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Last additions - Syltorian's Gallery
Probus_-_Mars_Pacif.jpg
Marti PaciferoObv. PROBVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right,
Rev. MARTI PACIF, armoured and helmeted mars advancing left, holding olive twig in right, spear and shield in left, cape billowing behind, RQ{Gamma} in exergue,
Rome Mint, AD 282,
20 mm, 3,43 gr
Refs. RIC 177

Historia Augusta 16: "post haec Illyricum petiit. priusquam veniret, Raetias sic pacatas reliquit ut illic ne suspicionem quidem ullius terroris relinqueret. in Illyrico Sarmatos ceterasque gentes ita contudit ut prope sine bello cuncta reciperet quae illi diripuerant. tetendit deinde iter per Thracias atque omnes Geticos populos fama rerum territos et antiqui nominis potentia pressos aut in deditionem aut in amicitiam recepit. his gestis orientem petiit atque itinere potentissimo quodam latrone Palfuerio capto et interfecto omnem Isauriam liberavit, populis atque urbibus Romanis legibus restitutis. barbarorum, qui apud Isauros sunt, vel per terrorem vel urbanitatem loca ingressus est. (...) veteranis omnia illa quae anguste adeuntur loca privata donavit, addens ut eorum filii ab anno octavo decimo, mares dumtaxat, ad militiam mitterentur, ne latrocinare umquam discerent." - [20]causae occidendi eius haec fuerunt: primum quod numquam militem otiosum esse perpessus est, si quidem multa opera militari manu perfecit, dicens annonam gratuitam militem comedere non debere.

"After this he set out for Illyricum, but before going thither he left Raetia in so peaceful a state that there remained therein not even any suspicion of fear. In Illyricum he so crushed the Sarmatians and other tribes that almost without any war at all he got back all they had ravaged. He then directed his march through Thrace, and received in either surrender or friendship all the tribes of the Getae, rightened by the repute of his deeds and brought to submission by the power of his ancient fame. This done, he set out for the East, and while on his march he captured and killed a most powerful brigand, named Palfuerius, and so set free the whole of Isauria and restored the laws of Rome to the tribes and the cities. By fear or favour he entered the places held by the barbarians living among the Isaurians, (...) And so all those places which were difficult of access he gave to his veterans as their own private holdings, attaching thereto the condition that their children, that is, the males only, should be sent to the army at the age of eighteen, in order that they never might learn to be brigands." - "The causes of his murder were these: first of all, he never permitted a soldier to be idle, for he built many works by means of their labour, saying that a soldier should eat no bread that was not earned"
SyltorianNov 18, 2010
Probus_-_Victoria_Germ.jpg
Victoria GermanicaVictoria Germanica
Obv. PROBVS PF AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right,
Rev. VICTORIA GERM, trophy with weapons and two prisoners, RAA in exergue
Rome Mint
22 mm, 4,06 gr.
Refs: RIC 222

Historia Augusta, 13-14: "his gestis cum ingenti exercitu Gallias petiit, quae omnes occiso Postumo turbatae fuerant, interfecto Aureliano a Germanis possessae. tanta autem illic proelia et tam feliciter gessit, ut a barbaris sexaginta per Gallias nobilissimas reciperet civitates, praedam deinde omnem, qua illi praeter divitias etiam efferebantur ad gloriam. et cum iam in nostra ripa, immo per omnes Gallias, securi vagarentur, caesis prope quadringentis milibus, qui Romanum occupaverant solum, reliquos ultra Nicrum fluvium et Albam removit. tantum his praedae barbaricae tulit quantum ipsi Romanis abstulerant. (...) nec cessatum est umquam pugnari, cum cottidie ad eum barbarorum capita deferrentur, iam ad singulos aureos singula, quamdiu reguli novem ex diversis gentibus venirent atque ad pedes Probi iacerent. quibus ille primum obsides imperavit, qui statim dati sunt, deinde frumentum, postremo etiam vaccas atque oves."

