Roman Republic, Denarius

The obverse of this denarius from the year 90 BC depicts a bearded man wearing a winged diadem. The identity of the man and his significance for the moneyer of this coin are unknown. The reverse depicts Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek legend. The inscription Q. TITI below refers to the moneyer Quintus Titius, about whom nothing is known.

Most coins of the Roman Republic were issued by mint officials. They commissioned designs that often referred to famous ancestors, favourite cults or current events. Sometimes, as here, the reasons behind their choices remain obscure.