Roman Republic, Italy. L. Thorius Balbus, Rome, c. 105 BC

AR Denarius, 3.88g (19mm, 3h).Head of Juno Sospita to r., wearing goat skin headdress; I • S • M • R downwards behind / bull charging to r.; R (control letter) above, L • THORIVS below, BALBVS in exergue.References: Craw. 316/1, Syd. 598Grade: Some areas of minor wear, otherwise lovely toned surfaces. EFrr1344While some denarii were clearly intended to glorify Rome, this particular type was clearly intended to promote the Gens Thoria above all else. The aggressively charging bull is thought to be a punning allusion to the moneyer's name, Thorius, which is related to an archaic spelling of Taurus. In fact, it is thought that the family used the bull as a family badge prior to this. It also depicts a bust of Juno Sospita wearing a goat skin headdress on the obverse. Her cult, based in Balbus’s home city of Lanuvium, was dedicated to protecting newly married and pregnant women.