Although this is not a perfect coin - I find it to be quite nice for type and overall a pleasing coin. It doesn't take long to browse the 21 of this coin in ACSearch (there may be a couple of others not properly identified with Crawford number).
The Coin
Anonymous, 189-180 BC. AR Denarius (20 mm, 3.97g), Rome.
Obv: Head of Roma to right, wearing crested and winged helmet; behind, X (mark of value).
Rev: ROMA Luna driving biga to right, holding goad in her right hand and reins in her left; below, bird standing right on T of TOD.
Ref: Babelon (Anonym) 35. Crawford 141/1. RBW 620. Sydenham 345.
The Symbols
With the moon on her forehead - I have no idea how this becomes Diana or Diana Lucifera in many listings.
"non quasi nunc haec sunt hic, limaces liuidae, febricul<osae, m>iserae amicae, osseae, diobolares, schoeniculae, miraculae, cum extritis talis, cum todillis crusculis" "Not as if now these are here—livid slugs, feverish, wretched friends, bony, worthless (two-obol) creatures, little shoed ones, marvels, with crushed ankles, with tiny sparrow-like legs."todillis in Plautus' The Casket line 408 is a translated as "sparrow" - which seems reasonable looking at this TOD. As far as I know there is no definitive answer to "what type of bird is this". These coins vary a bit in their image of the bird.
The Moneyer
The moneyer was perhaps named Todus.
The Time Period
Antiochus III was defeated by the Romans in two successive defeats, first at Thermopylae and afterward in Magensia and forced to accept the peace of Apamea (188 BCE), The Roman republic was now the dominant power in the Hellenistic East. IN 180 BCE the Romans subjugated the Ligurians (think Genoa).
"The fight was maintained for more than three hours, in such a manner, that the hope of victory leaned to neither side; but when the consul perceived that the Ligurian battalions no where gave ground, he ordered the cavalry to mount their horses, and charge in three places at once, with all possible violence.
A great part of the horse broke through the middle of the enemy's line, and made their way to the rear of the troops engaged, owing to which manœuvre, terror was struck into the Ligurians. They fled in different directions on all sides.
Very few ran back into the town, because in that quarter, chiefly, the cavalry had thrown themselves in their way. So obstinate a contest swept off great numbers of the Ligurians, and many perished in the flight; ten thousand of them are said to have been killed, and more than seven hundred taken, in various places; besides which, the victors brought off eighty-two of their military standards.
Nor was the victory gained without loss of blood; above three thousand of the conquerors fell in the conflict; for as neither party gave way, the foremost on both sides were cut off
When the Ligurians re-assembled in one body, after their scattered flight, they found that a much greater number of their countrymen were lost than left alive (for there were not above ten thousand men surviving); on which they surrendered."
-Livy, Roman History, 42.7-8The Weight Standard
The weight on this coin above average of 3.75g reported in RRC against a standard of 3.9g. 3.64g average in the online CRRO which has about 30 examples.
this is an early (189-180 BCE) denarius from the Roman Republic that in Crawford's RRC shows [30] Obv dies (not a lot - for comparison the Julius Caesar Elephant shows RRC 443/1 [750] Obv dies).
The COVID Test
There is not much more to say about this coin. Now if I could just breath again ...ugh
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