CONSECRATION, among medalists, is the ceremony
of the apotheosis of an emperor, or his translation into
heaven and reception among the gods. On medals the
consecration is thus represented: on one side is the em-
peror's head, crowned with laurel, sometimes veiled;
and the inscription gives him the title of divus: on
the reverse is a temple, a bustum, an altar, or an eagle
taking its flight towards heaven, either from off the
altar, or from a cippus: at other times the em-
peror is seen in the air, borne up by the eagle; the in-
scription always, consecratio. These are the usual sym-
bols: yet on the reverse of that of Antoninus is the
Antonine column. In the apotheosis of empresses, in-
stead of an eagle there is a peacock. As to the ho-
nours rendered these princes after death, they were ex-
plained by the words consecratio, pater, divus, and deus.
Sometimes around the temple or altar are put, memoria
felix, or memoria æternæ: for princesses, æternitas
and sideribus recepta: on the one side of the head,
dea, or Om.