Roman Republic, C. Memmius C. f., Denarius

Roman Republic

C. Memmius C. f. (56 BC), Denarius, Rome mint

Obverse: Quirinus head in wreath right, C MEMMI C F inscription in front of the head, QVIRINVS on the back

Reverse: Ceres seated right

MEMMIVS AED CERIALIA PREIMVS FECIT

Weight 3.7 g

Quirinus was a Sabine god of war who was eventually identified with Romulus, the founder of Rome. With this denarius, Memmius seems to allude to descent from the Sabines or from Romulus himself. The legend of the reverse is closely related to the ancestor of Memmius, who in 202 BC, as a (plebeian) edile, organized the first feast of the goddess Ceres, Cerealia. The festival was held annually for several days in April from its inception, and included Circus Maximus races and theater events.