Watch List notes:

L. Papius Celsus (45 BC). AR denarius (18mm, 3.90 gm, 5h). Rome. TRIVMPVS below, laureate head of Triumphus right; behind, trophy / L. PAPIVS in exergue, CELSVS. III. VIR above, she-wolf standing right, attending to fire; to right, eagle standing left, fanning flames with wings. Crawford 472/2. Sear 83. Sydenham 965. Papia 3. Scarce, with an intriguing reverse. Light graffito in obverse field. Toned. Good Very Fine.From The Mayflower Collection.The reverse refers to a foundation myth for the city of Lanuvium, the parent city of Rome. According to legend, the hero Aeneas saw a fire burning in a nearby forest and went to investigate. As he drew closer he saw the fire was being fed by a she-wolf, who was dropping sticks into the blaze, while an eagle standing nearby fanned it with his wings. A fox kept intruding, trying to snuff out the fire by blowing on it, but was driven off by the eagle and wolf. The fox was interpreted as Carthage, trying to snuff out Rome before its flame could burn brightly, while the eagle and she-wolf, of course, are symbols of the Roman army and people respectively.

Estimate: 550.00-650.00 USD