L. Thorius Balbus - A Punning Allusion

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Bing, Jul 25, 2016.

  1. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    This is my second coin of this type, but has a different control mark from my first, The Balbis were an Ancient family with quite a few famous Balbis throughout Roman history, but particularly during the imperial era.

    This moneyer was from Lanuvium, where there was a cult of Juno Sospita. Cicero describes him as a man who lived in such a manner that there was no pleasure, no matter how rare, that he did not enjoy. I have read that the charging bull is a punning allusion to the moneyer’s name, but my Latin is insufficient to explain why. Perhaps someone here is more proficient.

    Lanuvium is an ancient city of Latium, some 20 miles southeast of Rome, a little southwest of the Via Appia.

    According to legend, it was founded by Diomedes, or by one Lanoios, an exile from Troy. The first documented traces of the settlement date from the 9th century BC and by the 6th century BC it was part of the Latin League.

    The city warred against Rome at the battles of Aricia (504 BC) and Lake Regillus (496 BC), as well as in 383 and 341 BC, mostly with negative outcomes. Rome conquered Lanuvium in 338 BC; at first its denizens did not enjoy the right of Roman citizenship, but acquired it later. In imperial times the city's chief magistrate and municipal council kept the titles of dictator and senatus respectively.
    th (1).jpg

    This coin was minted in honor of L. Thorius Balbus. On the front is the head of Juno Sospita, a god whose worship was of great antiquity in Lanuvium as a protectress of women, particularly in pregnancy, and the letters I.S.M.R. On the reverse is L.THORIVS BAABVS with a bull rushing forward.

    L. THORIUS BALBUS 2.jpg
    L. THORIUS BALBUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS THORIA
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: Head of Juno Sospita wearing goat-skin headdress, acronym I. S. M. R. behind.
    REVERSE: Bull charging right, E above, L THORIVS below, BALBVS in exergue
    Struck at Rome 105 BC
    3.75g, 20mm
    Cr 316/1, Sydenham 598, Thoria 1
    Ex Holding History Sale #8, Agora Auction, Lot 108-061
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2016
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  3. red_spork

    red_spork Triumvir monetalis

    Very nice, Bing! Not a type I own(yet) but one I hope to add at some point. I assume the allusion comes from the Thorius being similar to the Latin taurus or bull.
     
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  4. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    I'm not at all proficient, but Google Translate occasionally helps-- not sure it helped this time though :D

    When asking for Latin-to-English translation of "balbus", it gave adjectives of stuttering, fumbling, or stammering. Hmm. A raging bull does sort of stutter as it twists turns, and randomly wreaks havoc. Perhaps that's the implication?
     
  5. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Yeah, I saw that, but I wasn't sure how it applied. Your explanation is as good or better than I have. Thanks
     
  6. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Hmmmm... bal-bust-errr..... ???

    One of my FAVORITE denarius
    upload_2016-7-25_19-16-54.png
    RR L Thorius Balbus 105 BCE AR Denarius Juno Sospita goat skin Bull charging Sear 192 Craw 316/1

    Also, another of the Balbus persuasion...
    RR Naevius Balbus 79 BCE AR Den Venus SC TRIGA Sulla S 309 Cr 382-1 Obv-Rev.jpg
    RR Naevius Balbus 79 BCE AR Den Venus SC TRIGA Sulla S 309 Cr 382-1
     
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  7. Mikey Zee

    Mikey Zee Delenda Est Carthago

    Cool addition Bing!!

    Like @red_spork, I always understood the THORIUS name to be a pun on the later Spanish 'TORO' or bull.....

    Wonderful posts everyone!!

    I wonder if @Sallent feels better about his purchase of JUNO SOSPITA now LOL

    My example:
    rr balbus denarius juno bull.jpg
     
  8. stevex6

    stevex6 Random Mayhem

    Sweet new Balbus addition, Big Bro ... congrats on another cool AR RR

    Ummm, I have a couple of neat examples as well ... I have the "A" type


    L Thorius a.jpg L Thorius b.jpg L Thorius c.jpg L Thorius d.jpg
     
  9. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    My other example: L. THORIUS BALBUS.jpg
     
  10. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    @Mikey Zee Yes, I feel much better about this purchase. I may eventually add another one to my collection.

    L Thorius Balbus.jpg
     
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  11. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    Nice write up. I think it almost looks like a Barbie. Good choice.
     
    Bing likes this.
  12. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Nice writeup and coin, Bing. I don't have one of these to share (on The List), but will contribute this one which with your Thorius Balbus neatly bookends the appearance of Juno Sospita on Roman coins - yours is the first, mine is the last.

    image.png
    COMMODUS
    AR Denarius
    3.33g, 18mm
    Rome mint, Autumn - Dec AD 177
    RIC (Marcus Aurelius) 646; Cohen 270
    O: L AVREL COMMODVS AVG GERM SARM, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    R: IVNONI SISPITAE TR P II IMP II COS P P, Juno Sospita, advancing right, brandishing javelin in right hand and holding shield in left; in front, snake.
     
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  13. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Nice @zumbly, very nice indeed. Just another for me keep a lookout for. I guess I'll never have 'em all, but I can try.
     
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  14. Magnus Maximus

    Magnus Maximus Dulce et Decorum est....

    .
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2016
  15. Carthago

    Carthago Does this look infected to you?

    This is what Crawford states. Here's mine, ex. Nicolas

    L Thorius Balbus 316-1 NAC 2015.jpg
     
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  16. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    cool coin and write up bing!
    this one is another coin that has been on my list for over two years now!
     
  17. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Nice! I gots none to share though :/
     
  18. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Nice. Could we do the whole alphabet ?
    Here's my "L"

    [​IMG]
    L. Thorius Balbus, Denarius Rome mint, 105 BC
    Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing a goat's skin, ISMR behind
    Bull charging right, L above (control letter), L. THORIVS BALBVS in two lines at exergue
    3.93 gr
    Ref : RCV # 192, RSC, Thoria # 1

    Q
     
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  19. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    So far A, E, F, G, L and T
     
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  20. Dirk D

    Dirk D Active Member

    062a.JPG 063a.JPG
    "K" (sorry for the out of focus, still learning to handle my smartphone).
     
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  21. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    Here is a V
    Nice write up Bing. What does the letter above mean?
    upload_2023-12-23_10-49-51.jpeg
    upload_2023-12-23_10-50-5.jpeg
     
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