Nomos AG
obolos 18 21 Feb 2021
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Lucius Caesius, 112-111 BC. Denarius (Silver, 20.5 mm, 3.78 g, 1 h), Rome. Bust of Apollo seen from behind to left, wearing a taenia and with a cloak over his left shoulder, hurling a thunderbolt with his right hand; to right, monogram of AP. Rev. L · CÆSI The Lares Praestites seated facing, turned slightly to right, each on a stool and each holding a long staff; between them, dog standing right; to left and right, monograms of LA and PRE; above, between them, bust of Vulcan to left, wearing his cap and with tongs behind him to right. Babelon (Caesia) 1. Crawford 298/1. Sydenham 564. Slight roughness on reverse, otherwise, nearly very fine.
From the Trausnitz Collection, ex Jacquier FPL 17, Autumn 1995, 246.
There has been a great deal of debate about who appears on the obverse of this coin: it has been thought of as Veiovis, but if Crawford is right as reading the monogram as AP, it can only be Apollo assimilated with Jupiter. (Interesting idea but why on earth should Apollo be assimilated with Jupiter? Does one think he just happened to want to throw around a thunderbolt? And why does he also wear a taenia and not a laurel wreath? Just because the identification of this bust as Veiovis is an old one - in the BM with the monogram standing for ROMA; Babelon calls him Apollo Veiovis; Crawford calls him Apollo but his explanation of the monogram as standing for Apollo is extremely unconvincing - why not keep it?). As for the Lares Praestites, they were spirits who initially protected the city of Rome, and then assumed a protective function over the state as well. Vulcan probably appears here in his function as the patron of the metal workers who produced this coin.
From the Trausnitz Collection, ex Jacquier FPL 17, Autumn 1995, 246.
There has been a great deal of debate about who appears on the obverse of this coin: it has been thought of as Veiovis, but if Crawford is right as reading the monogram as AP, it can only be Apollo assimilated with Jupiter. (Interesting idea but why on earth should Apollo be assimilated with Jupiter? Does one think he just happened to want to throw around a thunderbolt? And why does he also wear a taenia and not a laurel wreath? Just because the identification of this bust as Veiovis is an old one - in the BM with the monogram standing for ROMA; Babelon calls him Apollo Veiovis; Crawford calls him Apollo but his explanation of the monogram as standing for Apollo is extremely unconvincing - why not keep it?). As for the Lares Praestites, they were spirits who initially protected the city of Rome, and then assumed a protective function over the state as well. Vulcan probably appears here in his function as the patron of the metal workers who produced this coin.