Silver Coin – Denarius serratus

Silver coin in the denomination of denarius. The obverse bears a representation of Juno Sospito’shead turned to the right carrying a goat’s skin, and on the left there is a symbol (a ring?). On the reverse there is a representation of a griphon turned rightwards, with his forelegs uplifted and with its wings spread with its wagging tail, and below forelegs there is a symbol (a pair oftweezers?). The inscription L. PAPI refers to Lucius Papius, a person in charge of minting coins (Mint authority).

Denarii were silver coins which began to come into use in 211 BC and were maintained up to 3^rd century AD. During the late Republic period so-called serrated denarii (denarius serratus) began to make their appearance. With serrated edges silver purity was confirmed, it was in fact proved that coins had been entirely struck from silver and not silver-plated.