"This done, he set out with a huge army for the provinces of Gaul, which since the death of Postumus had all been in turmoil, and after the murder of Aurelian had been seized by the Germans. There, moreover, he fought battles so great and successful that he took back from the barbarians sixty most famous communes of Gaul, besides all the booty, by which the Germans, even apart from the actual wealth, were puffed up with glory. And whereas they were wandering at large on our bank, or rather through all the country of Gaul, Probus, after slaying about four hundred thousand who had seized upon Roman soil, drove all the rest back beyond the river Neckar and the district of Alba, getting from them as much barbarian booty as they themselves had seized from the Romans. (...) All the while the heads of barbarians were brought in to him daily, now at the price of an aureus apiece, and he never ceased fighting until nine princes of different tribes came before him and prostrated themselves at his feet. From these he demanded, first hostages, which they gave him at once, then grain, and last of all their cows and their sheep."
SyltorianNov 18, 2010
Probus_-_Fides_Militum_(1).jpg
Fides MilitumObv. IMP PROBVS PF AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right,
Rev. FIDES MILITVM, Fides facing left, holding to legionary standards, R{lightning}E in exergue,
Rome mint,
21mm, 3,92 gr.
RIC 169

Historia Augusta 10 and 20 "[10] cognito itaque quod imperaret Probus milites Florianum, qui quasi hereditarium arripuerat imperium, interemerunt, scientes neminem dignius posse imperare quam Probum. ita ei sine ulla molestia totius orbis imperium et militum et senatus iudicio delatum est. - [20]. cum per Illyricum iter faceret, a militibus suis per insidias interemptus est. causae occidendi eius haec fuerunt: primum quod numquam militem otiosum esse perpessus est, si quidem multa opera militari manu perfecit, dicens annonam gratuitam militem comedere non debere. his addidit dictum eis grave, si umquam eveniat, salutare rei publicae, brevi milites necessarios non futuros.

"[10] And so, when it was well known that Probus was emperor, the soldiers killed Florian, who had seized the imperial power as though an inheritance, for they knew well that no one could rule more worthily than Probus. Accordingly, without any effort of his, the rule of the whole world was conferred upon him by the voice of both army and senate. - [20]. While on the march through Illyricum he was treacherously killed by his soldiers. The causes of his murder were these: first of all, he never permitted a soldier to be idle, for he built many works by means of their labour, saying that a soldier should eat no bread that was not earned. To this he added another remark, hard for them, should it ever come true, but beneficial to the commonwealth, namely, that soon there would be no need of such soldiers."
SyltorianNov 18, 2010
Probus_-_Clementia.jpg
ClementiaObv. IMP C M AVR PROBVS AVG, draped and radiate bust right,
Rev. CLEMENTIA TEMP, emperor with eagle tipped sceptre receiving globe from sceptered Jupiter, H in field, XXI in exergue;
Antioch Mint,
22mm, 4,37 gr.
RIC 920

Historia Augusta 22: "conferenti mihi cum aliis imperatoribus principem Probum omnibus prope Romanis ducibus, qua fortes, qua clementes, qua prudentes, qua mirabiles exstiterunt, intellego hunc virum aut parem fuisse aut, si non repugnat invidia furiosa, meliorem."

"As for myself, when I compare Probus as a ruler with other emperors, in whatever way almost all Roman leaders have stood out as courageous, as merciful, as wise, or as admirable, I perceive that he was the equal of any, or indeed, if no insane jealousy stands in the way, better than all."
SyltorianNov 18, 2010
Claudius_Turrinus_Fourré.jpg
RRC 494/23 (Clodius Turrinus) SubaeratusObv: Anepigraphic, Head of Apollo facing right;
Rev: Diana Lucifera bearing two torches, standing facing, bow and quiver on her shoulder, P. CLODIVS to right, M.F. to left.
Denarius subaeratus, (3,01 g, 18 mm)

Reproducing RRC 494/23, RSC Claudia 15 of ca. 42 B.C.The original coin would have been struck under the second triumvirate, possibly the year Cassius and Brutus were defeated at Second Philippi.
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
Faustus_Sulla_Fourré~1.jpg
RRC 494/23 (Faustus Sulla) SubaeratusObv: Laureate and diademed head of Venus right, sceptre on shoulder, SC behind;
Rev: Three military trophies between jug and lituus, FAVSTVS monogram in exergue
Denarius subaeratus (2,372 g, 18,5 mm)

Reproducing RRC 426/3, RSC Cornelia 63 of ca. 56. B.C. The coin was struck by the son of the dictator Sulla, but under Pompey: the reverse design may refer to both men, as both used three trophies on their seal (Cassius Dio 42.18.3). Acquired from Forum.
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
Unknown_Fourré.jpg
Imitative denarius serratus subaeratusObv: Anepigraphic; female jugate heads (?) right, front head laureate.
Rev: two horses galloping right, desultor on front horse, [..]NS in exergue.
Serrate subaerate denarius, 1,9 mm; 2,74 g

