415/1. Aemilia (62 BC)

AR Denarius (Rome, 62 BC)

O/ PAVLVS LEPIDVS - CONCORDIA, Diademed and draped bust of Concordia r.

R/ TER, PAVLLVS in exergue; trophy, on r. togate figure (Aemilius Paullus); on l. three figures (Perseus and his sons).

Crawford 415/1 (250 obverse dies/267 reverse dies)

3.61g

Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus:

Paullus (his name is now mostly spelt Paulus) belonged to the gens Aemilia, one of the most distinguished patrician gentes. Despite what his name suggests, Paullus was not directly related to the celebrated Lucius Aemilius Paulus Macedonicus (c.229-160 BC), whose line had disappeared since his death. Indeed, Paullus' father, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (Consul in 78 BC), decided to revive this prestigious, but extinguished, branch of the Aemilii by giving Macedonicus' praenomen and cognomen to his eldest son, instead of his own names (a very unusual action at the time). Paullus' younger brother, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, the famous Triumvir, inherited the praenomen and cognomen of the pater familias. Paullus' homonymous son became Consul in 34 and Censor in 22. His later descendance was closely associated with the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Two of his great-granddaughters, both named Aemilia Lepida, were indeed married to Drusus (the son of Germanicus) and Emperor Claudius.

As Consul in 78 BC, Paullus' father became famous for fomenting a revolt against the Optimates, who dominated Roman politics, but were weakened by the retirement and death of Sulla. Alongside Marcus Junius Brutus (father of the murderer of Caesar), he was nonetheless defeated by the other consul Quintus Lutatius Catulus.

Contrary to his father and brother, Paullus started his career among the Optimates, by supporting Cicero during the Catiline Conspiracy (63 BC), for which he was undoubtedly rewarded by becoming moneyer the following year. He chose to commemorate on this coin the most famous achievement of Macedonicus, his unrelated ancestor: the capture of Perseus in 168 BC, who was exhibited alongside his sons at the subsequent triumph the following year. The word TER at the top of the reverse is a reference to the three acclamations as Imperator he received.

As Crawford pointed out, the use of Concordia on the obverse refers to the concept of concordia ordinum, or the harmony between social classes, elaborated by Cicero, of whom Paullus must be considered a dedicated follower.

Paullus then climbed the ranks of the cursus honorum: Quaestor in 59, Aedile in 55, during which he rebuilt the Basilica Aemilia on the Forum, Praetor in 53 and Consul in 50. Caesar reportedly bribed him with 1,500 talents of silver, which he used for further extensions on his basilica. After the death of Caesar, he however returned to the Optimates and fled to Greece with Brutus. He was nevertheless spared and pardoned by Octavius and later died in Asia, possibly in Miletus.

Reference : RRC 415/1

Collection : Roman Republic