Discover my collection in 3D
Virtual Gallery
Obv: Male head right, laureate and winged; behind, headdress of Isis and trident. Rx: Victory in quadriga right, LV above horses, L IVLI BVRSIO in exergue.
The obverse bust, sometimes described as Genius or Apollo Vejovius, is in fact a composite deity, combining the trident of Neptune, the wings of Mercury, and the laurel wreath of Apollo.
Presented denarius was minted at the time when Rome ended the first war with Mithridates VI and in the city itself the popular consuls: Lucius Cornelius Cynna and Gnaeus Papirius Carbo were preparing to fight Sulla returning from the East. Monetary officials (latin tresviri monetales) were then Mn. Fonteius and L. Iulius Bursio - the latter from the Julius family, who had a special cult of the Italian legal deity Veiovis, who was already commonly identified with Apollo at that time. Another branch of this family gave birth to Gaius Julius Caesar, who was orphaned by his father in 85 BC and at the age of fifteen became the head of his family.
Reference : De Ruyter, NC 1996, dies O279/RLV. Crawford 352/1c. Sydenham 728b. RSC Julia 5a. Former David Powell collection
Collection : Roman Republic