Ancient Roman Imperatorial - 47 BCE L.Plautius Plancus AR Denarius NGC VF

From the Faces in Time Collection of Ancient coinage (29).

Roman Imperatorial. L. Plautius Plancus. Rome, 47 BC. AR Denarius, 3.86g. Obverse: Facing mask of Medusa with disheveled hair, 'L. PLAUTIUS' below mask; coiled serpents flanking. Reverse: winged Aurora flying right, head slightly left, holding reins and conducting four rearing horses of the sun, lettering below device. References: Crawford 453/1a-b CRI 29; Sydenham 959-959a; Plautia 15-15a; RBW 1583-4.  

Marble sculpture of Medusa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, 1630, Capitoline Museums, Rome.

The fascinating design upon this coin stimulates curiosity. What inspired L. Plautius Plancus to craft it? The obverse presents a mask of Medusa, a beauty transformed into a gorgon by the infuriated Athena, when she broke a vow and, instead of remaining a celibate, married Poseidon. The reverse offers a winged Aurora, the goddess of the dawn, holding the reins of four horses in front of her brother, the Sun.