RRC 363/1
Illustration — Denarius minted at Rome in 82 BC by L. Censorinus, with the head of Apollo and the figure of Marsyas holding a wineskin In 82 BC, a denarius was minted by Lucius Marcius Censorinus picturing Apollo and Marsyas the satyr. The coin has attracted several interpretations because of the ambiguity of its symbolism.
Also recorded as Crawford 363 · Sydenham 737 · Babelon Marcia 24 · denarius of L. Censorinus
RRC 363/1
Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
- Field
- Roman Republican denarius
- Period
- 84
- Region
- Ancient Rome
- Related practice
- silver
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wikipedia · Denarius of L. Censorinus
In this article
The Marcius gens
The Marcius gens
The symbolism may refer to the moneyer’s family line, the gens Marcia, who claimed legendary descent from Marsyas. An ancestor claimed to have experienced a vision which led to the founding of games in tribute to Apollo. The brother of Lucius, Gaius Marcius Censorinus, minted a coin with the image of Apollo.
Political climate
Political climate
Another view of the symbolism in this coin is that it is politically driven. Apollo was seen as a symbol of harmony, especially in his manifestation at Rome. During this time, Rome was experiencing a period of political upheaval, connected to the Social Wars. Marsyas was regarded as a symbol of political freedom, particularly free speech. On the coin, Marsyas is wearing a Phrygian cap, a symbol of liberty. L. Marcius Censorinus was a supporter of Marian or Cinnan politics, which advanced the cause of Roman citizenship for Italians during the Social Wars. Gaius Marcius Censorinus was captured at the Battle of the Colline Gate and beheaded by an order of Sulla, the champion of the Senate's traditional privileges. Many other supporters of Marian politics used images of Apollo on their coins, often in conjunction with images of Saturn, Venus and a god who is known as a young Jupiter.
Warding off plague?
Warding off plague?
The image of Apollo on the coin may refer to the plague of 87 BC. Censorinus may have been invoking the god in his capacity as a healer and protector.
A worn silver republican denarius struck by L. Marcinus Censorinus, dating to 82 BC. Reece period 1. This appears to be the first coin by this issuer recorded on the database.
Oxfordshire County Council, Anni Byard, 2014-01-23 18:41:27 · The Portable Antiquities Scheme/ The Trustees of the British Museum · https: Catalog: https: Artefact
Silver denarius of the Roman Republic, of the moneyer L Censorinus, Rome, 82 BC. Apollo and Marsyas RRC p. 377, 363 Very worn. Identified from photgraphs at Pewsey rally.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme, Roy Nicholls, 2006-07-28 14:46:47 · The Portable Antiquities Scheme/ The Trustees of the British Museum · https: Catalog: https: Artefact
Coin description
On the obverse of this coin is a representation of the god Apollo, portrayed as a young man wearing a diadem. On the reverse of the coin is an image of the satyr Marsyas, nude, carrying a wineskin. He is wearing a Phrygian cap, and has a pedestal standing beside him, holding a statue, which some think is a statue of Minerva. Along the side is the inscription L. Censor. The image of Marsyas may be copied from a statue in the Roman Forum at this time, as implied by the pedestal in the field of the coin. The coin is silver and weighs roughly 3.95 grams.
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Denarius of L. Censorinus, revision 1236951799 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.cngcoins.com
- 2.coinarchives.com
- 3.Rowland, Robert J. Jr., Numismatic Propaganda under Cinna Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association. Vol. 97 (1966) pp. 407-419 pg. 417, coinarchives.com
- 4.Babelon, Ernest. Description Historique et Chronologique des Monnaiees de la Republique Romaine Vulgairement Appelees Monnaies Consulaires. Arnaldo Forni, Bologna 1963, pg. 194-195
- 5.Babelon, Ernest Description Historique et Chronologique des Monnaiees de la Republique Romaine Vulgairement Appelees Monnaies Consulaires. Arnaldo Forni, Bologna 1963, pg. 194-195
- 6.Kent, J.P.C. Deputy Keeper Dept. of Coins and Medals, the British Museum, Photographs by Max and Albert Hirmer Roman Coins, Thames and Hudson Ltd, London 1973, pg 268.
- 7.Luce, T.J. Political Propaganda on Roman Republican Coins: Circa 92-82 B.C. American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 72, No. 1 (Jan., 1968) pp. 25-39, pg 26.
- 8.Luce, T.J. Political Propaganda on Roman Republican Coins: Circa 92-82 B.C. American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 72, No. 1 (Jan., 1968) pp. 25-39, pg 32-33
- 9.Rowland, Robert J. Jr., Numismatic Propaganda under Cinna Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association. Vol. 97 (1966) pp. 407-419, pg 417
- 10.Rowland, Robert J. Jr., Numismatic Propaganda under Cinna Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association. Vol. 97 (1966) pp. 407-419, pg 407-408
- 11.Luce, T.J. Political Propaganda on Roman Republican Coins: Circa 92-82 B.C. American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 72, No. 1 (Jan., 1968) pp. 25-39, pg. 29
- 12.Luce, T.J. Political Propaganda on Roman Republican Coins: Circa 92-82 B.C. American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 72, No. 1 (Jan., 1968) pp. 25-39, pg. 25.
- 13.Luce, T.J. Political Propaganda on Roman Republican Coins: Circa 92-82 B.C. American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 72, No. 1 (Jan., 1968) pp. 25-39, pg. 33
References
Citations
References
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