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Cr 444/1a Q. Sicinius & C. Coponius AR Denarius
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49 b.c.e. Pompeian field mint [or Asian mint?]
o: Apollo hd. rt, III•VIR behind, star below, Q•SICINIVS before
r: Lionskin on Hercules's club, b/t arrow & bow; PR•S•C up lft, C•COPONIVS down rt
3.76gm , 18mm
Sear CRI 3; Sicinia 2
One of the first issues of the Pompeians after "tactically redeploying" completely out of Italy. There is some discrepancy in views as to whether this was a Greek field mint product or minted in Asia, due to some similarities of the lion to Asian issues (more below re lion).
Sicinius was one of the last regular moneyers appointed under the Republic, and probably went down with the rest of the gang. Coponius, as praetor, was likely far more important in finding / extracting the silver and resources for the issue.
Coponius was also adept at surviving, stepping clear of the wreckage of the Pompeian cause and returning to Rome in time to be .... proscribed. In that regard, he was also (how to put this delicately...) well-served, as we are informed by Appian: "The wife of Coponius obtained his safety by yielding herself to Antony, although she had previously been chaste, thus curing one evil with another." Civil Wars IV.vi.40.
Ah, the lion. Well, I have referred to this as the "Bill the Cat" reverse, although the RRC 1b variant with the head facing directly is even more suggestive of the famous feline. Think about it (or look it up) and you will, too.
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