Author: Claudia Cadete 

This particular silver denarius was minted in Rome in 105 BC during the Republican era of Ancient Rome. The obverse of the coin features the head of Juno Sospita facing to the right, with a goatskin headdress. Juno was considered the queen of the gods, the protector of Rome and the patron goddess of women.

L. Thorius Balbus, Silver Denarius | Baldwin’s

On the reverse side of the coin, there is an image of a bull leaping to the right, with the inscription “L. THORIVS / BALBVS” written above it. This refers to the moneyer responsible for producing the coin, L. Thorius Balbus.

The image of the bull leaping to the right is a depiction of the ancient Roman sport of bull leaping, which was a popular spectacle at the time. The I above the bull’s back is believed to represent the Roman numeral for one, which indicates the denomination of the coin.

It is important to note that during this period in Roman history, coins were not only used as a means of exchange but also served as a form of propaganda. The imagery and inscriptions on the coin were used to convey important messages and ideals to the people of Rome.

This coin provides a glimpse into the culture and values of Ancient Rome during the Republican era, highlighting the importance of religion and sport to the Roman people.

There are also many ancient coins that feature bulls on them. In fact, the bull was a common motif in ancient coinage from various civilizations and time periods.

For example, in ancient Greek coinage, the bull was often depicted as a symbol of power and virility, and was associated with gods such as Zeus and Apollo. One well-known example is the silver stater of the city of Aegina, which featured a turtle on the obverse and a bull on the reverse.

The bull was also a symbol of the city of Athens and was depicted on many Athenian coins as a symbol of the city’s strength and power.

In Roman coinage, the bull was often used to symbolize strength and fertility, and was associated with the god Mars. In addition to the coin we discussed earlier, there are many other Roman coins that feature bulls, including denarii, sestertii, and aurei.

In ancient Rome, the bull was often associated with the god Mars, who was the god of war and agriculture. As such, the bull was a symbol of both strength and fertility. Bulls were also used in sacrifices to the gods, and were sometimes depicted on coins in the context of religious rituals.

Generally, the bull was a popular symbol in ancient coinage, and was used to convey a variety of meanings and ideas depending on the civilization and time period.

In other cultures, the bull had different meanings. For example, in ancient Mesopotamia, the bull was associated with the god Marduk, who was the patron god of the city of Babylon. The bull was seen as a symbol of power and authority, and was often used in religious ceremonies and art.

Overall, the meaning of the bull as a symbol varied depending on the culture and time period. However, it was generally associated with ideas of strength, virility, and fertility, and was often used as a symbol of power and authority.

Lucius Septimius Severus shown on the obverse, was a Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna (present-day Al-Khums, Libya) in the Roman province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of the emperor Pertinax in 193 during the Year of the Five Emperors.

The Circus Maximus seen on the reverse decorated as a ship (Latin for “largest circus”) is an ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue in Rome, Italy. The Circus was Rome’s largest venue for ludi, public games connected to Roman religious festivals.

Ludi ranged in duration and scope from one-day or even half-day events to spectacular multi-venue celebrations held over several days, with religious ceremonies and public feasts, horse and chariot racing, athletics, plays and recitals, beast-hunts and gladiator fights. Some included public executions.

Over the several centuries of its development, the Circus Maximus, depicted in this coin, became Rome’s paramount specialist venue for chariot races.

By the late 1st century AD, the Colosseum had been built to host most of the city’s gladiator shows and smaller beast-hunts. Eventually, 135 days of the year were devoted to ludi.

In the late 4th and early 3rd centuries BC, the city of Entella in western Sicily was a hotbed of political and military activity. The city was a frequent battleground in the ongoing wars between the Greek colonies of Sicily and the Carthaginian Empire, which had established a foothold on the island.

During this time, the people of Entella issued their own coins, including the famous Siculo-Punic Tetradrachm. This silver coin features the head of the goddess Tanit, a prominent figure in the Carthaginian pantheon, on the obverse, and a prancing horse on the reverse.

The story behind this coin is one of resistance and defiance. Entella was a Greek city, but it had been conquered by the Carthaginians and was now under their control. The people of Entella, however, refused to submit to Carthaginian rule and fought back against their oppressors.

In issuing their own coinage, the people of Entella were making a bold statement of independence and defiance. By including the image of Tanit, they were acknowledging the power and influence of the Carthaginians, but they were also asserting their own identity and culture.

The Siculo-Punic Tetradrachm is a testament to the resilience and determination of the people of Entella in the face of adversity. Today, it is a highly sought-after coin by collectors and historians alike, not just for its artistic and historical value, but for the story it tells of a people fighting for their freedom and their way of life.