This Roman denarius from the year 49 BC alludes to events happening at the time of its production. The obverse shows Salus, the personification of public wellbeing, the welfare of the Roman state and its citizens. On the reverse wee see Valetudo, the goddess of good health.
In 49 BC civil war broke out in Rome, a war between Gaius Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus. In the years to follow, Roman fought against Roman in the struggle for supremacy of one of the two great generals over the other. With this denarius, the moneyer called upon Salus and Valetudo for help. Whether he expected salvation from Caesar or from Pompey, he wisely left open.