L. Opimius Republican Denarius — Victory In Quadriga — Certificate Of Authenticity

A silver denarius of the Roman Republic, struck at Rome in 131 BC in the name of the moneyer L. Opimius, a sought-after type because it combines, within the fully canonical iconography of the Republican denarius, the helmeted head of Roma on the obverse and Victory driving a quadriga on the reverse, with the moneyer’s signature L·OPEIMI and the civic designation ROMA in the exergue; the typological concordance is readily verified by comparison with the major corpora (Crawford 253/1; Sydenham 473; RSC Opimia 16) and with comparable specimens published under the same description.

Careful observation under ×10 magnification and raking light: direct examination of this specimen, 3.84 g (specimen data), highlights a silver flan whose relief remains well ordered on the decisive elements, with an obverse where the helmeted head of Roma right is recognizable, the wreath behind, and the value mark beneath the chin (of the “barred X” type expected for this group), while on the reverse the scene remains immediately intelligible, Victory holding the wreath in the right hand and the reins, driving the quadriga to the right, with L·OPEIMI appearing beneath the chariot and ROMA readable in the exergue—this cluster of markers forming precisely the “visual signature” of Crawford 253/1.

Authority / period: Roman Republic, 131 BC.

Moneyer: L. Opimius (gens Opimia).

Mint: Rome.

Denomination / metal: Denarius, silver (AR).

Weight: 3.84 g (specimen data).

Obverse (type): Helmeted Roma right, wreath behind, value mark beneath chin.

Reverse (type): Victory in quadriga right, holding wreath and reins; L·OPEIMI below; ROMA in exergue.

References: Sear 130; Crawford 253/1; Sydenham 473; RSC Opimia 16 (type concordances).

This issue lies at the heart of the Middle Republic, when monetary iconography continues to proclaim, with remarkable consistency, Roman civic identity through Roma on the obverse and Victory on the reverse; the historical interest of the name L. Opimius is further heightened by noting that the same individual is attested as triumvir monetalis in 131 BC and later as consul in 121 BC, giving this denarius a biographical and institutional landmark value particularly appreciated by collectors of the late 2nd century BC.

For a collection, this denarius offers a rarely contradicted balance of legibility, iconographic force, and civic resonance: the Roma/Victory pairing, accompanied by the moneyer’s signature, condenses the Roman idea of legitimacy through victorious war and continuity of the city, while the quadriga scene—an emblematic motif of the Republican repertory—adds an immediately memorable “narrative” dimension, making this type a natural milestone in any series devoted to moneyers’ denarii.

The provenance is European, from an established numismatic dealer, and the acquisition was conducted through a specialized international transaction within a recognized numismatic network, according to standards consistent with the practices of the art and heritage market; the attribution rests on the verifiable concordance of legends and compositions with Crawford 253/1 and Sydenham 473, as described and illustrated by sale comparanda and numismatic databases.
Each specimen is examined, described, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity consistent with the standards of the art and heritage market, this notice being deliberately limited to observable and documentable elements so that the buyer’s confidence rests on a strictly verifiable basis.