Juno, the ancient Roman goddess, holds a prominent place in mythology and religion. She’s often depicted as the queen of the gods, the wife and sister of Jupiter, and the mother of Mars and Vulcan. With her deep connection to marriage, fertility, and women, Juno symbolizes the ideal Roman matron and protector of the Roman state.

Her influence extends beyond the domestic sphere. She’s associated with the heavens, possessing the power to grant or withhold fertility and abundance. As the patroness of childbirth, she presides over all aspects of women’s lives, from conception to labour and beyond. Juno’s significance is not confined to personal matters alone. She is also a guardian of the Roman state, overseeing matters of governance, law, and justice. Her sacred animal, the peacock, serves as a symbol of her regality and sovereignty.

Temples dedicated to Juno were built throughout the Roman Empire, and her festival, the Matronalia, was celebrated annually in March, emphasizing the importance of women’s roles in society. Hera is the Greek counterpart of Juno, also associated with marriage, women, and childbirth, and the wife of the supreme god, in this case, Zeus. In Greek mythology, Hera is often portrayed as a jealous and vengeful goddess, whereas Juno in Roman mythology is depicted as a more regal and dignified deity.

Juno is the fourth issue in the ‘Roman Gods’ series by the Mint of Gdańsk. There was a hiatus between the second and third issues, in which the Polish producer took the opportunity to significantly enhance the design of the coins. The third coin, ‘Mars’, was a significantly more impressive coin than the earlier ‘Jupiter’ and ‘Bellona’ coins. Thankfully, that jump in quality is maintained for this release.

The goddess is depicted in a regal, elegant pose, on a throne, which appears in the clouds of Olympus. She is joined by her signature bird, the peacock, while another associated avian, the goose, is shown flying in formation in the background. A great looking coin, in our opinion, and the detail in areas like the peacock and her robe, is quite sublime.

The obverse design continues the common layout to the series, but that’s great, because it was always an attractive one, and the customisation each time is beautifully done. This time we have the Temple of Juno Moneta at the bottom, which is particularly apt, as it was the location of the Roman mint, where gold coins were struck. The patterning is heavily floral and more feminine than, for example, the Mars coin. It comes boxed with a COA, and is available to order now. A terrific release.

Despite a debut some two years later than the Roman Gods series above, the more regular release schedule means we’re now getting a fifth issue of the Mint of Poland’s ‘Goddesses’ range. The theme here is to compare the Greek goddesses with their later Roman equivalents, and as the differences in mythological appearance were never massive, they don’t vary much here either.

This is the first of the five issues not to depict the goddesses back-to-back, here shown side-by-side instead. A small point, but not a welcome one for me. We’re being petty, however, as this is another fine looking coin, and many of the elements of the Gdańsk coin reappear here. There’s a peacock in the foreground, along with a peacock feather display behind the women, and to each side. The shield, and the staff they hold, are highlighted with gilding to great effect.

The obverse is common to the series, and while enjoying some custom adornment, it doesn’t reach the high standard set by the other coin. Again, this comes boxed with a COA, is two ounces in weight, and has a mintage capped at 500 pieces. Personally, I think the Mint of Gdańsk issue has a slight edge overall, but conversely, the Mint of Poland series is more consistently high in quality. Whatever you choose, you’ll be getting a fine piece of numismatic art. This one is also available to order now.