CONSECRATION, among medalists, is the ceremony of the apotheosis of an emperor, or his translation into heaven and reception among the gods. Upon medals the consecration is thus represented: On one side is the emperor's head, crowned with laurel, sometimes veiled, while 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; whilst, at other times, the emperor is seen in the air, borne up by the eagle, the inscription being always consecratio. These are the usual symbols; yet on the reverse of that of Antoninus is the Antonine column. In the apotheosis of empresses, instead of an eagle there is a peacock. The honours rendered to these princes after death were explained by the words consecratio, pater, divus, and deus. Sometimes around the temple or altar are put the words memoria felix, or memoria æterna, and for princesses, æternitas et sideribus recepta; whilst on the one side of the head is dea, or Sua.