Republican Denarius of Rome Issued by Q. Pomponius Musa

66 BCE

11/16 in. (diameter) x 1/16 in. (1.8 cm x 0.1 cm)

This object has the following keywords:

• Apollo
• denarii - Roman silver coins originally valued at ten asses, later debased in value and purity; in use from the late 3rd century BCE until the mid-3rd century CE.
• Republican - Refers to the period in history and style of art that developed when Rome was ruled by the Republic, from its founding in 509 BCE through the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE or the formal establishment of the Empire in 27 BCE. Art produced during this period reflects the political power, glories, and distinguished ancestors of the ruling families, resulting in many portraits and historical reliefs. The style is characterized by the influence of Classical Greek art and an emphasis on extreme realism.
• silver - Pure metallic element having symbol Ag and atomic number 47; a malleable, ductile, white metal with characteristic sheen, considered a precious metal. Silver is widely distributed throughout the world, occurring rarely as metallic silver (in Peru, Norway) but more often as silver-gold alloys and silver ore. Today silver is obtained as a byproduct in the refinement of gold, lead, copper, or zinc ores. Silver was smelted from the ore galena as early as 3800 BCE. As a pure metal, silver is second to gold in malleability and ductility, can be polished to a highly reflective surface, and used -- typically in an alloy -- in jewelry, coinage, photography, mirrors, electrical contacts, and tableware.
• stars - Conventionalized figures derived from astronomical stars, having radiating points of any number.
• terrestrial globes - Refers to spheres that bear a map of the Earth on their surface. They were first devised by the ancient Greeks, who had calculated that the Earth is a sphere. Modern terrestrial globes are typically mounted on an axle that permits rotation and is tilted 23.5 degrees from the vertical in order to simulate the inclination of the Earth relative to the plane in which it orbits the Sun.
• tripods - Refers generally to three-legged supports of any kind. The word may be applied variously to objects such as stools, tables, light stands, stands for cameras, or pedestals. Ancient, antique, or classical forms are associated with religious or symbolic altars, or sacrificial vessels. The seat of the Delphic oracle was in the form of a tripod.