C. Fonteius was one of the moneyers for the year 114-113 BC. He or his brother served as Legatus in 91 BC.
Gens Fonteia was a plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned toward the end of the third century BC; Titus Fonteius was a legate of Publius Cornelius Scipio during the Second Punic War. The first of the Fonteii to obtain the consulship was Gaius Fonteius Capito, consul suffectus in 33 BC.
In his oration, Pro Fonteio, Cicero mentions that the Fonteii came originally from Tusculum, of which municipium it was one of the most distinguished families. The Fonteii claimed descent from Fontus, the son of Janus. A two-faced head appears on a coin of the gens, which Vaillant and others suppose to be the head of Janus, in reference to this tradition. But as Janus is always represented in later times with a beard, Eckhel maintains that the two heads refer to the Dioscuri, who were worshipped at Tusculum with especial honours.
Gens Fonteia was a plebeian family at Rome. Members of this gens are first mentioned toward the end of the third century BC; Titus Fonteius was a legate of Publius Cornelius Scipio during the Second Punic War. The first of the Fonteii to obtain the consulship was Gaius Fonteius Capito, consul suffectus in 33 BC.
In his oration, Pro Fonteio, Cicero mentions that the Fonteii came originally from Tusculum, of which municipium it was one of the most distinguished families. The Fonteii claimed descent from Fontus, the son of Janus. A two-faced head appears on a coin of the gens, which Vaillant and others suppose to be the head of Janus, in reference to this tradition. But as Janus is always represented in later times with a beard, Eckhel maintains that the two heads refer to the Dioscuri, who were worshipped at Tusculum with especial honours.
(1)
C. Fonteius
Obverse: laureate Janiform heads of Dioscuri; T _ (XVI)
Reverse: war galley left, acrostolium, ram and deck house at prow, three sailors and five oars amidships; deck house, gubernator, rudder, and apluster at stern; C·FO(NT) / ROMA
Diameter:
21 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.9 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.9 g
"The janiform head has been identified as the Dioscuri, because the Fonteia gens came from Tusculum, the religious center of the cult of Castor and Pollux. The reverse depicts the arrival by sea of Telegonus' the son of Odysseus and Circe, and the mythological founder of Tusculum." ForumAncientCoins note
Moneyer probably served as legate in 91 BC at the beginning of Civil war and was killed by rebels in Asculum.
Crawford 290/1, SRCV I 167, RSC I Fonteia 1, Sydenham 555
(2)
C. Fonteius
(9).JPG)
Obverse: Laureate, janiform heads of the Dioscuri, E to left and mark of value to right
Reverse: Galley left with three rowers, gubernator at stern; C•FONT above, ROMA below
Diameter:
19 mm
Die Orientation: 7 H
Weight: 3.7 g
Die Orientation: 7 H
Weight: 3.7 g
This coin is currently consigned to Roma's E-sale 64.
In his oration, Pro Fonteio, Cicero mentions that the Fonteii came originally from Tusculum, of which municipium it was one of the most distinguished families. The Fonteii claimed descent from Fontus, the son of Janus. A two-faced head appears on a coin of Gaius Fonteius, which Jean Foy Vaillant and others suppose to be the head of Fontus or Janus, in reference to this tradition. But as Janus is always represented in later times with a beard, Eckhel maintains that the two heads refer to the Dioscuri, who were worshipped at Tusculum with especial honours, and who may be regarded as the Di Penates of the gens. Michael Crawford likewise favours a depiction of the Dioscuri as they appear on other coins of the Fonteii. The galley on the reverse meanwhile is a reference to Telegonus, son of Ulysses and according to myth the founder of Tusculum
Crawford 290/1; RSC Fonteia 1
(3)
C. Fonteius
Obverse: Laureate, janiform heads of the Dioscuri, E to left and mark of value to right
Reverse: Galley left with three rowers, gubernator at stern; C•FONT above, ROMA below.
Diameter:
19 mm
Die Orientation: 7 H
Weight: 3.7 g
Die Orientation: 7 H
Weight: 3.7 g
Ex Paul James Collection
Crawford 290/1; RSC Fonteia 1