Obverse: PV behind helmeted head of Roma
right, within laurel wreath
Reverse: RVF above Victory in biga right, M.
LVCILI in exergue
The bust of the goddess Roma, with its winged
helmet, is a popular obverse type during the
Republican period. The helmet itself is
reminiscent of Hellenistic and Roman helmets of
the time period, categorized by scholars as the
Italo-Attic type. Officers and deities are often
depicted as wearing this helmet long after such a
design had gone into general disuse by the
military. As such, it continued to be employed
as a symbol connected with deities and heroic
figures of the past. The winged goddess Victory,
parallel to the Greek Nike, was a common figure
on coins, often seen driving a chariot, or flying
above another deity who is driving. Occasionally,
a diminutive Victory is held in the hand of the
goddess Athena.
Crawford 324/1. RSC Lucilia 1.