Description
Roman Republic. Anonymous. Didrachm 225-212 BC, Rome. Silver 6.71 g.; 22 mm.
Obverse: Janiform head of Dioscuri, laureates, within a grenetis //
Reverse: Quadriga galloping to the right driven by winged Victory; before her, Jupiter draped at the waist holding a scepter in his left hand and hurling thunderbolt with his right hand; incuse legend within a rectangle below; all within a circle. Reverse caption: ROMA
Crawford: 28/3. HGC: 1-238.
Attractive and well-centered Didrachm revealing most of the iconography on both sides and adorned with a splendid golden patina with iridescent tones. Our specimen is in an excellent state of preservation, revealing numerous details. The veins of the laurel leaves on the head of Janus are clearly visible, as are the strands of his hair. The muscles of Jupiter and the horses are also visible.
Almost uncirculated AU 50-53
Provenance Details
Ex Faune d'Argent Collection.
Comment
Our coin was minted during the period when Rome defeated the Gauls at the Battle of Clastidium in 222 BC and at the start of the Second Punic War. The quadriga led by Victory and Jupiter preparing to hurl his thunderbolt testifie to the warlike context in which Rome found itself at the time. Their dynamic position, bent forward, and the speed of the quadriga moving to the right, represented by the horses' raised front legs in full run, attest to the vigor of the scene and a future victory.
Janus, an important deity in the Roman pantheon, is represented by two heads, one looking to the past and the other to the future. He is responsible for peace and war, and his temple, whose doors are open in times of conflict, bears witness to his military role. A well-preserved, eye-pleasing didrachm with an iconography intimately linked to war, victory and future.
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