There does not seem to be a model for this subaerate, which might be a Dacian or Celtic imitative, based on the counterfeiters vague recollection of Republican coins from the period between 75-50 B.C. (thanks to Andrew McCabe for the information). It also features serration, interpreted by some as an anti-counterfeiting device (if an unsuccessful one).
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
Probus_-_Pax.jpg
PaxObv. IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, radiate, helmeted and cuirassed bust left holding spear over right shoulder and shield on left
Rev. Pax standing left, olive branch in right, transverse scepter in left, Q right, XXI in ex;
Antoninanus, 3.25 gr, 21 mm,
Siscia
Refs. RIC V 711

Historia Augusta 20 "Brevi," inquit, "milites necessarios non habebimus." quid est aliud dicere: Romanus iam miles erit nullus? ubique regnabit, omnia possidebit secura res publica. orbis terrarum non arma fabricabitur, non annonam praebebit, boves habebuntur aratro, equus nascetur ad pacem, nulla erunt bella, nulla captivitas, ubique pax, ubique Romanae leges, ubique iudices nostri."

"Soon," he said, "we shall have no need of soldiers." What else is this than saying: "Soon there will not be a Roman soldier? Everywhere the commonwealth will reign and will rule all in safety. The entire world will forge no arms and will furnish no rations, the ox will be kept for the plough and the horse be bred for peace, there will be no wars and no captivity, in all places peace will reign, in all places the laws of Rome, and in all places our judges."
1 commentsSyltorianNov 16, 2010
Probus_-_Restitutor_Orbis.jpg
Restitutor OrbisObv. IMP C M AVR PROBVS PF AVG, radiate and draped bust right;
Rev. RESTITVT ORBIS, Female figure standing right presenting wreath to emperor standing left, holding globe; {Delta} between, XXI in ex
Antoninanus, 21mm, 4,32 gr.
Refs: RIC 851

Historia Augusta 14, "His gestis cum ingenti exercitu Gallias petiit, quae omnes occiso Postumo turbatae fuerant, interfecto Aureliano a Germanis possessae. tanta autem illic proelia et tam feliciter gessit, ut a barbaris sexaginta per Gallias nobilissimas reciperet civitates, praedam deinde omnem, qua illi praeter divitias etiam efferebantur ad gloriam. et cum iam in nostra ripa, immo per omnes Gallias, securi vagarentur, caesis prope quadringentis milibus, qui Romanum occupaverant solum, reliquos ultra Nicrum fluvium et Albam removit."

"This done, he set out with a huge army for the provinces of Gaul which since the death of Postumus had all been in turmoil, and after the murder of Aurelian had been seized by the Germans.There, moreover, he fought battles so great and successful that he took back from the barbarians sixty most famous communes of Gaul, besides all the booty, by which the Germans, even apart from the actual wealth, were puffed up with glory. And whereas they were wandering at large on our bank, or rather through all the country of Gaul, Probus, after slaying about four hundred thousand who had seized upon Roman soil, drove all the rest back beyond the river Neckar and the district of Alba."
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
Probus_-_Virtus_(2).jpg
Virtus Probi (1)Obv. IMP C M AVR PROBVS P F AVG, helmeted and cuirassed bust of emperor left, holding shield and carrying spear over shoulder;
Rev. VIRTVS PROBI AVG, emperor on horseback riding left, spearing fallen enemy, XXI P in exergue
Probus Antoninanus, 21 mm, 3,42 gr.
Refs

Historia Augusta, 10: "um his igitur tot ac tantis virtutibus eniteret, Tacito absumpto fataliter ac Floriano imperium arripiente omnes orientales exercitus eundem imperatorem fecerunt."

"And so, resplendent by reason of these many great virtues, when Tacitus had been removed by the decree of Fate and Florian was seizing the rule, he was created emperor by all the troops of the East"
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
Probus_-_Temp_Fel.jpg
Tempore FeliciObv. IMP C PROBVS P F AVG, radiate cuirassed bust right
Rev. TEMPOR FELICI, Felicitas standing right, holding caduceus and cornucopiae, I in ex;
AE Antoninianus, 21 mm, 3,91 gr;
Lugdunum
RIC 51. C. 723.

Historia Augusta, Probus 22: "quae deinde felicitas emicuisset, si sub illo principe milites non fuissent? annona provincialis daret nullus, stipendia de largitionibus nulla erogarentur, aeternos thesauros haberet Romana res publica, nihil expenderetur a principe, nihil a possessore redderetur; aureum profecto saeculum promittebat."

