Gold Coin (AV = 60 As) (240 to 229 BC)

Obverse: Head of Mars wearing Corinthian helmet and chlamys; behind X.
Reverse: Eagle standing on thunderbolt, wings spread; ROMA below.

The obverse of this gold coin shows Mars wearing a crested Corinthian helmet and a chlamys which was a short military cloak. Behind his head is the mintmark X. Mars was a very important deity in Rome considered to be the protector of the city and the god who accompanied the Roman forces into battle. According to Roman myth Romulus, the founder of Rome, was the son of this great and powerful god. The reverse depicts an eagle holding a thunderbolt in its talons. The eagle was a symbol for Rome's power while the thunderbolt represented Jupiter. The eagle was the bearer of Jupiter’s thunderbolts. Below the eagle is the legend ROMA. The obverse reflects Rome as a strong military power after their success in the First Punic War.

Silver Didrachm (c. 225 to 212 BC)

Obverse:Laureate Jani-form head of Dioscuri.

Reverse: Jupiter in quadrigadriven by Nike. He holds a spear in his left hand and a thunderbolt in his right. Below, ROMA within line border.

Obverse, Silver Didrachm of Roman Republic

Reverse, Silver Didrachm of Roman Republic

This type was presumably struck at a time when the Romans were preparing for a possible invasion by the Gauls. The obverse shows a Jani-form head of the Dioscuri, the sons of Jupiter. The Dioscuri were the two sons of Jupiter known as Castor and Pollux whose mother was the wife of Tyndarus, the king of Sparta. Festivals were celebrated in Rome in honor of these sons of Jupiter since it was believed that they fought valiantly for the Romans at the Battle of Lake Regillus which was believed to have taken place in the early years of the Republic. They were considered to be great heroes by the Romans and protectors of the Roman people. The reverse shows Jupiter, the king of the gods, holding a spear and a thunderbolt, in a quadriga driven by Nike (Victory). A quadriga was a feature commonly found on Greek coins of Syracuse, which indicates that early Roman coin types were influenced by the Greeks who had been employed to develop these coins. The quadriga was a four horse chariot driven by a conqueror during triumphal processions. A triumph was a ceremony which took place in honor of an military leader who had been victorious in battle. Jupiter was considered to be the conqueror of all things and was the god in whose honor a triumph was held.

This coin whose denomination is known as an as is also from the group of coinage called Aes Grave. These were the first coins made prior to the establishment of the silver denarius which is believed to have taken place just prior to the Punic Wars which began in 264 BC. The term “as” originally meant totality and was a more valuable denomination than the semis which weighed only about half of an as. The obverse shows the head of Janus wearing the laurel crown which was a symbol of the god Apollo and also referred to victory. Janus was the god considered to be the founder and beginner of all things. The first month of the Roman year was entitled Janurarius (January) and Janus protected the beginning of all occupations private and public. Janus was believed to be the first king of Italy who was later deified. Since the aes grave were Rome’s first coins, it is fitting that they should bear this coin type. The reverse shows a ship’s prow which was a common feature on these coins and represented Rome’s naval power.

This coin was struck around the time of the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) in Spain in the city of Cartagonova (New Carthage) after the Romans had taken it from the Carthaginians. The city was captured under the leadership of Publius Cornelius Scipio in 209 BC. The obverse of this coin shows the head of this great Roman general. Scipio defeated the Carthaginians and their general Hasdrubal Barca which secured Spain’s territory for the Romans. Scipio then sought to invade Africa although the Senate in Rome were hesitant to pursue this. However, soon Scipio convinced them to support his venture and Scipio continued Rome’s conquests into Africa where he defeated Hasdrubal’s famous brother, Hannibal, at the Battle of Zama. From this point on Scipio was known as Africanus after the land which he had conquered. The reverse shows a horse, a symbol of war, and a palm which represented Scipio’s victories.

This shekel was issued by the Carthaginians while they occupied Capua, a city in western Italy, during the Second Punic War (218-201 BC). We know that these coins are Carthaginian because they are identical in metal and weight as coins issued at Carthage at the same time. The obverse shows the wreathed, jani-form head of Persephone who was the patron deity of Carthaginian money. The reverse shows Jupiter in a quadriga driven by Nike (Victory) which is a symbol of the military power of the Carthaginians. This quadriga is similar to those shown on Roman coins, but is of poor quality. Therefore, this coin could not have been issued under Roman authority.