Lot 3462

Description

P.Fonteius P.f. Capito, (c.55 B.C.), silver denarius, Rome mint, (3.700 grams), obv. Concordia veiled head to right, P FONTEIVS CAPITO III VIR CONCORDIA around, rev. Villa Publica as a two storied structure, T. DIDI on left, IMP in exergue, VIL PVB to right off flan, (S.393 [£500 EF], Cr.429/2, Syd. 901, B.Didia 1). Bright, nearly extremely fine and very rare.

The Villa Publica was situated in the Campus Martius and no trace of its structure is visible today. Originally dating from the 5th century the building served a variety of purposes including reception of foreign ambassadors. One of its restorations was by Titius Didius consul 98 B.C., hence the legend. 39 obverse dies were used for the this coinage as calculated by Crawford.