" What great bliss would then have shone forth, if under his rule there had ceased to be soldiers! No rations would now be furnished by any provincial, no pay for the troops taken out of the public largesses, the commonwealth of Rome would keep its treasures forever, no payments would be made by the prince, no tax required of the holder of land; it was in very truth a golden age that he promised."
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC383-1.jpg
RRC383/1 (Ti. Claudius Ti. f. Ap. N.)Obv. Diademed and draped bust of Diana right, stag-shaped bow and quiver over shoulder, S.C. before;
Rev. Victory in biga right, holding palm and wreath, control numeral XXXX below, TI CLAVD TI. F. AP.N. (VD and AP in monogram) in exergue;
19 mm; 3,80 gr.
Rome, 79 B.C.
Refs: RRC383/1, Sear 310, RSC Claudia 5

[Research in progress]
2 commentsSyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC413-1.jpg
RRC413/1 (L. Cassius Longinus)bv. Anepigraphic, draped vestal virgin facing left, shallow vessel (culullus) behind, control letter (L?) before; punch marks.
Rev. Male togate figure left, left hand on hips, right hand placing a tablet inscribed with V(ti rogas) in a cista. LONGIN(VS) IIIV(ir) ro right.
Rome, 63 B.C. or 52 B.C.
RRC 413/1, Sear 364, RSC Cassia 10

This coin was struck by the brother of the famous Cassius who, with Brutus, was the head of the conspiracy to kill Caesar. L. Cassius rose to proconsul under Caesar, and was Tribune of the People in 44 B.C. He was later reconciled to the triumvirs, however (Appian B.C. 5.7).

On both sides of the coin, the allusion is made to L. Cassius Longinus Ravilla (cos. 127 B.C.; censor 125 B.C.), who was responsible for the condemnation of wayward Vestals, which had previously been acquitted by the Pontifex Maximus (Cassius Dio 26.87, Asconius, Comm. in Pis. 32). The penalty for the Vestals would have been live burial, and for their accomplices, death by flogging.

While he was a tribune of the people (137 B.C.), Cassius Longinus introduced the secret vote for jury trials (following the Lex Gabinia of 139 B.C., which had made the vote at elections secret). This made Cicero (consul the year this coin seems to have been struck) see Ravilla as a traitor to the Boni (Cicero, de leg. 3.35, pro Sest. 48.103). The scene thus shows a voter placing a tablet marked with Vti Rogas ("as you ask", "aye") in the polling box. A "nay" would have been marked "A(ntiquo)".
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC415-1_-_Graffito.jpg
RRC415/1 (L. Aemilius Paullus Lepidus), GraffitoObv. PAVLLVS LEPIDVS CONCORDIA, diademed and veiled head of Concordia facing right, graffito.
Rev. TER above trophy with togate figure of L. Aemilius Paullus on right, three captives on left, PAVLLVS in exergue.
17 mm, 3,79 gr.
Rome, ca. 63/2 B.C.
References: RRC415/1, RSC Aemilia 10, Syd. 926, Sear 366

It has been suggested that the moneyer, L. Aemilius Paullus, took up the watchword of Cicero's consulate during and after the Catilinarian conspiracy (63 B.C.): Concordia Ordinum. The reverse shows the general L. Aemilius Paullus (no direct relation to the moneyer), who defeated King Perseus in the Third Macedonian War, took him and his sons Philip and Aexander prisoner (what happened to the daughter is not recorded), and led them in his triumph. The people themselves did not apparently appreciate the introduction of children into the triumph, but by 63 B.C., this does not seem to have mattered anymore.

The moneyer was the brother of the later triumvir M. Lepidus, and would himself rise through the cursus honorum, to quaestor (59 B.C.), Praetor (53 B.C.) and Consul (50 B.C.), before siding with Brutus and Cassius and ending up on the proscription list. He was pardonned after Philippi, but exiled himself to Miletus.

This coin also bears graffito, spelling out HAEMI. The significance is unknown, and may indicate the owner; if the last latter is to be read as an O, it might be a dedication or a receiver.
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC554.jpg
RRC291/1 (Mn. Aemilius Lepidus) Obv. Laureate, diademed head of Roma right, ROMA before, MA in ligate; mark of value behind
Rev. MN AE[M]ILIO, ligature on praenomen. Equestrian statue on arches, LEP between;
17 mm, 3.77 grams
Rome, 114-113 B.C.
Refs.: RRC 291/1, RSC Aemilia 7

