Obverse: Laureate head of Janus, M·FOVRI·L·F around. Border of dots.
Reverse: Roma victrix standing left wearing Corinthian helmet and holding sceptre, crowning a trophy of arms flanked by carynx and shield on each side, above her head a [star]. To right, ROMA and in exergue, P͡H͡ILI.
The coin celebrates the victory of Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus over the Allobroges and Arverni in southern Gaul during 121 and 120 BCE. Both were awarded triumphs for these feats and Fabius was given the agnomen Allobrogicus. The reverse has a clear military nature and shows Roman victrix (victorious) crowning a military trophy surrounded by shields, armor, and gallic war horns (carynx). On the obverse, Yarrow sees the two-faced god Janus as representing both generals.
While these decisive actions were occurring in Gaul, Fabius’ consular colleague Lucius Opimius was fomenting political violence in Rome. His murder of Gaius Gracchus, under the cover of a senatus consultum ultimum, established the norm for the mob violence and disorder that characterized political life in the Republic during its final century.
Details
- Date Minted:
- 118* BCE
- Mint:
- Rome
- Obverse:
- Laureate head of Janus, M·FOVRI·L·F around. Border of dots.
- Reverse:
- Roma victrix standing left wearing Corinthian helmet and holding sceptre, crowning a trophy of arms flanked by carynx and shield on each side, above her head a [star]. To right, ROMA and in exergue, P͡H͡ILI.
- Denomination:
- Denarius
- Metal:
- Silver
- Weight:
- 3.78g
- Diameter:
- 20mm
- Grade:
- VF
- Reference:
- Crawford 281/1; BMCRR Italy 555; RBW 1105
- Provenance: