
denarius serratus from 79 BC
Obv.: Head of Juno Sospita r., wearing goat skin tied under chin.Behind head, symbol.
Rev.: Grypon running r.; in ex., L. PAPI.; in field, symbol.
This coin is an example of symbols 2 (amphora / hydria) in Crawford's RRC
Photo from CNG coin shop no. 157812
Sydenham proposed that the symbols represent trade guilds (collegia opificum) in "Symbols on Denarii of L. Papius and L. Roscius",Numismatic Chronicle, 1931, pp 1-13
Crawford in RRC, suggested that there is no such assosciation with the collegia. Rather he believes they are a "random selection of pairs of everyday objects"
RRC stands for "Roman Republican Coinage" by Michael Crawford, 1974. RRC numbers are from plates lxvi and lxvii. RRC lists 211 varieties.
BMCRR stands for "British Museum Catalogue of Coins of the Roman Republic" by Herbert Grueber, 1910. BMCRR numbers are from page 371 of volume 1 BMCRR lists 119 varieties.
Babelon stands for "Monnaies de la Republique Romain" by E. Babelon, 1885. The L. Papius coins are described in volume 2, p. 279. Babelon illustrates 150 varieties. Click here to see them.
CNR stands for "Corpus Nummorum Romanorum" by A. Banti, 1982 in Italian. It includes 189 L. Papius coins plus one incuse and one imitation. They are organized in categories based on related symbol pairs and the symbols are identified. The photos are taken from auction catalogs, museum collections, and private collections. The weight is listed for most of them.
"The Messagne Hoard" by Charles Hersh and Alan Walker. Museum Notes 29. The American Numismatic Society, New York, 1984.
Wildwinds lists several examples of this type of denarius
Phil Davis' site on Imitations of Roman Republican Denarii
L. Papius in the Fitzwilliam Museum Collection
The Bonanno Ancient Coin Collection
Entries are numbered in the same order as on the plates in RRC. Varieties which are not in RRC are numbered sequentially following those which are shown in RRC. The first such coin is numbered as 212
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| number (count) | Picture Click for more examples of each type. | obv. symbol | rev. symbol | trade guild | RRC | BMCRR | Babelon | CNR | Image Source |
| 1 (3) | ![]() | amphora | fallen amphora | wine-vendors | 1 | 1 | 19 | 1/010 | Pues 366, 1194. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel |
| 2 (1) | ![]() | amphora | hydria | wine-vendors | 2 | 2 | 42 | unknown | CNG |
| 3 (1) | ![]() | amphora | tripod for amphora | wine-vendors | 3 | 3 | 24 | unknown | Barry Murphy |
| 4 (0) | ![]() | anvil | tongs | metal-workers | 4 | 4 | unknown | 1/018 | |
| 5 (0) | ![]() | aplustre | prow | sailors | 5 | 5 | unknown | unknown | |
| 6 (0) | ![]() | barnacle | drenching horn | unknown | 6 | 6 | 37 | unknown | |
| 7 (0) | ![]() | basket of grapes | basket of fruit | greengrocers | 7 | 7 | unknown | unknown | |
| 8 (0) | ![]() | basket | basket | basket-makers | 8 | 8 | unknown | unknown | |
| 9 (0) | ![]() | boot with strap | shoe on last | cobblers | 9 | 9 | 5 | 1/040 | |
| 10 (2) | ![]() | beaker | two-handled vase | wine-vendors | 10 | 10 | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 11 (3) | ![]() | beaker | jug | wine-vendors | 11 | 11 | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 12 (3) | ![]() | bucket | wine-skin | wine-vendors | 12 | 12 | 83 | 1/007 | CNG |
