Crawford 354/1

Moneyer:  C. Licinius L.f. Macer, 84 BC.

Denomination: Denarius

Obverse: Diademed bust of Vejovis left, seen from behind, drapery on left shoulder, hurling thunderbolt 

Reverse:  Minerva, holding spear, reins, and shield, driving galloping quadriga right;  C•LICINIVS•[L•F] / MACE[R] 

Mint: Rome

Reference: Crawford 354/1

Weight: 3,68 g

Notes:  It is not clear which deity is depicted on this coin. Most authors cite Apollo or Vejovis (a rather obscure Roman god of Etruscan origins). 

The figure looks like he could be Apollo. But Apollo doesn’t hold lightning-bolts. That’s something that, with few exceptions, only Jupiter does. But Jupiter isn’t depicted as a youthful, beardless man. There is a youthful version of Jupiter, an obscure deity called Veiovis. But Ovid in Fasti 3 refers to Veiovis not having lightning yet; as the youthful Jupiter, he had not yet got hold of his iconic weapon. 

Sammlung : 16 Roman Republic