Q. POMPONIUS MUSA. Denarius (56 BC). Rome.

Obv: Laureate head of Apollo right; lyre key to left.
Rev: Q POMPONI / MVSA.
Calliope standing right, playing lyre set on column.

Crawford 410/2b; RBW -.

Calliope, ‘beautiful-voiced’, was one of the nine Muses, the inspiration for epic poetry. Her love with Apollo resulted in the birth of Linus, Orpheus, and the Sirens. The Muses are minor deities of the Greek pantheon who, through their song, preserve the memory of past events. They are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory. She gave birth to them after the King of Olympus' victory over the Titans, a victory immortalized by the song of his daughters.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 3.79 g.
Diameter: 18 mm.