| 13 (1) | ![]() | cooking pot with hook | triple flesh-hook | cooks and bakers | 13 | 13 | 35 | 1/049 | CNG |
| 14 (1) | ![]() | bucranium | bipennis | butchers | 14 | 14 | 78 | unknown | Numismatik Lanz, München, Auction 123, lot no. 304. Photo Lübke and Wiedemann, Stuttgart |
| 15 (2) | ![]() | butterfly | wasp | unknown | 15 | 15 | 68 | unknown | CNG |
| 16 (2) | ![]() | candelabrum | fire-dog | metal-workers | 16 | 16 | 129 | unknown | Ancient Byways vcoins |
| 17 (0) | ![]() | candelabrum | fulcrum | unknown | 17 | 17 | unknown | unknown | |
| 18 (1) | ![]() | phrygian cap | sword | unknown | 18 | 18 | 7 | unknown | Bill Blank |
| 19 (0) | ![]() | galerus | two spears | soldiers | 19 | 19 | unknown | unknown | |
| 20 (0) | ![]() | clapper of three pieces of wood | fan or fly-flap | unknown | 20 | 20 | unknown | unknown | |
| 21 (0) | ![]() | base of column | corinthian capital | builders | 21 | 21 | 81 | 1/034 | |
| 22 (0) | ![]() | carding comb | spatula | weavers | 22 | 22 | unknown | unknown | |
| 23 (0) | ![]() | double-comb (?) | two rings connected by two bars | unknown | 23 | 23 | unknown | 1/006 | |
| 24 (0) | ![]() | cooking vessel | ladle | cooks and bakers | 24 | 24 | unknown | unknown | |
| 25 (2) | ![]() | cornucopiae | grape bunch on vine | farmers and shepherds | 25 | 25 | 84 | unknown | CNG |
| 26 (1) | ![]() | crab | fish | fishmongers | 26 | 26 | 36 | unknown | CNG |
| 27 (0) | ![]() | crater | amphora | wine-vendors | 27 | 27 | unknown | 1/050 ? | |
| 28 (0) | ![]() | cray-fish | octopus | fishmongers | 28 | 28 | unknown | unknown | |
| 29 (1) | ![]() | crocodile | pig | unknown | 29 | 29 | unknown | unknown | Pues 289, 22. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel |
| 30 (1) | ![]() | chisel | mallet | carpenters | 30 | 30 | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 31 (0) | ![]() | crowbar | pick | artisans | 31 | 31 | unknown | 1/017 | |
| 32 (0) | ![]() | cruse for oil | lamp | oil merchants | 32 | 32 | unknown | unknown | |
| 33 (1) | ![]() | shallow cup | rhyton | wine-vendors | 33 | 33 | unknown | unknown | Numismatik Lanz, München, Auction 123, lot no. 302. Photo Lübke and Wiedemann, Stuttgart |
| 34 (0) | ![]() | curule chair | seat or bench | unknown | 34 | 34 | 124 | unknown | |
| 35 (2) | ![]() | trumpet mouthpiece (?) | trumpet mouthpiece (?) | musicians (?) | 35 | 35 | unlisted | unknown | Wayne Phillips |
| 36 (0) | ![]() | disk | ring with cord | unknown | 36 | 36 | 107 | unknown | |
| 37 (1) | ![]() | distaff | two reels | weavers | 37 | 37 | unknown | unknown | Pues 367, 367. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel |
| 38 (0) | ![]() | dog running | capricorn | unknown | 38 | 38 | 45 | unknown | |
| 39 (2) | ![]() | half of fat fish | thin fish | fishmongers | 39 | 39 | 74 | unknown | Bill Welch |
| 40 (1) | ![]() | plasterer's float | trowel | builders | 40 | 40 | 137 | 1/033 | Gunter Mäckel |
| 41 (0) | ![]() | drill | compasses | carpenters | 41 | 41 | unknown | unknown | |
| 42 (0) | ![]() | drill | plane | carpenters | 42 | 42 | unknown | 1/022 | |
| 43 (0) | ![]() | egg | eagle | unknown | 43 | 43 | unknown | unknown | |
| 44 (1) | ![]() | feather | feather of peacock | unknown | 44 | 44 | unknown | unknown | The Time Machine Co. VCoins store |
