DR-460 | Crawford: 384/1
Lucius Papius
Lucius Papius

Gens: Papia
Moneyer: Lucius Papius
Date and mint: 79 BC - Rome


Obverse: Head of Juno Sospita, right. Bead and spool border.
Legend:
Symbols: Obverse behind, control mark | Reverse below, control mark

Reverse: Jumping griffin, right. Contour of beads and spools.
Legend: L PAPI

Comment: Gens Papia: Plebeian family. Its most prominent member was Gaius Papio Mutillus, a prominent leader of Samnite origin during the Social War (91-88 BC). He was one of the leaders of the southern rebel forces, organized against Roma. He was defeated by the Roman generals Lucius Julius Caesar and Sulla. At the end of the conflict, he was granted Roman citizenship, but was later outlawed and, according to some records, ended up committing suicide in 80 BC.

Lucio Papio: Monetary in 79 BC, a moment of transition after Sulla's reforms. There is not much information about his career, typical of the Papia gens.

Historical context: 79 B.C. It was a year of consolidation of the reforms of Sulla, who renounced power that year. The Republic faced internal tensions that foreshadowed future civil conflicts.

Obverse: Juno Sospita, revered as protector of the community and warrior. Her appearance as "Sospita" (the "Savior") symbolizes the defense and safeguard of Roma and its traditional values. She was represented with characteristic attributes: she wore a helmet decorated with horns and wore a goat skin on her head, which reinforced her appearance as a combative goddess and her connection with the protection of fertility and abundance.

Reverse: The griffin jumping to the right symbolizes vigilance and strength. In ancient Roma, the griffin represented power, protection and surveillance, combining characteristics of the lion (earthly strength) and the eagle (vigilance and divine connection) that gave it dual symbolism. Considered the protector of treasures and sacred places, the griffin was associated with Roman gods and appeared in contexts that evoked guardianship and supernatural strength.

Provenance: Bertolami Fine Arts (2019)
Price: 10,199 €