Coin (obverse), Denarius, of Lucius Hostilius Saserna

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This silver coin was minted in Rome by Lucius Hostilius Saserna in 48 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 a woman with long hair, with a carnyx (a Gallic war trumpet) behind her. The design presumably commemorates Caesar's victories in Gaul, with the woman meant to be a Gallic captive. Other coins of the moneyer depict male captives.

Caesar seized Rome at an early stage in the Civil War with Pompey, and with it the means to mint in Rome. The designs of coins from this time generally relate to Caesar, not, as was more common before, exploits and symbols of the individual moneyers.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-078-681-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1934.45
• Date: 48 BC
  
• Material: Silver. Inscription: Obv. Female head r., with long hair; behind, carnyx / Rev. Artemis facing, holding spear in l. hand, placing r. hand on head of stag; on r., L.HOSTILIVS downwards; on l., SASERNA upwards
  Coin, denarius
  
• Dimensions: 20.00 mm D / Die Axis: 7.5
  
• What: Coin, denarius
  
• Subject: Ancient Coin Collection
  
• Who: Artemis
  
• Where: Italy, Rome
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver denarius of the Roman Republic, Rome, 48 BC
  
• References:
  • Crawford, M.H. Roman Republican Coinage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976. 
• Translations:
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