Roman Republic - C. Hosidius C.f. Geta

Roman Republic - C. Hosidius C.f. Geta
Denarius - Rome (68).
Beautiful copy.
3.98g - Cr. 407/1
FDC - UCS CHOICE AU* (5/5 and 5/5)

"Its eyes glowed with bloodshot fire: its neck was stiff with bristles, and the hairs, on its hide, bristled stiffly like spear-shafts: just as a palisade stands, so the hairs stood like tall spears. Hot foam flecked the broad shoulders, from its hoarse grunting. Its tusks were the size of an Indian elephant's: lightning came from its mouth: and the leaves were scorched, by its breath" (Ovid, Metamorphoses, VIII.260-328). This remarkable denarius bears a mythological reverse type, on which a dog attacks the boar that had been sent by Artemis to attack the region of Calydon (Aetolia), when the local king forgot to include her in his annual harvest offerings. After a complex hunt, the boar was killed and its supposed hide was preserved in the temple of Athena Alea at Tegea (Laconia) from where, as noted by Pausanias, the tusks were brought to Rome when Octavian defeated the allies of Mark Antony. Automatically translated by DeepL. To see the original version, click here.