DR-550 | Crawford: 420/1a
Publius Plautius Hypsaeus
Publius Plautius Hypsaeus

Gens: Plautia
Moneyer: Publius Plautius Hypsaeus
Date and mint: 60 BC - Rome


Obverse: Bust of Neptune, right; behind, Trident. Dotted border.
Legend: P YPSAE S C

Reverse: Jupiter in quadriga, left, reins in left hand and throwing lightning with right. Dotted border.
Legend: CEPIT C YPSAE COS / PRIV

Comment: The gens Plautia was a plebeian family that, although it was not among the oldest or most prestigious in Rome, came to occupy relevant positions in republican politics, with several prominent consuls and magistrates. Among its members is P. Plautius Hypsaeus, the moneyer man responsible for this issue, who is also known to have been a candidate for the position of aedile in Rome.

The denarius was minted in 60 BC, a decisive year in the history of the Republic. At that time, Caesar, Pompey and Crassus sealed a private pact known as the First Triumvirate, an alliance that, outside the traditional institutions, allowed them to share power and marked the beginning of a stage in which the republican balance was subordinated to the interests of three strong men. Although the coin does not directly allude to this agreement, it reflects the political climate of exaltation of personal power and religious legitimation that characterized the time.

On the obverse, the bust of Neptune with his trident alludes to maritime dominance and the importance of controlling the seas for the expansion and defense of Roma. On the reverse, Jupiter appears on a chariot launching a lightning bolt, a symbol of his divine authority and the protection he granted to the city. The scene refers to military triumph and glory, reminding the Romans that the success of the Republic ultimately depended on the favor of the gods.

Thus, this coin, contemporary with the formation of the Triumvirate, constitutes a testimony of the political and religious context of the time: a Roma where traditional institutions were weakened while great leaders were legitimized through symbols of supreme power and divine protection.

Provenance: Numismatica Ars Classica (2019)
Price: 1,757 €