Coin (obverse), Denarius, of Marcus Plaetorius Marci filius Cestianus

This silver denarius was minted in Rome by Marcus Plaetorius Cestianus, son of Marcus, in 69 BC. It was a special issue, as indicated by the legend 'S.C' on the reverse. This picture shows the obverse of the coin.

The obverse depicts a woman whose hair is decorated with poppy-heads. She is probably meant to be Proserpine (in Greek myth, Persephone), the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. Behind her is a dagger, a mint control-mark used to control the issue of dies.

Most coins of the Roman Republic were issued by officials called moneyers. They commissioned designs, which often referred to famous ancestors or associations to favourite cults. Presumably the latter explanation accounts for the design on this coin.

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