My latest coin is a denarius of P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus, struck 42 A.D. at the Rome mint. This year saw many interesting and beautiful issues, both from the moneyers in Rome as well as the Imperators and Triumvirs in the field. In Rome, the moneyers minted coins in the names of the Triumvirs and the deified Julius Caesar, but also struck coins with more traditional types with deities and other symbols, and the coin I'm sharing today is one of these. Aside from his Triumvir and Caesar issues, the moneyer P Clodius M.f. Turrinus minted a type with an obverse bust of Apollo and a reverse featuring Diana Lucifera, which I'm sharing today, and a type with an obverse bust of Sol with a crescent and stars on the reverse. Apollo, like Sol, is associated with the Sun and light. Diana Lucifera is also associated with light, but as opposed to sunlight, Diana is more closely associated with the moon and the Moon goddess Luna. Taken together, these devices suggest that both types refer to the Sun and the Moon. The most common interpretation of this symbolism seems to be the idea of the coming of a new age under the deified Julius Caesar, a common theme of the early Imperatorial period, and considering the changes that had come and were coming to the Roman world, quite timely. Roman Imperatorial period AR denarius(3.92g, 20mm), P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus, moneyer, 42 B.C., Rome mint. Laureate bust of Apollo right; lyre behind / Diana Lucifera standing facing with bow and quiver over shoulder, holding lighted torch in each hand; P•CLODIVS M•F• across fields. Crawford 494/23; Sydenham 1117; HCRI 184. As always, please feel free to share anything relevant.
That's a pretty example @red_spork. I have a poorer quality example: and another by the same moneyer from the same year: P CLODIUS MF TURRINUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CLAUDIUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: Radiate head of Sol right, quiver behind. REVERSE: Crescent moon and five stars, P CLODIVS M F below Rome 42BC 3.41g, 19mm Cr494/21, Syd 1115, Claudia 17
