What does the reverse of this roman republic coin really depict?
Tiempo de lectura 1 min
The reverse of this roman republican coin is usually described in literature and auction description as fight between two galdiators..but it isn't most likely!
Pierre R. Monney argued very conclusive that the coin depicts a fight between a roman centurion (left) and a Thracian rebel from the Scordisques tribe in his Celator article from Oct, 10th 2010. See here: Celator Vol.24, 10 October 2010
Marvin Tameanko has argued before that the coin may depict a "bloodless 'warm up' act of mock fighters called 'paegniarii," rather than an actual battle or gladiatorial combat.
Personally I tend to the conclusive explanation from Pierre R. Monney. In any case it is surely not a fight between two gladiators, which is pretty clear judging on weapons and armour of the two combatants.
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T. DEIDI( T.Didius) Denarius
Obverse: Head of Roma r. Monogramm of ROMA behind, value sign * below
Revers: Two fighting man each holding a shield, one attacking with a whip and the other defending with a sword or staff
The coin probably refers to T. Didius, who was sent to Sicily in B.C. 138 to put down the revolting slaves
Reference: Crawford 294/1, Sear 171, Albert 1082
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