Allusions: The head of Roma is not unusual, but the reverse is subject to some debate. Several propositions have been put forward: (1) A triumphal arch to a Mn. Aemilius Lepidus (the prateor of 213 B.C. or his son, consul of 158 B.C.). (2) the pons Aemilius, the oldest stone bridge in Rome, now Ponte Rotto, which connected the Cattle Market with the Transtiberim since the mid-3rd century. It may be then that a Mn. Aemilius had the original bridge built. Its stone form goes back to 179 B.C. under the auspices of the censors M.Aemilius Lepidus and M. Fulvius Nobilior. (3) The Aqua Marcia, formerly Aqua Aemilia Fulvia (Pliny 31.24 with emendation) and led over the Pons Aemilius. A similar coin issued by the Marcia family in 56 BC exists (Marcia 28, Syd. 919). The Marcii may have tried to counter the Aemilian claim to the aqueduct. In fact, the censors Aemilius and Fulvius had begun building the aqueduct, but never completed it, since M. Licinius Crassus refused to let it be built over his ground (Livy 40.51.7).

The moneyer: Unclear. He may have been the son of the consul of 126 B.C., and father of Mn. Aemilius Mn. f. Lepidus, the consul of 66 B.C. (Crawford);
1 commentsSyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC139-1.jpg
RRC139/01 (Anonymous) BrockageObv. Helmeted head of Roma right, mark of value (X) behind
Rev. Brockage of obverse
18 mm; 3,88 gr
Rome, 190-180 B.C.
References RRC139/01

A brockage is a minting error, which occurrs if an already struck coin sticks to one of the dies without the mint workers noticing. The next coin to be struck receives the negative of the former coin, rather than the design on the die. Here, the head of Roma has been stamped in incuse (negative) on the obverse, rather than the Dioscuri. Thanks to Andrew for identifying the coin as RRC139/01.

The moneyers left no personal mark on the coins of this period, so this coin cannot be linked with any person. During the time this coin was struck, Rome had just emerged victorious from the Seleucid War, for which they obtained 15'000 talents of silver in indemnities: she completeted the Via Aemilia and began founding colonies in the north (Aquileia, Pisa, Lucca, Mutina, Parma). The Senate also extended its grip over Italy by issueing the Bacchanalian Decree throughout the peninsula.
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC235-1.jpg
RRC340/1 (L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi)Obv. Laureate head of Apollo right, control number XXXII behind,; no mark of value;
Rev. L. PISO FRVGI below horseman galloping right, holding palm, control number XXXXII above, monogram of beneath legend
Rome, 90 B.C.
17 mm, 3.89 gr.
References: RRC340/1, Sear 235/1, SC Calpurnia 12

L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi was the grandson of the consul of 133 B.C., and the father of a moneyer of the same name. He rose to become praetor in 74 B.C., together with Verres.

It has been assumed that the rider, together with the head of Apollo on the obverse, refers to the Ludi Apollinares, created by the praetor L. Calpurnius Piso in 212 B.C. This, at least, is Livy’s suggestion: “The Games of Apollo had been exhibited the previous year, and when the question of their repetition the next year was moved by the praetor Calpurnius, the Senate passed a decree that they should be observed for all time (...) such is the origin of the Apollinarian Games, which were instituted for the cause of victory and not, as it is generally thought, in the interest of public health†(Livy, Per. 25.3). The ‘public health’ issue mentioned by Livy may have been a plague in 208 B.C.; Apollo as a healer-god would have been a natural choice to appeal to. The date of the creation of the games falls into the Punic Wars, and may have served as a distraction from the war. The Ludi started on July 13th and lasted 9 days.

The largest issue of coinage known from the Republic, the denarii of Piso come in over 300 varieties. In 91. B.C. the Italian allies rebelled against Rome, forming a separate and independent nation. The massive issue of coinage minted by L. Calpurnius was required to pay Rome’s soldiers, as she was suddenly confronted by the uprising of her allies. In 90 B.C., with L. Iulius Caesar and P. Rutilius Lupus as consuls, the war remained undecided. Pompeius Strabo managed to capture Asculum, but Caepio was defeated, and Rutilius lost a battle and his life at the river Liris, attempting to attack the Marsi with an untrained army (Appian, B. Civ. 43). By 88 B.C., the war was over, and only the Samnites continued to offer a token resistance. Many of the allies had however acquired Roman citizenship.
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC243-1.jpg
RRC243/1 (Ti. Minucius C. f. Augurinus)Obv. Helmeted and winged head of Roma right, mark of value behind;
Rev. TI MINVCI CF – AVGVRINI; RO-MA around column surmounted by statue. At base, a stalk of grain on either side. L. Minucius Esquilinus standing right, M. Minucius Faesus standing left, holding lituus
18 mm, 3.91 grams
Rome, ca. 134 B.C.
References: RRC 243/1v; Syd. 494, RSC Minucia 9

