Roman Republic, Denarius Serratus

This denarius was issued by Quintus Antonius Balbus in 83 or 82 BC. It was a special issue, ordered by the Senate of Rome to prepare for the defense against Lucius Cornelius Sulla, who was in 83 BC marching towards Rome with his troops, intending to install himself as dictator.

That the Senate ordered the issue of this coin series is shown by the letters S.C for 'Senatus consulto' behind the head of Jupiter on the obverse. The reverse depicts Victoria, the goddess of victory, holding a palm-branch and a victory laurel and driving a quadriga, a four-horse chariot. The design anticipated triumph, a hope in which Sulla's adversaries were to be disappointed.