Crawford 410/1

Moneyer: Q. Pomponius Musa. 66 BC. 

Denomination: denarius

Obverse: Diademed head of Apollo right; behind, Q·POMPONI; before, MVSA. 

Reverse: HERCVLES MVSARVM. Hercules Musagetes standing right, playing lyre; at his feet, club. 

Reference: Crawford 410/1

Weight: 4.07 g. 

Diamter: 21 mm. 

Note: Rare and full weight, with pleasant cabinet tone. Weak strike on highlights. About EF.

Known in Greece as Hercules Musagetes, or leader of the choir of Muses, and appropriately shown here playing a lyre, his worship was often associated with that paid to the nine virgin goddesses of poetry and civilisation. It is difficult to account for this seeming abandonment of Apollo's maiden companions by the God of Song himself to the protection of another and inferior divinity, however such were the contradictions and inconsistencies of the superstitious patchwork which formed the Greco-Roman system of deification. The subject before us has been reasonably supposed to indicate, by an allegory, that the cultivation of intellectual pursuits rests secure under the guardianship of strength and courage, and that the heroic genius of Hercules can be worthily proclaimed only through the influence of the Muses.

According to H. A. Seaby, in Roman Silver Coins "The representation of Hercules Musagetes and of the nine Muses on his coins are intended as a reference to the cognomen of the moneyer. We probably have a representation in detail of the statues in the temple in the Circus Flaminius built in their honour by M. Fulvius Nobilitor. Hercules, as leader of the choir, is represented playing on his lyre and the Muses are shown with their various attributes."

Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry - (Pomponia 9 and 10) Laureate head of Apollo with lyre-key behind, Calliope standing right, playing lyre resting on a column.

Clio, the Muse of History - (Pomponia 11) Laureate head of Apollo with tied scroll behind, Clio standing left, resting elbow on pedestal and reading from a scroll.

Erato, the Muse of Erotic Poetry - (Pomponia 12 and 17) Laureate head of Apollo with flower on stalk behind, Erato standing right, head facing, holding or playing lyre.

Euterpe, the Muse of Lyric Poetry - (Pomponia 13) Laureate head of Apollo with two flutes behind, Euterpe standing right, holding two pipes.

Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy - (Pomponia 14) Laureate head of Apollo with scepter behind, Melpomene standing facing, head right, holding club and mask.

Polymnia, the Muse of Rhetoric - (Pomponia 15 and 16) Laureate head of Apollo with wreath behind, Polymnia standing facing, wearing wreath.

Terpsichore, the Muse of Dancing - (Pomponia 18) Laureate head of Apollo with tortoise behind, Terpsichore standing right, holding lyre and plectrum (which she is said to have invented).

Thalia, the Muse of Comedy - (Pomponia 19, 20 and 21) Laureate head of Apollo with sandal behind, Thalia standing left, resting against pedestal, holding mask and sometimes pedum (shepherd's crook).

Urania, the Muse of Astronomy - (Pomponia 22) Laureate head of Apollo with star behind, Urania standing left, pointing with wand to a globe on a tripod.

Collection : 16 Roman Republic