Crawford 384/1

Moneyer: L. Papius, 79 BC.

Denomination: Denarius

Obverse:  Head of Juno Sospita to right, wearing goat-skin headdress; behind, Sistrum (control mark)

Reverse:  L•PAPI Griffin leaping to right; below fruit platter (control mark) 

Reference: Crawford 384/1

Mint: Rome

Weight: 

Provenance:  ex dr Victor Wishnevsky collection =  ex Kölner Münzkabinett, Auktion 67, 1997, Los 171

Notes:  Juno was an ancient Roman goddess, the protector and special counsellor of the state. She was equated to Hera, queen of the gods in Greek mythology and a goddess of love and marriage. A daughter of Saturn and Ops, she was the sister and wife of Jupiter and the mother of Mars, Vulcan, Bellona, Lucina and Juventas. Like Hera, her sacred animal was the peacock. Her Etruscan counterpart was Uni, and she was said to also watch over the women of Rome. As the patron goddess of Rome and the Roman Empire, Juno was called Regina ("Queen") and was a member of the Capitoline Triad (Juno Capitolina), centered on the Capitoline Hill in Rome, and also including Jupiter, and Minerva, goddess of wisdom.

The rites of the month of February offer a depiction of Juno's roles in the spheres of fertility. On the 1st of the month, a black ox was sacrificed to Helernus. On the same day, Juno's dies natalis ("birthday") as Juno Sospita was celebrated at her Palatine temple. This is usually understood to be a rite of purification and fertility. A goat was sacrificed and its hide cut into strips, used to make whips known as februum and amiculus Iunonis, wielded by the Luperci. The Juno of this day bears the epithet of Februalis, Februata, Februa. On the last day of the month, leading into March 1, she was celebrated as protectress of matrons and marriages. The new year began on March 1.

Collection : 16 Roman Republic