Oberse: Helmeted head of Roma right, X below chin, PITIO behin
Reverse: Dioscuri mounted right, carrying lances, L. SEMP below horses (M and P in ligature), ROMA 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 Dioscuri, depicted on the reverse of this coin, are familiar due to their attendant iconography, each wearing a conical hat crowned by a single star. The Dioscuri were mythological sons of Zeus by the Spartan queen Leda and, in addition to being revered as demigods by the Greeks, they also were attended by the Romans at an early date and associated with Roman military victory. It was believed by the Romans that after a victory early on in their history, the two deities appeared in the forum to announce that victory to the Romans. Also, the two were reported to have even assisted the Romans in said battle.
Crawford 216/1. RSC Sempronia 2.