ROMAN REPUBLIC. L. Furius Cn. f. Brocchus. Rome, 63 BC. AR Denarius, 3.77g (20mm, 6h). BROCCHI Head of Ceres r., wearing corn-wreath. Below, on the l., corn-ear; on the r., barley-corn with III/VIR above / L.FVRI/CN.F Sella curulis variously adorned; on either side, two lictorian fasces.

References: Crawford 414/1. Cal 606. Furia 35

Grade: Some minor pitting and a few marks, otherwise nicely centered and struck with all elements visible. EF

Price: $1,450

rr1200

There is nothing known about the moneyer L. Furius Cn. f. Brocchus however the images on the coin may give further insight into who he was. Ceres, the goddess of food bounty in harvest, is on the obverse of the coin wearing a corn-wreath and the corn and barley symbols associated with her. On the reverse, a Sella curulis, a chair that was used by magistrates or officials of state. We could assume that the moneyer in this case was showing respect to an ancestor or indicating his own ambitions to that role (see Crawford, p. 440). The distribution of the harvest was vitally important to the Romans so this role was one of great importance.