| 45 (0) | ![]() | flail | basket | farmers and shepherds | 45 | 45 | unknown | 1/001 | |
| 46 (1) | ![]() | two flutes | syrinx | musicians | 46 | 46 | 109 | unknown | CNG |
| 47 (0) | ![]() | human foot | hand holding lancet | chiropodists | 47 | 47 | unknown | unknown | |
| 48 (0) | ![]() | gimlet | hammer | carpenters | 48 | 48 | 92 | 1/016 | |
| 49 (0) | ![]() | meta | weight | athletes | 49 | 49 | unknown | unknown | |
| 50 (0) | ![]() | female goat's head | male goat's head | unknown | 50 | 50 | unknown | unknown | |
| 51 (1) | ![]() | goblet | wine-skin | wine-vendors | 51 | 51 | 98 | unknown | Tom Cederlind VCoins store |
| 52 (3) | ![]() | goblet | wine-skin | wine-vendors | 52 | 52 | 96 | 1/042 | BACC #44 |
| 53 (1) | ![]() | greave | metal-worker's hammer | metal-workers | 53 | 53 | unknown | unknown | Pues 372, 953. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel |
| 54 (0) | ![]() | hammer with round head | culter | unknown | 54 | 54 | unknown | unknown | |
| 55 (1) | ![]() | hand in caestus | torch | athletes | 55 | 55 | unknown | unknown | Pues 388-389 / 894 |
| 56 (0) | ![]() | hand with stilus or graver | sundial | unknown | 56 | 56 | unknown | unknown | |
| 57 (0) | ![]() | hare running | dog running | unknown | 57 | 57 | unknown | unknown | |
| 58 (0) | ![]() | harp | lyre | musicians | 58 | 58 | unknown | unknown | |
| 59 (0) | ![]() | harpa | dragon's head | unknown | 59 | 59 | unknown | unknown | |
| 60 (0) | ![]() | helmet | ancilia (?) | soldiers | 60 | 60 | unknown | unknown | |
| 61 (0) | ![]() | apex | simpulum | officials | 61 | 61 | unknown | unknown | |
| 62 (0) | ![]() | hook for raising timber | pulley | carpenters | 62 | 62 | unknown | 1/024 | |
| 63 (1) | ![]() | flesh-hook | ladle | cooks and bakers | 63 | 63 | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 64 (2) | ![]() | forepart of lion | forepart of bull | unknown | 64 | 64 | 77 | unknown | CNG |
| 65 (1) | ![]() | ampulla | palm-branch | athletes | 65 | 65 | unknown | unknown | |
| 66 (0) | ![]() | gutturnium | cradle | unknown | 66 | 66 | unknown | unknown | |
| 67 (1) | ![]() | knife with curved blade | block of wood | unknown | 67 | 67 | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 68 (0) | ![]() | lantern | snuffers | metal-workers | 68 | 68 | 46 | unknown | |
| 69 (0) | ![]() | shepherd's crook | mask of Pan | farmers and shepherds | 69 | 69 | 2 | unknown | |
| 70 (1) | ![]() | lock | key | metal-workers | 70 | 70 | 61 | 1/027 | |
| 71 (1) | ![]() | lotus flower | poppy head | unknown | 71 | 71 | 128 | unknown | Wayne Phillips |
| 72 (0) | ![]() | lyre | bow and quiver | unknown | 72 | 72 | unknown | unknown | |
| 73 (0) | ![]() | mace | club with strap | soldiers | 73 | 73 | unknown | unknown | |
| 74 (0) | ![]() | mirror | mirror inscribed SS III | unknown | 74 | 74 | unknown | unknown | |
| 75 (0) | ![]() | modius | modius | farmers and shepherds | 75 | 75 | unknown | 1/009 | |
| 76 (0) | ![]() | owl | crow with open wings | unknown | 76 | 76 | unknown | unknown | |
| 77 (0) | ![]() | bowl with handle | saucer with handle | wine-vendors | 77 | 77 | unknown | unknown | |
| 78 (2) | ![]() | pentagram | set square | builders | 78 | 78 | 140 | 1/031 | James Bonanno - BACC 57 |
| 79 (0) | ![]() | boring tool | chisel | builders | 79 | 79 | 121 | unknown | |
