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Denarius serratus Mamilia: Gaius Mamilius Limetanus, C•MAMIL LIMETAN
| Issuer | Roman Republic (509 BC - 27 BC) |
|---|---|
| Year | 82 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Reverse description | Ulysses (Odysseus) standing facing left, wearing a conical pileus cap and a short cloak draped over his shoulders, striding with his right hand extended and holding a long staff or spear in his left hand. At his feet to the right crouches his faithful dog Argos, recognizing his master upon his return — a scene referencing the Mamilii gens' claimed descent from Telegonus, son of Ulysses. The moneyer's name C•MAMIL appears to the left of the central figure and LIMETAN to the right, all within a beaded inner border. The serrated edge of the flan is prominently visible. |
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| Reverse lettering | C•MAMIL LIMETAN (Translation: Gaius Mamilius Limetanus) |
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| Additional information |
Gaius Mamilius Limetanus issued this denarius in 82 BC, the year Sulla marched on Rome for the second time and began his proscriptions. The serrated edge — produced by notching the flan before striking — was almost certainly a response to public anxiety about plated forgeries circulating widely during the Social War's financial disruption; the idea being that a forger could not convincingly serrate a core of base metal without the deception becoming obvious on the cut edges.
The Mamilii gens claimed descent from Telegonus, legendary founder of Tusculum, which explains the mythological references on this issue. RRC 362/1 is well-attested in the RBW collection, catalogued as #1370.