Roman Republican Silver Denarius Pendant

$372.79

A Roman Republican silver denarius pendant featuring a denarius coin set in a modern silver frame, with a loop attached at the top for suspension. The frame displays a London hallmark, hand crafted by a Hatton garden jeweller. The front of the pendant features the coin’s reverse, which displays the Roman god Jupiter seen facing left as he rides a quadriga. He stands in a triumphant position, as he holds the reins and a thunderbolt in his left hand. The field is further filled with a scorpion beneath the horses’ forelegs, the inscriptions C HVPSAE AED CVR above the central image and [C] HVPSAE CO[S] [PREIVER] in exergue. The back of the pendant sees the coin’s obverse, which depicts the Nabataean king Aretas. He is shown kneeling in front of a standing camel, holding the reins and an olive branch. The original inscription [M] SCAVR AED CVR is still visible above the animal. The front field would have also been filled by the letters [EX SC] to the sides, and [REX ARETAS] in exergue, though they have now been smoothen out due to wear.

Date: Circa 58 BC
Condition: Fine condition.

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SKU: MG-312 Category: Tags: , ,

Contrarily from Greece and Asia Minor, where currency circulated since the 7th century BC, coins started to be used in Rome relatively late. During the Second Punic War, a system of bronze, silver and gold coins was created, with the silver denarius being the most common denomination. Presenting several variations, the coinage of the Roman Republic was issued by various magistrates, who would choose the designs and legends, making coins a means for advertising the different Roman gentes and aid their political interests. This particular coin is attributed to the gens Aemilia. It was issued in 58 BC by Marcus Aemilius Scaurus and the questor Publius Plautius Hypsaeus, when the former, then governor of Syria, repelled the Nabateans forcing their king Areta to submit and pay a fine of 300 talents to Pompey.

Weight 5.6 g
Dimensions W 1.7 x H 2.6 cm
Culture

Region

Metal

Roman Mythology

Reference: For a similar coin, please see The British Museum, item 1908,0110.2671