| 80 (0) | ![]() | pot-hook | unknown | unknown | 80 | 80 | unknown | 1/013 | |
| 81 (1) | ![]() | pump | basket with handle | farmers and shepherds | 81 | 81 | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 82 (0) | ![]() | signet-ring | scroll in case | clerks | 82 | 82 | unknown | 1/047 | |
| 83 (0) | ![]() | rudder | anchor | sailors | 83 | 83 | unknown | unknown | |
| 84 (1) | ![]() | sandal | sandal | cobblers | 84 | 84 | 17 | 1/041 | CNG |
| 85 (2) | ![]() | tanner's knife | scraper | tanners | 85 | 85 | 64 | 1/012 | CNG |
| 86 (0) | ![]() | sceptre | curved sword in sheath | unknown | 86 | 86 | unknown | unknown | |
| 87 (1) | ![]() | sceptre | radiate crown | officials | 87 | 87 | 40 | 1/046 | CNG |
| 88 (0) | ![]() | shell, conch | shell, scallop | unknown | 88 | 88 | unknown | unknown | |
| 89 (0) | ![]() | baker's shovel | baker's oven | cooks and bakers | 89 | 89 | unknown | 1/014 | |
| 90 (0) | ![]() | sickle | basket | farmers and shepherds | 90 | 90 | unknown | 1/003 | |
| 91 (0) | ![]() | sistrum | patera with fruit | unknown | 91 | 91 | unknown | unknown | |
| 92 (0) | ![]() | crossbow bolt | front view of crossbow | soldiers | 92 | 92 | 75 | unknown | |
| 93 (1) | ![]() | spear-head | human food, deformed | unknown | 93 | 93 | unknown | unknown | Beast Coins |
| 94 (0) | ![]() | spindle | distaff | weavers | 94 | 94 | unknown | 1/015 | |
| 95 (1) | ![]() | spur | horse's muzzle | soldiers | 95 | 95 | unknown | unknown | Pues 303, 300. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel |
| 96 (0) | ![]() | staff with strap | ninepin | unknown | 96 | 96 | unknown | unknown | |
| 97 (0) | ![]() | staff with double hook | knuckle bone, astragalus | unknown | 97 | 97 | unknown | unknown | |
| 98 (0) | ![]() | standard | serpent | unknown | 98 | 98 | unknown | unknown | |
| 99 (1) | ![]() | funnel strainer | amphora | wine-vendors | 99 | 99 | unknown | 1/008 | Manfred Fischer |
| 100 (0) | ![]() | sword in sheath | trumpet, Sarmatian | soldiers | 100 | 100 | unknown | unknown | |
| 101 (0) | ![]() | voting tablet (tabella), inscribed PA-PI | cista with handle, scrinium | unknown | 101 | 101 | unknown | unknown | |
| 102 (0) | ![]() | thyrsus | ivy branch | unknown | 102 | 102 | unknown | unknown | |
| 103 (0) | ![]() | ticket of bone, leaf-shaped | ticket of bone, egg-shaped | unknown | 103 | 103 | unknown | unknown | |
| 104 (1) | ![]() | trident | dolphin | fishmongers | 104 | 104 | 41 | unknown | CNG |
| 105 (1) | ![]() | block | butcher's knife | butchers | 105 | 105 | unknown | 1/011 | Pues 355, 841. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel |
| 106 (0) | ![]() | tripod | vase with cover | unknown | 106 | 106 | unknown | unknown | |
| 107 (0) | ![]() | turnip | carrot | greengrocers | 107 | 107 | 115 | unknown | |
| 108 (1) | ![]() | flask | suitcase | unknown | 108 | 108 | unknown | 1/043 | CNG |
| 109 (1) | ![]() | vase with spout | lamp feeder | oil merchants | 109 | 109 | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 110 (0) | ![]() | ampulla with strings for suspension | ampulla with strings for suspension | wine-vendors | 110 | 110 | unknown | unknown | |
| 111 (1) | ![]() | ampulla with strings for suspension | strigil | wine-vendors | 111 | 111 | 105 | unknown | Pierluigi Debernardi |
