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Cr 202/1a AR Denarius C. Juventius ThalnaRome, 154 b.c.e.
o: Head of Roma to right, wearing winged helmet; behind, X.
r: Victory in prancing biga to right, holding whip in her left hand and reins with her right; below, C•TAL (ligate); in exergue, ROMA.
19 mm; 3.98 gm
Syd. 379; Juventia 7
Likely C. Juventius P. fil. Thalna. The unusual cognomen hints at Etruscan origin of the family. Although not a well-recalled gens today, the family survived, with no additional issues of coinage, into the late Republic.
Sydenham notes that the very rare serrated denarii of this moneyer are clearly struck on pre-serrated flans, a proposition I have not examined further.
PMahApr 05, 2022
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Cr 462/1a AR/Æ plated Denarius M. Porcius CatoAfrica c. 47-46 b.c.e. (perhaps Sicily)
o: M CATO PRO PR Libertas (or Roma) bust rt, hair in fillet; ROMA (ligate) behind
r: VICTRIX Victoria seated rt, w/patera & palm branch
Syd. 1053 cf.; Porcia 10 cf.
None other than "Cato the Younger", acting pro pratore, either simply to strike coin or slightly earlier in Sicily where he was unsuccessful in securing either the island or its grain supply for the Pompeians.
This is a plated denarius, but highly likely from official dies. Indeed, the strike and preservation is better than typical of specimens of this issue, which is not particularly rare and must have been struck in large quantities to pay the massive numbers of troops with Pompey in Greece, or the vastly-reduced but not insubstantial number that escaped with Scipio and Cato to Africa (where they were reduced to ... none.) Was this part of a plated issue made as a desperate move to stretch out the supply of silver by the besieged remnants in Utica, or was it a few soldiers having fun with odds and ends they found under Cato's (very messy) deathbed?
PMahApr 05, 2022
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Cr 474/1a L. Valerius Acisculus AR Denarius Rome 45 b.c.e.
o: ACIS[CVLVS] Head of Apollo r., hair tied with band; behind, acisculus (= pickaxe)
r: Europa seated on bull walking r.; in exergue, [L]·VALER[IVS]
This specimen is a variant, as the dies usually have a star above Apollo's forehead. This one clearly does not, as there is ample room in the field up to the border.
Valeria 17 var.; Syd. 998 var.; CRI 90 var.; RBW 1568 (this coin)PMahApr 05, 2022
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Cr 465/5 C. Considius Paetus AR Denarius Rome 46 b.c.e.
o: Helmeted bust of Minerva to right, wearing aegis
r: Victory driving quadriga to right, holding reins, palm and wreath; C•CONSID[I] in ex.
3.86 gm.
Considia 5PMahApr 05, 2022
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Cr 465/8b C. Considius Paetus AR Sestertius Rome 46 b.c.e
o: [C·CON]SID[IVS] Winged bust of Cupid r.
r: Double cornucopiae set on globe.
10 mm, 0.78 gm Considia 11. Syd. 997b. CRI 81a.
Paetus may have been a Pompeiian general, or a non-entity (more likely current consensus)
These tiny sestertii are very rare, issued for uncertain purpose, almost all poorly struck and in weak preservation. See RBW Collection lots 407 and 408.PMahApr 05, 2022
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Cr 213/1 Æ As "Mast & Sail"Rome, c. 155-149 b.c.e.
o: Laureate head of bearded Janus, I above
r: Prow of galley r.; mast with sail or military standard above; [I before], ROMA below
20.85 gm; 29.5 mm
A relatively scarce issue. There is some disagreement whether the symbol is a "mast and sail" per Crawford or a military standard/flag per Buttrey and others.
I tend to see it as a military standard, as it is clearly a symbol rather than an attempt to show a feature of the ship. It is ridiculously out of proportion as a feature and why would a symbol be used in such a way as to suggest it was a badly-crafted feature? Other specimens more clearly show a bit of "waving" motion at the bottom of the banner, which, if a sail, would suggest it was luffing, not exactly a moment the sailors would want preserved in bronze.
PMahSep 17, 2021
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Cr 124/5 Æ Triens "Meta" seriesRome, ca. 206-195 b.c.e.
o: Helmeted head of Minerva r., ···· above
r: Prow r. ; Meta (turning post) above, ···· to r.
11.09 gm; 24.5 mm
A relatively rare coin from one of the earlier struck bronze series with symbols and no specific reference to the moneyer.
PMahSep 17, 2021
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Cr 263/5a Æ Quadrans M. Caecilius Q.f. Q.n. MetellusRome, c. 127 b.c.e.
o: Hercules hd r., lion's skin headdress; behind, three pellets
r: Prow r., inscribed M·METELLVS; abv, Macedonian shield; bf, three pellets; below, ROMA
Although not particularly fascinating, this type has the moneyer's name inscribed across the galley side. For extra measure, young Marcus-son-of-Quintus-grandson-of-Quintus added the Macedonian shield often found with the Metelli, which, in my view, always includes an elephant at the center of the shield, even on this tiny object, and more readily visible on the denarius and semis in this series.
