Roman Republic, Denarius

The obverse of this Roman denarius shows Gaius Coelius Caldus, who towards the end of the 2nd century BC defeated the Celtic tribe of the Saluvii in Gaul; for this he was honored with a triumphal procession through Rome.

The reverse refers to his son Lucius Coelius Caldus. He was a member of the Septemviri epulonum, a board of priests who arranged cultic banquets for the major Roman gods, during which statues of the gods were symbolically dined. He is shown here in preparation of a divine feast.