| 112 (1) | ![]() | scroll | stilus | clerks | 112 | 112 | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 113 (0) | ![]() | valve for water pipe | water pipe | unknown | 113 | 113 | 110 | 1/036 | |
| 114 (1) | ![]() | well-head | fountain | unknown | 114 | 114 | 106 | 1/037 1/048 | Barry Murphy |
| 115 (1) | ![]() | wheel with four spokes | wheel with eight spokes | wheelwrights | 115 | 115 | 79 | unknown | Barry Murphy |
| 116 (0) | ![]() | wolf's head | lion's head | unknown | 116 | 116 | unknown | unknown | |
| 117 (0) | ![]() | wreath | lituus | officials | 117 | 117 | unknown | unknown | |
| 118 (1) | ![]() | wreath | torque | officials | 118 | 118 | 126 | unknown | |
| 119 (0) | ![]() | yoke | chariot | soldiers | 119 | 119 | unknown | unknown | |
| 120 (1) | ![]() | fan (?) | thyrsus | 120 | unlisted | 1 | unknown | Nemesis VCoins store | |
| 122 (4) | ![]() | coiled serpent | dog | unknown | 122 | unlisted | 9 | unknown | James Bonanno |
| 123 (1) | ![]() | boots | shoehorn | cobblers | 123 | unlisted | unknown | 1/039 | Pues 291, 462. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel |
| 127 (2) | ![]() | 127 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Pues 301, 700. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel | |||
| 128 (0) | ![]() | simpulum (?) | two crossed sacrificial knives | 128 | unlisted | 26 | unknown | ||
| 129 (1) | ![]() | helmet | helmet | 129 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Rauch 67, 242. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel | |
| 131 (1) | ![]() | plumb line | mason's level | 131 | unlisted | unknown | 1/032 | Pues 284, 691. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel | |
| 134 (1) | ![]() | aplustre | prow stem | sailors | 134 | unlisted | 47 | unknown | |
| 137 (1) | ![]() | joint of ham | boar's head | butchers | 137 | unlisted | 52 | unknown | CNG |
| 138 (1) | ![]() | 138 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Pues 304, 264. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel | |||
| 148 (2) | ![]() | three hooks | cooking pot | cooks and bakers | 148 | unlisted | 71 | unknown | Numismatik Lanz, München, Auction 123, lot no. 306. Photo Lübke and Wiedemann, Stuttgart |
| 149 (1) | ![]() | 149 | unknown | unknown | unknown | Ancient Coins and Antiquities from legion_viii ebay | |||
| 150 (1) | ![]() | harpa | petasos | 150 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | MediterraneanCoins GmbH VCoins store | |
| 151 (1) | ![]() | caduecus | wing | merchents?, messengers? | 151 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Pues 340, 661. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel |
| 156 (0) | ![]() | plow | yoke | farmers and shepherds | 156 | unknown | unknown | 1 | |
| 158 (1) | ![]() | legionary eagle | altar | 158 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Numismatik Lanz, München, Auction 123, lot no. 303. Photo Lübke and Wiedemann, Stuttgart | |
| 159 (1) | ![]() | stylum | hand | 159 | unlisted | unknown | Pierluigi Debernardi | ||
| 160 (2) | ![]() | arrow | club | 160 | unlisted | 112 | unknown | Barry Murphy | |
| 161 (0) | ![]() | plane | saw | carpenters | 161 | unlisted | unknown | 1/021 | |
| 162 (1) | ![]() | saw | saw | carpenters | 162 | unlisted | unknown | 1/020 | Pues 322, 396. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel |
