Coin (obverse), Denarius, of Quintus Pomponius Musa

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This silver coin was minted in Rome by Quintus Pomponius Musa in 66 BC. It is a type called a denarius, the most common Roman silver coin. This picture shows the obverse of the coin.

The obverse depicts the head of Apollo wearing a laurel wreath. Other similar coins have a tortoise or flower behind him, used as a mint control-mark, but not visible on this coin because it was struck off centre.

Moneyers commissioned designs, which often referred to famous ancestors, associations to favourite cults, or, as here, puns on their names. All ten designs of the coins of this moneyer depict Apollo on the obverse. Apollo presided over the 10 Muses.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-078-645-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1915.134
• Date: 66 BC
  
• Material: Silver. Inscription: Obv. Laureate head of Apollo r.; bbehind, tortoise or flower / Rev. Terpiscore r., square lyre in l. hand; on l. Q.POMPONI downwards; on r., MVSA downwards
  Coin, denarius
  
• Dimensions: 17.50 mm D / Die Axis: 6.0
  
• What: Coin, denarius
  
• Subject: Ancient Coin Collection
  
• Who: Apollo
  Terpischore
  
• Where: Italy, Rome
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver denarius of the Roman Republic, Rome, 66 BC
  
• References:
  • Crawford, M.H. Roman Republican Coinage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976. 
• Translations:
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