Roman Republic Denarius, M. Herennius, Pietas, Amphinomus Carrying His Father

Description

There are two viable interpretations of this reverse design. The first is that the moneyer, M. Herennius, who perhaps had a connection with Sicily, chose to illustrate a local example of piety: the brothers Amphinomous and Anapias saving their parents from an eruption of Mt. Etna by carrying them on their shoulders. The second interpretation harkens back to the mythological founding of Rome. Aeneas, during the fall of Troy, carried his father Anchises from the burning ruins of the city. Romulus and Remus, the founders of the city of Rome, being descended from Aeneas, make him the progenitor of the Roman people. Long before Virgil refers to ‘pious Aeneas’ in the
Aeneid
, the Roman concept of piety was threefold; duty to the gods, to one’s homeland and to one’s family. Thus, the bust of Pietas on the obverse is neatly linked to the reverse design, regardless which interpretation you embrace.
ROMAN REPUBLIC.
M. Herennius, moneyer.
AR Denarius, 18mm, 3.87g, 11h; Rome 108-107 BC.
Obv.: PIETAS; Diademed head of Pietas right.
Rev.: M HERENNI; Amphinomus running right, carrying his father; control mark R in right field.
References: Cr. 308/1b; Syd. 567a.
From the DePew Collection.