| 163 (1) | ![]() | outside caliper | beam compass (used as caliper?) | 163 | unlisted | unknown | 1/030 | ||
| 164 (1) | ![]() | unknown | shield | unknown | 164 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 170 (0) | ![]() | currycomb | shears | farmers and shepherds | 170 | unlisted | unknown | 1/005 | |
| 175 (1) | ![]() | mouse (?) | rooster | 175 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Numismatik Lanz, München, Auction 125, lot no. 576. Photo Lübke and Wiedemann, Stuttgart | |
| 178 (1) | ![]() | CCXLVI | CCXLVI | unknown | 178 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 179 (1) | ![]() | bell | yolk | unknown | 179 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | CNG |
| 181 (1) | ![]() | plane | polishing tool | 181 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Pues 353, 280. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel | |
| 182 (1) | ![]() | star | crescent moon | 182 | unlisted | unlisted | unknown | ||
| 184 (0) | ![]() | basket | pickaxe | farmers and shepherds | 184 | unknown | unknown | 1/002 | |
| 185 (0) | ![]() | shovel | pitchfork | farmers and shepherds | 185 | unlisted | unknown | 1/004 | |
| 189 (1) | ![]() | harpa | elephant head | 189 | unlisted | unknown | 1/146 | Martin Griffiths | |
| 190 (1) | ![]() | branch with acorn | pig | 190 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Numismatik Lanz, München, Auction 125, lot no. 574. Photo Lübke and Wiedemann, Stuttgart | |
| 195 (1) | ![]() | torch | sceptre (?) | 195 | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Gunter Mäckel | |
| 198 (1) | ![]() | altar | bucket | unknown | 198 | unlisted | unlisted | unknown | |
| 199 (0) | ![]() | cap | vase | 199 | unlisted | unknown | 1/044 | ||
| 201 (1) | ![]() | laddle | jug | 201 | unlisted | unknown | 1/063 | Archaelogical Center Jaffa vcoins | |
| 203 (0) | ![]() | hatpin | tweezers | 203 | unlisted | unknown | 1/045 | ||
| 204 (0) | ![]() | compass | drill | 204 | unlisted | unknown | 1/029 | ||
| 205 (0) | ![]() | tongs | hammer | metal-workers | 205 | unlisted | unknown | 1/019 | |
| 206 (0) | ![]() | key | lock | 206 | unlisted | unknown | 1/028 | ||
| 207 (0) | ![]() | lock | key | 207 | unlisted | unknown | 1/026 | ||
| 208 (0) | ![]() | spatula | burin (graver) | 208 | unlisted | unknown | 1/025 | ||
| 211 (0) | ![]() | Doric column capital | Ionic column capital | 211 | unlisted | 76 | 1/035 | ||
| 212 (1) | ![]() | dagger (?) | club (?) | soldiers (?) | unlisted | unlisted | unlisted | unknown | |
| 213 (1) | ![]() | helmet with long visor | petasus | unlisted | unlisted | unlisted | unknown | ||
| 216 (1) | ![]() | helmet | Macedonian shield | unlisted | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Spink Numismatic Circular May 1985 | |
| 222 (1) | ![]() | kantharos | kantharos | unlisted | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Rauch 67, 241. Digitized by Gunter Mäckel. | |
| 226 (1) | ![]() | shoe | sandal | unlisted | unlisted | unknown | unknown | James Bonanno - BACC 37 | |
| 229 (1) | ![]() | unknown | shoe (?) | unlisted | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Astarte S.A. | |
| 230 (1) | ![]() | scepter | unknown | unlisted | unlisted | unknown | unknown | Numismatik Lanz, München, Auction 125, lot no. 575. Photo Lübke and Wiedemann, Stuttgart |