Q. Pomponius Musa, 56 BC. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 4.07 g, 3 h), Rome. Laureate head of Apollo to right; to left, wreath. Rev. Q•POMPONI / MVSA Polyhymnia, the Muse of divine hymns and sacred poetry, standing facing, wearing long flowing tunic and peplum, her head bound with wreath. Babelon (Pomponia) 15. Crawford 410/10a. RBW -. Sydenham 817. Beautifully toned and of fine style. Very minor marks and the reverse struck slightly off center, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


This lovely denarius of Q. Pomponius Musa, featuring Polyhymnia on the reverse - the Muse of divine hymns and sacred poetry - is one of the rarer issues in Musa's coinage, depicting the Nine Muses and their leader, Hercules Musagetes. The appearance of the Muses is, of course, a direct allusion to the moneyer's name. While it is not certain, it is believed that their depictions on the coins were modeled after statues from the temple in the Circus Flaminius, built by M. Fulvius Nobilior. Since Apollo presided over the Muses, his head appears on the obverse of each of the ten types, accompanied by a symbol behind his head that corresponds to the specific Muse depicted on the reverse. The exception is the type depicting Hercules, which features the moneyer's name instead of the symbol. In this case, the symbol is a laurel wreath, signifying the high honor Polyhymnia held as the greatest of all poets. Polyhymnia, daughter of Zeus and the Titaness Mnemosyne (goddess of memory), was also said to be the mother of the musician Orpheus, fathered by Apollo.