Coin (reverse), Denarius, of Cnaeus Gellius

This silver coin was minted in Rome by Cnaeus Gellius in 138 BC. It is a type called a denarius, the most common Roman silver coin. This picture shows the reverse of the coin.

The reverse depicts a warrior, perhaps Mars, the god of war, in a vehicle called a quadriga. He holds a shield and grasps a captive beside him. The inscription reads 'CN.GEL' (short for the moneyer Cnaeus Gellius). The meaning behind the scene is unclear.

Most coins of the Roman Republic were issued by officials called moneyers. They may have been elected, perhaps annually. For much of the 2nd century BC there were three moneyers each year. This moneyer was perhaps the historian of the name.

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