Lot 2034

Description

Republic, Mn. Cordius Rufus, (c.46 B.C.), silver denarius, Rome mint, (3.9 grams), obv. conjoined heads of the Dioscuri to right, each wearing pileus surmounted by star, RVFVS III VIR behind and below, rev. Venus Verticordia standing to left holding scales and sceptre, Cupid on shoulders, MN CORDI behind, (S.320A, Cr.463/1b, Syd.976a, Cordia 2b). Off centred with a few banker's marks, otherwise very fine.

Venus Verticordia, the goddess who 'turns the hearts of men', to whom a temple was specially dedicated at Rome after the corruption of the vestal virgins, may not only be a punning allusion to the Cordia gens but may also refer to the family of Julius Caesar, which claimed its descent from Venus herself. The Cordia family came originally from Tusculum where there was a special cult of the Dioscuri.