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Roman Republic, Denarius

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Roman Republic, Denarius (obverse) Roman Republic, Denarius (reverse)

This Roman denarius from the year 45 BC is an issue of the moneyer Lucius Papius Celsus, as the inscription L. PAPIVS CELSVS III VIR reveals.

The obverse shows the goddess Juno Sospita, identified by her goatskin cap. The centre of that cult of Juno was the town of Lanuvium, supposedly the hometown of the moneyer's family.

The reverse depicts a wolf placing a stick on a fire while an eagle fans the flame with its wings. This relates to a story about the foundation of Lanuvium; reputedly, a fire had broken out then that was said to have been set by an eagle and a wolf.

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