Roman Republican Silver Denarius, Lucilius Rufus, 101 BCE
Silver
4.1 Grams
C.5375
Obverse: PV behind helmeted head of Roma right, within laurel wreat Reverse: RVF above Victory in biga right, M. LVCILI in exergu The bust of the goddess Roma, with its...
Obverse: PV behind helmeted head of Roma right, within laurel wreat
Reverse: RVF above Victory in biga right, M. LVCILI in exergu
The bust of the goddess Roma, with its winged helmet, is a popular obverse type during the Republican period. The helmet itself is reminiscent of Hellenistic and Roman helmets of the time period, categorized by scholars as the Italo-Attic type. Officers and deities are often depicted as wearing this helmet long after such a design had gone into general disuse by the military. As such, it continued to be employed as a symbol connected with deities and heroic figures of the past. The winged goddess Victory, parallel to the Greek Nike, was a common figure on coins, often seen driving a chariot, or flying above another deity who is driving. Occasionally, a diminutive Victory is held in the hand of the goddess Athena.
Crawford 324/1. RSC Lucilia 1.
Reverse: RVF above Victory in biga right, M. LVCILI in exergu
The bust of the goddess Roma, with its winged helmet, is a popular obverse type during the Republican period. The helmet itself is reminiscent of Hellenistic and Roman helmets of the time period, categorized by scholars as the Italo-Attic type. Officers and deities are often depicted as wearing this helmet long after such a design had gone into general disuse by the military. As such, it continued to be employed as a symbol connected with deities and heroic figures of the past. The winged goddess Victory, parallel to the Greek Nike, was a common figure on coins, often seen driving a chariot, or flying above another deity who is driving. Occasionally, a diminutive Victory is held in the hand of the goddess Athena.
Crawford 324/1. RSC Lucilia 1.