Roman Republican Silver Denarius, M. Cipius

Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right, M. CIPI. M. F. before
Reverse: Victory in biga, rudder below horses, ROMA 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 289/1. RSC Cipia 1.