Description:
This rare silver denarius coin was minted in Rome by moneyer P. Fonteius P.f. Capito in 55 BC. Mars is featured on the obverse wearing a crested helmet with a trophy behind him. In ancient Roman religion, Mars was the god of war, an agricultural guardian and a father of the Roman people. He was second in importance only to Jupiter, the king of the gods. Mars was the most prominent of the military gods worshipped by the Roman legions. He was also believed to be the father of the twins Romulus and Remus, whom were the original founders of Rome.
The festivals for Mars were held in March, the month named for him (Latin Martius) and in October. These months began and ended the season for military campaigning and farming. Although Mars was the god of war, he was not viewed as a destructive force. Instead, Mars represented military power as a way to secure peace.
The reverse side of this ancient coin shows a warrior on horseback thrusting his spear at a Gallic enemy who is holding a shield and is about to slay an unarmed comrade. The Gallic Wars were waged between 58 and 50 BC by the Roman general Julius Caesar against the tribes of Gaul, located in present-day France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland. The wars culminated in the decisive Battle of Alesia in 52 BC, whereupon a complete Roman victory resulted in the expansion of the Roman Republic over the entirety of Gaul.
