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. 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 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
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.
I'm not at all proficient, but Google Translate occasionally helps-- not sure it helped this time though 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?
Yeah, I saw that, but I wasn't sure how it applied. Your explanation is as good or better than I have. Thanks
Hmmmm... bal-bust-errr..... ??? One of my FAVORITE denarius 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
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:
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
@Mikey Zee Yes, I feel much better about this purchase. I may eventually add another one to my collection.
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. 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.
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.
cool coin and write up bing! this one is another coin that has been on my list for over two years now!
Nice. Could we do the whole alphabet ? Here's my "L" 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