|
Crawford 340/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC - L. Piso Frugi - AR Denarius
|
Rome, The Republic
L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, 90 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.90 g; 19mm)
Rome mint.
Obv: Laureate head of Apollo facing right; Q (control mark) behind head and D (control mark) under chin.
Rev: Rider with palm on horse galloping right; L PISO FRVG below; E (control mark) in exergue.
References: Crawford 340/1; Sydenham 665a; Banti 89/6; Calpurnia 11.
Provenance: Ex Student and Mentor Collection [NAC 83 (20 May 2015) Lot 322; ex Nicolas Collection [Leu 17 (May 1977) Lot 337].
L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi was moneyer in 90 BCE, during the time of the Social War. He later attained the office of Praetor in 74 BCE, but did not appear to distinguish himself further.
The Social War was a civil war between Rome and her Italian allies who had broken-away in a demand for citizenship rights. It was a time of massive coinage output by the Rome mints, likely to pay the costs associated with the conflict. As a result, Frugi's coins are among the most common in the entire Roman Republican series. Crawford estimates 864 obverse and 1080 reverse dies were used to produce Frugi's denarii. Both obverse and reverse dies bear control marks of varying complexity, and no control mark has more than one die.
This type alludes to the annual celebration of the Ludi Apollinares instituted by Frugi's ancestor during the Second Punic War. These games were held at the Circus Maximus in July of each year and lasted 8 or 9 days, consisting of horse racing and performances.
|
|