Not a Church

In the centre of this side of the coin you can see the Basilica Aemilia. It has many connections to the Aemilius family. Try to keep up!

The colonnade was first built in 179 B.C. by the censors M. Aemilius Lepidus and M. Fulvius Nobilior. It functioned as a multipurpose structure for all matters handled in the Roman Forum.

Later in 78 B.C., M. Aemilius Lepidus’ descendant and namesake M. Aemilius Lepidus (let’s call him the second) decorated the building with shields ( which we will take a closer look at in the next step). This embellishment of the Basilica Aemilia is commemorated by his son and moneyer (and namesake!) M. Aemilius Lepidus (the third then. I hope you’re following) by striking a coin in 61 B.C. - the very beautiful coin you’re looking at right now!

The first Lepidus had a good political career and was remembered in a good way by the people of Rome. The second Lepidus, our moneyer’s father, was not remembered as fondly , due to his rebellious consulship. So once again, moneyer M. Aemilius Lepidus (the third one) is dealing with two ancestors that have contrary stories and remembrances. It seems that striking a coin with only fun remembrances of your ancestors wasn’t that easy to accomplish.