Ancient Coin of the Day: Like coins? Like puns? Then you’ll love the denarii of Quintus Pomponius Musa, beginning with this silver denarius of 66 BC. #ACOTD #Roman #Muses

Image: RRC 410/1; ANS 1937.158.170. Link - http://numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-410.1

A Roman moneyer of the mid-60s BC, Quintus Pomponius Musa clearly had quite the sense of humour, but also took the opportunity to issue coinage that celebrated his own name. The result? A series of tremendous coins featuring the Muses!

The Obverse of the coin shows a portrait of Apollo, with what must be conceded is rather a Daedalic hairstyle, sporting an elaborate hairband. The entire series of ‘Muse’ coins will be unified by an Obverse portrait of Apollo, though this one is idiosyncratic within the series.

The Reverse shows Hercules, identifiable through the lion-skin and club, advancing right plucking away at his lyre. The Legend MVSARVM HERCVLES – ‘Hercules of the Muses’ – reinforces the focus.

A temple to Hercules Musarum had been constructed by M. Fulvius Nobilior in the Circus Flaminius, ca. 187 BC, and it is possible that the statues within this temple were the source for these numismatic representations by Pomponius Musa.

There are obviously nine individual issues – one for each Muse – within this series of 66 BC, but I’ll just highlight some favourites, beginning with the Reverse of Calliope, Muse of Epic poetry.

Image: RRC 410/2b; Münzkabinett Berlin (18201833). Link - http://numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-410.2b

While all of the issues show a laureate portrait of Apollo on the Obverse, the object within the field varies, deliberately chosen to mirror the Muse on the Reverse: here for Urania, Muse of Astronomy, a star.

Image: RRC 410/8; ANS 2002.46.447. Link - http://numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-410.8

Perhaps my favourite from the series is the issue for Thalia, Muse of Comedy, who stands on the Reverse carrying a comedic theatrical mask and shepherd’s staff (pedum).

Image: RRC 410/9a; Münzkabinett Wien (RÖ 37821). Link - http://numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-410.9a

I really admire these coins which, as a collective, represent the most extensive series of denarii issued by a single Roman Republican moneyer.

For more on Hercules Musarum, see:

Schultz, Celia E. “Modern Prejudice and Ancient Praxis: Female Worship of Hercules at Rome.” Zeitschrift Für Papyrologie Und Epigraphik, vol. 133, 2000, pp. 291–297.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/20190780 

For more on Hercules and the Muses, see:

Hardie, Alex. “Juno, Hercules, and the Muses at Rome.” The American Journal of Philology, vol. 128, no. 4, 2007, pp. 551–592.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/27566676 

#ACOTD #Roman #Muses