DR-760 | Crawford: 494/30
Lucius Livineius Regulus
Lucius Livineius Regulus

Gens: Livinieia
Moneyer: Lucius Livineius Regulus
Date and mint: 42 BC - Rome


Obverse: Bust of L. Regulus (Praetor), right. Dotted border.
Legend:

Reverse: Fighting of wild beasts; in the foreground, a man attacks a lion with a spear; in the background, the second man with shield and sword attacks the panther; On the left, wounded wild boar. Dotted border.
Legend: L REGVLVS

Comment: The denarius was issued in 42 BC. by Lucius Livineius Regulo, who dedicated his entire moneyer series to honor the memory of his homonymous ancestor, praetor in republican times.
According to Babelon, the reverse alludes to some Apollonian games organized by that praetor, in which venationes were held, combats between gladiators and wild beasts, very popular in Rome.
As the magistrate in charge of public spectacles, the ancient Regulus would have supervised these performances, considered manifestations of the power, generosity and civic prestige of the State.

The obverse perpetuates his portrait, while the reverse illustrates his role as an organizer of such games, presenting him as an example of virtus, liberalitas and service to the Roman people.

As a whole, the coin combines family pride with political propaganda, exalting the memory of an illustrious ancestor in a context—the year 42 BC—in which Roma was experiencing the transition between the Republic and the personal power of the triumvirs.

Provenance: Tauler & Fau (2021)
Price: 5,500 €