Denarius Licinia: Aulus Licinius Nerva; FIDES NERVA / III VIR A•LICINIVS 47 BC
47 BC year| Silver | 3.73 g | 17 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Republic (509 BC - 27 BC) |
|---|---|
| Period | Republic (509 BC - 27 BC) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 47 BC |
| Value | Denarius (1) |
| Currency | Denarius of 16 Asses (141 – 27 BC) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 3.73 g |
| Diameter | 17 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-06 |
| Numista | N#66866 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
One-armed horseman galloping right with right hand dragging by hair naked warrior, who holds shield in left hand and sword in right hand; below, part of moneyer mark; across fields, inscription.
Border of dots.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
III VIR
A•LICINIVS
Translation:
Triumvir ([Monetary] Triumvirate)
Aulus Licinius
Comment
The gens Licinia was a celebrated plebeian family at Rome, which appears from the earliest days of the Republic until imperial times, and which eventually obtained the imperial dignity. The first of the gens to obtain the consulship was Gaius Licinius Calvus Stolo, who, as tribune of the plebs from 376 to 367 BC, prevented the election of any of the annual magistrates, until the patricians acquiesced to the passage of the lex Licinia Sextia. This law, named for Licinius and his colleague, Lucius Sextius, opened the consulship for the first time to the plebeians. Licinius himself was subsequently elected consul in 364 and 361 BC, and from this time, the Licinii became one of the most illustrious gentes in the Republic.
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features an image of Aulus Licinius Nerva, who was a Roman politician and military commander, on the obverse (front side), while the reverse (back side) bears the image of Fides (the personification of loyalty or good faith) holding a military standard and a shield with the letters "III VIR A•LICINIVS" (meaning "Aulus Licinius Nerva, three times military tribune"). This coin was minted in 47 BC, during the Roman Republic, and its design reflects the political and military context of the time.
