P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus. 42 BC. AR Denarius

P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus. 42 BC. AR Denarius (19 mm, 4.00 g, 6 h). Rome. Obv. Laureate head of Apollo right; behind, lyre. Rev. P•CLODIVS / M•F, Diana standing facing, head right, with bow and quiver over shoulder, holding a lighted torch in each hand. Babelon (Clodia) 15; Crawford 494/23; Sydenham 1117; RBW 1727. Well struck. Banker’s mark on obverse, otherwise good extremely fine.

Struck in 42 BC, this denarius belongs to the late Republican series issued by P. Clodius Turrinus, whose activity as moneyer falls in the turbulent aftermath of Caesar’s assassination. The obverse type depicts Apollo, shown laureate and accompanied by his lyre, emphasizing themes of harmony, order, and divine sanction. Apollo appears frequently on late Republican coinage, particularly in contexts that sought to project moral renewal and religious legitimacy during a period of political instability. The reverse presents Diana standing frontally, equipped with bow and quiver and holding two lighted torches, an iconography that alludes to her role as a goddess of boundaries, transition, and protection. The torch bearing type is especially associated with Diana in her chthonic and nocturnal aspects, as well as with rites connected to purification and guidance. Together, the paired deities Apollo and Diana, twin offspring of Leto, form a coherent religious program that emphasizes balance and divine guardianship. As was customary for Republican moneyers, the imagery does not directly refer to contemporary political events but instead draws upon established cultic associations to underscore piety and tradition. This denarius is a clear and well preserved representative of late Republican religious iconography, struck shortly before the collapse of the Republican monetary system under the pressures of civil war.