19.8 mm., 4.10 gm I think there is some sign of overstriking; it is not a common coin.PMahSep 17, 2021
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Cr 264/2 Æ Semis C. Servilius Vatia Rome, c. 127 b.c.e.
Laureate head of Saturn r.; behind, S
Prow r., inscribed C·SERVEILI; above, lion running r.; S before, ROMA below
One of the unusual types with the moneyer's name inscribed along the galley side rather than in the field.
A. McCabe points out that the lion is quite unusual on Republican bronze coins.
22.2mm., 4.90gm This specimen is more than a bit worn. However, the semis in this series is quite rare.
Servilia 8PMahSep 17, 2021
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Cr 444/1a Q. Sicinius & C. Coponius AR Denarius49 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. PMahJun 09, 2021
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Cr 469/1a AR Denarius Cn. Pompey Minorissued in name of M. Poblicius, legate pro praetore. Corduba, summer 46 - spring 45 b.c.e.
Obv: Helmeted head of Roma to right; M•POBLICI•LEG PRO•PR around
Rev: Female figure -- Hispania -- standing facing, head to right, with round shield slung on back, holding two spears in left hand and with right hand giving palm-branch to soldier, standing facing, head to left on prow of ship; on right CN•MAGNVS•IMP upwards.
Sear CRI 48; RSC 1 (Pompey the Great)
3.49gm, 20mm, 6h.
This coin and its variations and related types with different obverses all reflect hope / support of Further Spain for the Pompeian cause, which had a few setbacks by the time Pompey Junior arrived in Spain. "A few" includes complete defeat at Pharsalus, the murder of Pompey the Great in Egypt, complete defeat along with Scipio and Cato at Thapsus/Utica. But the Pompey lads were nothing if not "optimistic" -- pun intended -- and they seemed to have access to silver in Spain. Things won't get better for Junior.
This specimen is a bit worn but otherwise very well-centered for the type, with all of the key details distinct. I note that the palm-branch held by Hispania is quite a bit longer than other specimens I have seen to date, perhaps a single-die elaboration. The Pompeian soldier appears to hold his helmet at ready in a formal pose, somewhat ironically given Pompey's own final disposition, but clearer specimens show this is the military cloak bunched at the shoulder.
Note unusually tall palm branch, almost double length compared to CoinArchives specimens.PMahJun 09, 2021
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Cr 21/6 Anonymous "Roma/Roma" series Æ cast Unciac. 269-266 b.c.e. Rome
o: Knucklebone seen from outside
r: Knucklebone seen from inside
Vecchi ICC 46
18.27 gm, 25.00 mm
The knucklebone, used for divination and gaming, is a persistent feature of early Italian coinage, appearing as actual life-sized formed bronze pieces a century or more earlier. This series repeated the types of the bronze fractions almost exactly from the earlier "Dioscuri/Mercury" series, Cr 14 (of which some types in this gallery at some point), on a slightly lower weight standard (~265 gm vs. ~ 322 gm).
This specimen is rather well preserved; the missing metal presumably stayed on the casting sprue when cracked off.PMahFeb 21, 2021
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| Random files - PMah's Gallery |
Cr 53/1 AR Victoriatus AnonymousAfter 211 BCE
(16.7 mm, 2.80 g, 7 h). Rome mint
o: Laureate head of Jupiter right
r: ROMA, Victory standing right, crowning trophy
Crawford 53/1; RSC 9
Another variation on this type, emphasizing other details on reverse
PMah
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Cr 298/1 AR Denarius Lucius Caesius 112-111 BCE. AR Denarius (20.4mm, 3.72 g, 1h). Rome mint.
O: Youthful, draped bust of Vejovis left, seen from behind, hurling thunderbolt; ROMA monogram to right
R: Two Lares seated right, each holding a staff; dog standing right between them, head of Vulcan and tongs above; L. CAESI
Crawford 298/1; Sydenham 564; Caesia 1
An unusual coin for this era of the Republic, particularly the bust seen over the shoulder. On the Rev, these are often cited as "Lares Praestites", guardians of the City of Rome. That makes sense as a coin, but that image is rare on coins and I (hope/think) some of the more local or personal lares are intended. The unusual obverse suggests that perhaps the reverse is equally creative and artistic.
PMah
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Cr 183 AE As Anonymous [wolf/twins]c. 169-158 BCE, anonymous bronze As
28.2mm, 20.83 grams
o: Laureate head of bearded Janus; I (mark of value) above
r: ROMA below | I, Prow r. | [Victory?] | Wolf and twins above
Crawford 183/1
Many elements crammed onto reverse of this coin.
Ex RBW collectionPMah
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