Vibia

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Vibia gens. A plebian family. The coins of this gens bear the cognomina Pansa and Varus. The cognomen Masus occurs on coins of C. Vibius Marsus struck at Utica Zeugitana. The following coins belong to this family:

82-81 BC

- As with legend ROMA C PANSA or ROMA C VIBI P S (Caius Vibius Pansa) or C VIBIVS
- Semis with legend C VIBI P S
- Quadrans and sextans with legend C VIBI

Denarii
1. Obv: PANSA, head of apollo to right; a symbol or small letter in front. Rev: C VIBIVS C F (Caius Vibius Caii Filius), Pallas in a quadriga to right or left, holding a trophy and a shield; silver

2. The same legend and for type the quadriga on both obv and rev.

3. Obv: PANSA, head of Apollo to right. Rev: C VIBIVS C F, Ceres walking, holding two torches and preceded by a pig; somtimes a crown of laurel surrounds the type; silver.

4. Obv: PANSA, mask of Pan to right. Rev: C VIBIVS C F, mask of Silenus to right, crowned with laurel (sometimes the types are transposed); silver.

These coins are attributed to the father of C. Vibius Pansa, of whom it is only known that he was proscribed by Sulla in 82-81 BC.

43 BC

1. Obv: PANSA, head of Bacchus or a bacchante to right, crowned with ivy and grapes. Rev: C VIBIVS C F C N (Caius Vibius Cai Filius Caii Nepos), Ceres, crowned with ear of corn, walking to right, holding two torches; plough share in front; silver.

2. Obv: Same legend and type. Rev: Same legend, Ceres in a biga of serpents holding a torch; silver.

3. Obv: PANSA, bearded mask of Pan to right, sometimes with the pedum (shepherd's crook) behind. Rev: C VIBIVS C F C N IOVIS AXVR, Jupiter Axur, radiate andseated to left, holding a patera and a spear; silver

4. Obv: Head of Mercury to right with winged patasus (cap). Rev: C PANSA (Caius Pansa), tortoise and caduceus; silver sestertius.

5. Obv: LIBERTATIS, laureate head of Liberty to right. Rev: C PANSA C F C N, helmeted Roma, seatedon shielsa to right, holding parazonium, and placing one of her feet on a globe; between her legs a piece of armour; Victory to right crowning her (sometimes no legend on the reverse); silver

6. Obv: PANSA, bearded mask of Pan to right. Rev: ALBINVS BRVTI F, two hands joined holding a wigned caduceus; silver.

These six coins are attributed to Caius Vibius Pansa, consul with A. Histius in 43 BS; they both died when at war against Mark Antony near Mutina in April of that year.

For Jupiter Axur on number 3 see AXVR. The bearded mask of Pan on numbers 3 and 6 doubtless alludes to the surname of the moneyer Pansa.

The legend LBERTATIS on number 5 and the coin number 6, struck conjointly with Decimus Brutus, bear allusion to the death of Julius Caesar. Decimus Brutus was adopted by Aulus Postumius Albinus. It is worthy of notice that Brutus is called on his coins Aibinus son of Brutus instead of Brutus son of Albinus.

43-42 BC

1. Obv: laureate head of Hercules to right. Rev: C VIBIVS VARVS, Pallas standing holding a spear and a Victory; at her feet a shield; silver.

2. Obv: Head of Bacchus to right, crowned with ivy and grapes. Rev: C VIBIVS VARVS, panther mounting up to an altar, on which a mask of Pan and a thyrsus; silver.

3. Obv: Bust of Palas to left, with shield and spear. Rev: C VIBIVS VARVS, winged Nemisis standing to right; gold

4. Obv: Bust of Pallas to left, with aegis. Rev: C VIBIVS VARVS, naked Hercules standing to left, holding a club and a lion's skin; silver

5. Obv: Laureate head of Venus to right. Rev: C VIBIVS VARVS, half naked Venus standing near a column and looking in a mirror, which she holds in her hand; gold. A silver coin may exist of this type

6. Obv: bearded head of Mark Antony to right. Rev: C VIBIVS VARVS, female standing to left, holding a small Victory and a cornucopiae; silver

7. Obv: bare head of Octavian to right. Rev: C VIBIVS VARVS, Venus standing to left, holding a Victory and a cornucopiae; silver

8. Obv: Same as number 7. Rev: C VIBIVS VARVS, Pallas standing to right holding a spear; at her feet a shield; silver plated

9. Obv: C CAESAR IIIVIR R P C, same type as number 7. Rev: C VEIBIVS VAARVS, two hands joined; gold

10. Obv: M LEPIDVS IIIVIR R P C, bare head of Lepidus to left. Rev: C VEIBIVS VAARVS, same type as number 9; gold

11. Obv: M ANTONIVS IIIVIR R P C, bare head of Antony to right. Rev: C VEIBIVS VAARVS, same type as number 9; gold

Vibia - Colonia Vibia, a title given to Perusia Etrutriae, at which place the emperor Vibius Trebonianus Gallus was born.

View whole page from the Dictionary Of Roman Coins