Ancient Coins: ROMAN REPUBLICAN and IMPERATORIAL SILVER: P. Fonteius Capito, 54 B.C.

AR Denarius, 4.03g. 18mm. P FONTEIVS P F CAPITO III VIR CONCORDIA.  Diademed and veiled head of Concordia to right; some light die breaks in fields. Rev. T DIDI IMP VIL PVB.  The Villa Publica with gates attached to the columns. CR 429/2b.  Syd. 901a. Banti, Fonteia 34/1(this coin illustrated).  Lovely old collection toning and exceptionally complete.

The Villa Publica was originally built c.435 B.C. on the Campus Martius to be used for taking the census. The Villa was enlarged in 194 B.C. and was used for the levies of the army, inspection of arms, and still for the census.  Generals returning to Rome were also housed in the Villa while they awaited a decision of the Senate if a triumph was to be declared.  (See: L. Richardson Jr, A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, pp. 430-431.

The moneyer is probably a relative of the T.Didius, consul in 98 B.C., who restored the Villa Publica.  The moneyer may also have been a friend of Cicero as mentioned in Crawford.

Provenance/Pedigrees:
Ex: Münzen und Medaillen, Basel, Auction 52, June 19, 1975, lot 394.
Ex: Bankhaus Aufhaüser, Munich, Auction 12, 1996, lot 359. 

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