Jupiter The Latin sky-god Iuppiter was the god of light and all celestial phenomena, in particular rain and lightning. He was worshipped throughout Italy and over time, as a warrior-god, he also became the protector of Rome. A temple was consecrated for Iuppiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline (509 BC) where he reigned as the most powerful Roman deity, together with the Roman goddesses Juno and Minerva. Assimilation between the Greek god Zeus and Roman Iuppiter occurred early during the Republican era. On Roman coins he is usually depicted bearded; standing; seated on an ivory throne; with his attendant eagle; nude or semi-nude; holding a thunderbolt and sceptre, or sometimes a small figure of Victory.

The bearded and laureate head of Jupiter (top left) appears most frequently as an obverse type on victoriati during the early Republic. This type is continued on denarii and quinarii throughout the first century BC, and depicts somewhat sterner, perhaps more powerful features of Jupiter, as shown by this quinarius (below left) of Cornelius Lentulus. On denarii the image of Jupiter as charioteer-god is often used as a reverse type, depicting him driving a quadriga and hurling a thunderbolt. Reverse types in honour of this supreme deity also include depictions of the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. In 78 BC, for instance, the moneyer M. Volteius struck a series of denarii that refer to five major Roman religious festivals. Some of these coins portray a tetra-style temple of Jupiter Capitolinus on the reverse (top left). These denarii refer to the Ludi Romani, annual games held in honour of Jupiter. During the Empire, coin depictions of this powerful deity as an imperial protector became increasingly popular with emperors who needed to maintain and emphasise their military power. The reverse of a denarius of Otho (69 AD) portrays Jupiter enthroned, holding a thunderbolt and a sceptre (below right).

In the late third century AD military pressure escalated. Reverse depictions and legends represented Jupiter as dominant saviour of the Augusti (IOVI CONSERVATOR) and other imperial claimants. This coin type (shown in the two examples below) remained popular with the successors of both Constantine the Great and Licinius I. Jupiter is usually shown standing; wearing a chlamys; holding a sceptre and small figure of a crowning Victory on a globe. Variations, for instance, the coinage of Licinius II, show a cluttered image of Jupiter standing between an eagle with a wreath in its beak and a captive at his feet; also carrying a staff with another eagle on top in one hand, while holding a globe and a crowning Victory.