DR-319 | Crawford: 334/1
Lucius Pomponius Molo
Lucius Pomponius Molo

Gens: Pomponia
Moneyer: Lucius Pomponius Molo
Date and mint: 97 BC - Rome


Obverse: Laureate bust of Apollo, right. Dotted border.
Legend: L POMPON MOLO

Reverse: Illuminated altar; on the left, Numa Pompilius holding lituus; On the right, young man (victimarius) leading the goat. Dotted border.
Legend: NVMA POMPIL

Comment: The denarius of Lucius Pomponius Molo was minted in Rome in the year 97 BC. by a member of the Pomponia gens, a family that claimed a prestigious origin by being linked to Numa Pompilius, second king of Roma. According to tradition, the Pomponians descended from Pompus, one of Numa's sons, giving them a lineage directly connected to the city's sacred origins.

We barely know Lucio Pomponio Molo beyond his position as moneyer magistrate, but the choice of moneyer types clearly shows his intention to reinforce the mythical genealogy of his family.

The context of the year 97 B.C. was relatively stable compared to previous and subsequent decades. After Marius's campaigns against Cimbri and Teutons, Roma experienced a military respite, although with growing social tensions that would explode a few years later in the social war (91–88 BC). In this framework, the coins served to reaffirm the historical and divine roots of the senatorial families, consolidating their prestige in times of uncertainty.

The obverse presents the laureate bust of Apollo facing right, with the legend L POMPON MOLO. Apollo, god of light, music and prophecy, represents harmony and civilization, qualities that link with the figure of Numa as legislator and peacemaker. The reverse shows a ceremonial scene: a lit altar, Numa Pompilius with the lituus on the left and, on the right, a young victimarius leading a goat to sacrifice. The NVMA POMPIL inscription identifies the Sabine king. The detail is significant: Numa appears with her head uncovered, following the Greek rite, while in a strictly Roman sacrifice she should have her head covered (capite velato). This nuance, already noted by scholars such as Cavedoni, indicates a desire to underline Numa's cultural connection with the Hellenic world and with the religious wisdom attributed to him.

The combination of Apollo on the obverse and Numa on the reverse constitutes a high-level propaganda program: the god who represents harmony and prophecy alongside the king who embodied peace, law and religion. For the Pomponia gens, this coin was a clear vindication of its legendary origin and its role in the oldest tradition of Roma.

Provenance: Numismatica Ars Classica (2010)
Price: 1,750 €