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M.VOLTEI M.F Denarius
Rome, 78 BC (Michael Harlan: 75 BC)
Avers: Male head (Attis?) wearing a Phrygian cap and laurel wreath, behind lighted altar.
Revers: Cybele driving biga of lions right; NΓ above.
4,03 gramm
Sear 315, Crawford 385/4, Albert 1283
The reverse is dedicated to the ludi megalenses to honor Cybele (Magna Mater) on the palatin. The Ludi Megalenses held between 4 and 10 April were the first games of the calendar year. Cybele, also known as the great mother, was a Phrygian goddess whose frenzied rituals were quite foreign to Roman sensitivities. Attis, the young consort of Cybele and his act of self-castration (ouch...) is the reason why Cybele priest's were eunuchs.
Die estimation crawford: Obverse: 71 / Revers: 71
ex Naville Numismatic
Reference : Crawford 385/4
Collection : Roman Republic + Imperatorial