DR-343 | Crawford: 337/2e
D. Iunius Silanus
D. Iunius Silanus

Gens: Junia
Moneyer: D. Iunius Silanus
Date and mint: 91 BC - Rome


Obverse: Head of Salus, right. Contour torque.
Legend: SALVS oSALVS
Symbols: Obverse before, control mark | Reverse below, control mark

Reverse: Victoria in biga, right, holding palm branch and reins on left and whip on right. Dotted border.
Legend: D SILANVS L F

Comment: The Junia gens was one of the most extensive and influential in the Republic, with multiple active branches in political life. Among them, that of the Silanos achieved notable relevance in the last republican century. The magistrate D. Junio Silano, responsible for this issue in the year 91 BC, minted in the middle of the social war and did so in abundance due to the expenses that such an event caused. His series was linked to religious and military symbols that reinforced family memory and the prestige of his lineage.

The obverse shows the head of Salus facing right, surrounded by a torc. Salus, divinity of health and well-being, evoked the prosperity of Roma and the stability of its people at a time of great danger. The torc, with a strong symbolic load in military tradition, represented spoils of war and triumph over enemies. On the reverse, Victoria appears in a biga to the right, holding palm, reins and whip, accompanied by the legend ROMA D SILANVS L F. The composition reinforces the message of triumph and continuity of the Republic under the protection of the gods.

Up to six variants are known from this issue (Crawford 337/2a–f), which reproduce the same basic types but with small differences in stamp and legend. This fact reflects the magnitude of the minting and the need to produce large quantities of currency in a period of urgency, always maintaining a coherent message of victory and prosperity.

Provenance: Classical Numismatic group (2012)
Price: 160 €