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Crawford 472/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, L. Papius Celsus, AR Denarius
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Rome, Moneyer Issues of the Imperatorial Period.
L. Papius Celsus. 45 BCE
AR Denarius (3.61g; 21mm; 3h).
Rome mint, 45 BCE.
Obverse: TRIVMPVS; Laureate head of Triumphus, facing right, with trophy over shoulder.
Reverse: CELSVS•III VIR || L•PAPIVS; she-wolf places stick on fire; eagle, with wings extending outside dot border, fans flames.
References: Crawford 472/2; HCRI 83; Sydenham 965 (R4); BMCRR 4023; Papia 3; Bahrfeldt Nachtrage, Vol. 1 (1897), pl. IX, nr. 206 (this coin).
Provenance: Ex Nomisma 65 (17 Jun 2022) Lot 52; Tradart (8 Nov 1992) Lot 154; Sternberg XI (20-1 Nov 1981) Lot 527; Peter Hoefer Collection (Feb 1980) [Silbermunzen der Romischen Republik Privatsammlung PH]; E. J. Haeberlin Collection [Cahn-Hess (1933) Lot 2742], acquired before 1897, per Bahrfeldt.
The moneyer, who was a member of the Papia gens, likely had ancestral origins in Lanuvium, as another of his denarii (with same reverse) depicts Juno Sospita on the obverse. Ancient Lanuvium, a Latin town 32 kilometers southeast of Rome, was famous for its temple to Juno Sospita, who is often depicted on coins by members of the Papia gens [see my example here: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=149837]. The reverse depicts one of the foundation myths of Lanuvium: when Aeneas witnessed a she-wolf bringing wood to feed a fire and an eagle fanned the flames, while a fox tried to extinguish the blaze with a wet tail. The eagle is shown with its wings extending beyond the line border of the coin, suggesting a divine origin. Lanuvium and Lavinium are frequently confused, and this confusion appears to have applied to this foundation myth in literature, both ancient and modern.
The provenance of this coin is almost as interesting as its devices. It can be traced back to the famous E.J. Haeberlin Collection, jointly sold by Cahn and Hess in 1933. Also, it is described and shown on the plates of Bahrfeldt, Nachträge und Berichtigungen zur Münzkunde der römischen Republik, vol 1 (1897) where it is cited to the Haeberlin collection; thus we know Haeberlin acquired it before Bahrfeldt’s publication in 1897!
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