M. Furius L.f. Philus was one of the moneyers for the year 119 BC. He is not otherwise known, but it probably the son of the Consul for 136 BC, L. Furius Philus.
Gens Furia, originally written Fusia, was one of the most ancient and noble patrician houses at Rome. Its members held the highest offices of the state throughout the period of the Roman Republic. The first of the Furii to attain the consulship was Sextus Furius Medullinus in 488 BC.
The cognomen Philus is probably borrowed from the Greek Φιλος, which approximately means 'friendly'.
Gens Furia, originally written Fusia, was one of the most ancient and noble patrician houses at Rome. Its members held the highest offices of the state throughout the period of the Roman Republic. The first of the Furii to attain the consulship was Sextus Furius Medullinus in 488 BC.
The cognomen Philus is probably borrowed from the Greek Φιλος, which approximately means 'friendly'.
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Obverse: laureate head of Janus M·FOVRI·L·F
Reverse: Roma standing left, transverse long scepter in left hand, with right hand placing wreath on trophy of captured Gallic arms with carnyx and shield on each side, star above ROMA (PHI)LI
Diameter:
19.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.8 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.8 g
This coin vary from traditional iconography. Reverse commemorates victory over Ligurians and Gauls of moneyer's ancestor P. Furius Philus in 223 BC or depicts contemporary victory by Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus and Q. Fabius Maximus over the Allobrogoges and the Averni in Gaul in 121 B.C.
Crawford 281/1, SRCV 156, Sydenham 529, RSC I Furia 18
Obverse: M. FOVRI. L. F, laureate head of Janus
Reverse: PHLI (PH ligate) in exergue, ROMA on right, Roma standing left, holding spear and crowning Gallic trophy with wreath; above, star.
Diameter:
-
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.94 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.94 g
In my personal collection, the "Time Traveler's Collection". This Janus Denarius is very nicely styled and attractively toned. Many of this type have a more muddled style.
Other notes: Impressive reverse, well centered. The obverse is off centered, and some of the legend is off the flan. Overall, great quality, and in my opinion slightly under-graded. I would personally grade this at XF. By European standards, good VF is understandable, but compared to other examples I have had that are NGC slabbed, it is under-graded. *Also, freed from its coffin. ;)
Crawford 281/1