Obolos 21

Sex. Pompeius Fostlus, 137 BC. Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 3.89 g, 6 h), Rome. Helmeted head of Roma to right; behind, jug; below chin, X. Rev. SEX PO FOSTLVS / ROMA She-wolf standing right, head left, suckling Romulus and Remus; behind, the shepherd Faustulus standing to right; in background, birds in a fig tree. Babelon (Pompeia) 1a. Crawford 235/1c. Sydenham 461a. Toned. Very fine.

From an old collection in Geneva, acquired from Monnaies et Medailles, on July 1948 (possibly FPL 74, 267).

It was the childless shepherd, Faustulus, shown on the reverse of this coin holding his staff, who discovered the twins, Romulus and Remus, along the banks of the Tiber while they were being suckled by the she-wolf Lupa. He and his wife, Acca Laurentia, then raised the boys in their home as if they were their own. Years later, after Romulus had killed his brother in a fit of rage, he founded the city of Rome on the old family homestead.