T. Cloelius. Denarius

T. Cloelius; 128 BC, Denarius, 3.82g. Crawford-260/1, RBW-1055, Syd-516. Obv: ROMA Head of Roma r. wearing winged helmet; behind, wreath. Rx: T CLOVLI, Victory r. in prancing biga; below horses, grain ear. Cicero, Pro Sexto Roscio 64-5 (trans. Yonge, 1903): "Not many years ago they say that Titius Cloelius [possibly this moneyer], a citizen of Terracina, a well-known man, when, having supped, he had retired to rest in the same room with his two youthful sons, was found in the morning with his throat cut: when no servant could be found nor any free man, on whom suspicion of the deed could be fixed, and his two sons of that age lying near him said that they did not even know what had been done; the sons were accused of the parricide. What followed? it was, indeed, a suspicious business; that neither of them were aware of it, and that someone had ventured to introduce himself into that chamber, especially at that time when two young men were in the same place, who might easily have heard the noise and defended him. Moreover, there was no one on whom suspicion of the deed could fall. Still as it was plain to the judges that they were found sleeping with the door open, the young men were acquitted and released from all suspicion. For no one thought that there was anyone who, when he had violated all divine and human laws by a nefarious crime, could immediately go to sleep; because they who have committed such a crime not only cannot rest free from care, but cannot even breathe without fear.".. VF