Roman Republic, Denarius

From the year 211 BC the Roman silver coins always bore the same images. The obverse depicted the head of goddess Roma and the denomination. The reverse showed the Dioscuri Castor and Pollux on their ride into battle, and the inscription ROMA.

About ten years later a biga driven by the moon goddess Luna appeared as a second reverse type; after Rome had incorporated the Macedonian Empire (167 BC) Luna was replaced by Victoria, the goddess of victory – to be seen on this denarius. Apart from that it was not before the middle of the 2nd century BC that the images on Roman coins began to vary.