Archaeological Museum of Bologna

On the obverse of this denarius, issued in Rome by the monetary magistrate C. Mamilius Limetanus in 82 BC, appears the bust of Mercury, the patron of merchants and travelers, with his attributes: caduceus and headdress adorned with small wings.

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On the reverse, Ulysses comes to the right, wearing pilgrim clothes, a pileus on the head, a rough beard, supporting himself with a wooden stick. Argo comes towards him. The episode is linked to Mercury's bust because the god gave him a miracolous plant which saved him from the wizard Circe.

Provenance: University Collection
Datation: 82 BC
Material: silver
Dimensions: diam mm 21; gr 3,98
Inventory #: 25291