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.
Price realized | 110 CHF |
Starting price | 75 CHF |