Checked another one off my "top 10" list - Marcus Furius L.f. Philus denarius

I have wanted one of these ever since I saw someone post one here(Steve or Bing, I think) several months ago so I was quite excited when I saw one with full legends and acceptable wear and I snapped it up pretty quickly. It was coming from Europe and sent via registered mail and being this close to Christmas I expected a lengthy delay at customs but to my surprise it arrived in less than a week after shipping.

This denarius was struck in 119 BC under the moneyer Marcus Furius Lucii filius Philus. The obverse features Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings and endings, transitions, gates, doorways and passages. His two faces look both forwards towards the future and back towards the past. This obverse design was featured prominently on the early Republican quadrigati but only appears on a few denarii. The reverse features Roma crowning a trophy, surrounded by two Gallic shields and two carnyces, the traditional Gallic war-horn. The reverse likely refers to the Roman victories over the Gallic tribes of the Allobroges and Arveni in 121 BC under Quintus Fabius Maximus and Cnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus.

AR Denarius(19mm, 3.86g). Marcus Furius Lucii filius Philus, moneyer, 119 BC, Rome mint. Laureate head of Janus;around, M·FOVRI·L·F, Border of dots. / Roma (wearing Corinthian helmet) standing left, holding sceptre in left hand and crowning trophy with right hand; above, star; behind, ROMA upwards; the trophy is surmounted by a helmet in the form of a boar's head and flanked by a carnyx and shield on each side; in exergue, (PHI)LI. Crawford 281/1, Sydenham 529, RSC Furia 18, BMCRR (Italy) 555

 

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Gorgeous addition, red_spork ... man, that coin has super everything!!

Oh, and yes I do also have a fairly sweet example ...



Hey => we're coin-bros!!

 

Janiform heads are hot right now, your like the 3rd collector in as many months to score a janiform.

 

It's a pretty cool design, easy to understand why people like it. I'm already looking to score another one actually. I have been in the market for my first Republican "as" for almost as long as I've been looking for one of these. Unfortunately Republican bronze is often in such deplorable condition that everything I've found was either overpriced or too worn for me but I'll find one one of these days.

 

That's a beautiful example red. Mine is a bit worn, but I'm happy to have it.

 

very nice one RS, dang.

 

Me, too.

 

Nice!

 

Nice coins everyone! Alas, that one is missing from my collection

 

This type is a prime example of the wonderful variation in designs that can be found on RR issues and why I love to collect them. A lot going on with this coin. Here's mine.

 

Looking at the various coins posted in this thread, it's hard not to see that the nose on the right appears more realistic than it's counterpart on the left which seems rather straight and similar to many RR issues of Roma. Just musing. Move on. Nothing to see here.

 

Wonderful posts guys!!!

 

Awesome coin Red, i've wanted one of these since i saw Steve's, which i picked one up not to log ago..

M Fourius LF 119 BC.
Ar, denarius
19mmx 3.84g.

 

Nice "Janusses" everyone, Carthago's is over the top though (as usual...)

Q

 

=> I love his coin, but I thought that "I" won that one!!

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!!



... just jokes (awesome coin, Carthago)