Obolos 19

Lucius Caesius, 112-111 BC. Denarius (Silver, 21 mm, 3.75 g, 11 h), Rome. Bust of Apollo seen from behind to left, wearing a taenia and with a cloak over his left shoulder, hurling a thunderbolt with his right hand; to right, monogram of AP. Rev. L · CÆSI The Lares Praestites seated facing, turned slightly to right, each on a stool and each holding a long staff in his right hand; between them, dog standing right; to left and right, monograms of LA and PRE; above, between them, bust of Vulcan to left, wearing his cap and with tongs behind him to right. Babelon (Caesia) 1. Crawford 298/1. Sydenham 564. Toned. Very fine.

From a Dutch collection, acquired from Sabine Bourgey.

There has been a great deal of debate about who appears on the obverse of this coin: it has been thought of as Veiovis, but if Crawford is right as reading the monogram as AP, it can only be Apollo assimilated with Jupiter. As for the Lares Praestites, they were spirits who initially protected the city of Rome, and then assumed a protective function over the state as well. Vulcan probably appears here in his function as the patron of the metal workers who produced this coin.