and direct communion with the Creator. To imitate the Creator's love by the example of His only Son Jesus Christ. To walk "with God" instead of trying to "become a God."

Above Photo, Apollo Numismatics