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Roman Republic, Denarius

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

The obverse of this Roman denarius from the year 62 BC shows Concordia, the goddess of harmony. On the reverse stands a trophy between a figure in a toga and three captives.

The Roman in the toga is Lucius Aemilius Paullus, who in 168 BC defeated the Macedonian King Perseus and his sons. After his victory, Lepidus celebrated a great triumph at Pydna. This is what this denarius refers to, and accordingly the three captives are King Perseus and his two sons.

The inscription PAVLLVS. LEPIDVS on the obverse refers to the issuer of this coin, Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. He was a follower of Marcus Tullius Cicero, who was at the height of his power in the 60s BC. In 63 BC, Cicero held a famous speech in the temple of Concordia, in which he stressed the importance of unity between the Senate and the equestrian class. Concordia on this denarius may be devoted to that speech.

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