![ROMAN REPUBLIC. P. Clodius Turrinus, Denarius, 42 BC [ARR-97] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ARR-97-1.jpg)
Description
Roman Republic, the Imperatorial period, Pūblius Clōdius Turrinus of gens Claudia, as triumvir monētālis, Silver Denarius (3.92g, 18mm), Rome mint 42 BC. Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo facing to the right, hair collected in a bun, lyre to left field. Reverse: Diana lūcifera (‘the light bearer’) stands right, draped in stola and wearing quiver and bow over shoulder and holding two long torches alight, moneyer’s name “P·CLODIVS” downward to right and filiation “M·F” downward to left. Crawford-494/23; Sydenham-1117. Nicely toned and a bold portrait of fairly nice style, nice in hand, good Very Fine, reverse Very Fine.
The late Roman Republic, now known as the Imperatorial Period or Period of Imperators, saw many changes to the standard practice of coin minting – in particular, the use of coins as a propaganda medium, which had started circa 139 BC, was fully maximized with the introduction of real-life Roman statesmen appearing on silver denarii. Also, conventionally the role of mint magistrate was set to three men, trēsviri aere argentō aurō flandō feriundo or “three men for casting (and) striking bronze, silver (and) gold (coins)”, but in 44 BC Gāius Iūlius C.f. C.n. Caesar introduced a Quattuorvirātus monētārius, all for the purpose of striking politically driven monetary pieces. In 42 BC, the quadrumviri monētālēs were L. Līvineius Rēgulus, P. Clōdius Turrinus, L. Mussidius Longus, and C. Vībius Vārus – the offered denarius was struck in the name of Pūblius Clōdius ‘Mārcī fīlius’ Turrinus of gens Claudia. Little is known of this mint magistrate, therefore it is uncertain which branch of gens Claudia he was born into, some assumptions can be made by his spelling of his name as “Clōdius”, however, as this was an alternative form of the traditional “Claudius”, often used by the plebeian descendants or by the cadet branch of the patrician Claudiī Pulchrī, which voluntarily went over to the plebeians.
