Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Bing, post: 2477510, member: 44132&quot;]This is my second coin of this type, but has a different control mark from my first,&nbsp; The Balbis were an Ancient family with quite a few famous Balbis throughout Roman history, but particularly during the imperial era.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.&nbsp; I have read that the charging bull is a punning allusion to the moneyer’s name, but my Latin is insufficient to explain why.&nbsp; Perhaps someone here is more proficient.</p><p><br /></p><p>Lanuvium is an ancient city of Latium, some 20 miles southeast of Rome, a little southwest of the Via Appia.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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&#039;s chief magistrate and municipal council kept the titles of dictator and senatus respectively.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]522466[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]522467[/ATTACH]</p><p>L. THORIUS BALBUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS THORIA</p><p>AR Denarius</p><p>OBVERSE:&nbsp; Head of Juno Sospita wearing goat-skin headdress, acronym I. S. M. R. behind.</p><p>REVERSE:&nbsp; Bull charging right, E above, L THORIVS below, BALBVS in exergue</p><p>Struck at Rome 105 BC</p><p>3.75g, 20mm</p><p>Cr 316/1, Sydenham 598, Thoria 1</p><p>Ex Holding History Sale #8, Agora Auction, Lot 108-061[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in