Allusions: The obverse of the coin is traditional, but the reverse shows the achievements of the gens Minucia. Standing to the right and holding the lituus, M. Minucius Faesus was the first plebeian to be co-opted into the college of Augurs (300 B.C.), as soon as this was opened to non-patricians by the lex Ogulnia (Livy 10.92). Facing him stands L. Minucius Esquilinus Augurinus (cos. 458 B.C.), praefectus annonae 440-439 BC. During a famine, he accused Sp. Maelius of seeking regium by bribing the people with grain. The ancient sources are contradictory, though it would appear that, after Maelius’ death, Minucius distributed the grain himself, in his official capacity, at a rate of one as per modius. As a reward, the people – Dionysus of Halicarnassus claims it was the Senate – erected a statue in his honour near the Forum Boarium. A later tradition, spread by the plebeian Minucii, claimed that Esquilinus was originally a patrician, but that he changed his status to join the plebeians in order to become a Tribune of the People (Livy 4.13, Dion. Hal. 12.1-4; Pliny, NH 18.15; 34.21). It is likely that this story is a forgery, intended to give the gens Minucia quasi-patrician status and to enhance their popular image.

Interpretation: The coinage, minted around the time of the Gracchan crisis, thus bears popularis overtones. Whether this was a side-effect of the moneyer honouring his most famous ancestors, or an intended move remains unclear (arguments about the "propaganda" value of coins are ongoing).

Moneyer: Ti. Minucus is unknown except for his coins. The previous year, his brother, C. Minucius, had already minted a coin with a very similar reverse. The family is ancient, providing Rome with a consul as early as 497 B.C.

On this coin: Probably ex-jewellery, soldered at the top.
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC281-1.jpg
RRC 281/1 (Furius Philus), minting errorObv. Laureate bust of Janus, M.[FO]VRI.L.F. around, border of beads; in other striking, ...OV... of legend visible;
Rev. Roma standing left, holding spear and crowning a trophy, Gallic arms and carnices around, ROMA to left, [PHILI] in monogram in exergue.
Rome, ca. 119 B.C.
1.8 mm (2.3 with minting error), 3,83 grams,
References: RRC 281/1, CRR 529, Sear 156, RSC Furia 18

The mint workers were apparently too busy on the day this coin was struck to fully remove this one before placing and striking the next flan. The Gallic arms may represent the near-contemporary victories in Cisalpine Gaul. Furius' father was a renowned antiquarian and member of the Scipionic Circle. He may have been responsible for the revival of the evocatio for the conquest of Carthage - so perhaps the son followed by reviving the head of Janus (from Rome's first coins) for his denarius.
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC292-1_Brockage.jpg
RRC 292/1 (Licinius Nerva) BrockageObv. Bust of Roma left, wearing crested helmet ornamented with feathers, armed with a spear, shield showing galopping horseman; above her head, crescent, before X, behind ROMA
Rev. Brockage of obverse
Rome, ca. 113-112 B.C.
17 mm, 3.94 grams
References: RCC 292/1; Sear 169, RSC Licinia 7, Syd. 548

Struck during the invasions of the Cimbri and Teutones. This coin should show a famous representation of a voting scene, but due to a minting error, it turned out to be a brockage. Some eight years after his duty as a IIIVir Monetalis, P. Licinius Nerva became propraetor in Sicily. There, he was asked to sort out cases of illegal enslavement of Rome's allies. At first, he acquitted himself well of the job, freeing 800 slaves. Then the Sicilian land- and slaveowners pressured him stopping his inquiries. The disappointed slaves revolted, and Rome lost control in Sicily for nearly four years, when the ancestor of the moneyer responsible for RRC 401/1 (Mn. Aquillius) would reconquer the island.
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC529-4.jpg
Octavian and Antonius, Concordia (Quinarius)Obv. IIIVIR RPC, veiled and diademed head of Concordia right;
Rev. C CAESAR M ANTON, clasped hands with Caduceus;
Gaul, 40/39 B.C.
14 mm, 1,83 gr.
References: RRC429/4b, RSC 67, Sear 1575

The coinage was struck soon after the Treaty of Brundisium, in which the IIIViri Rei Publicae Constituendae (Triumvirs for the Confirmation of the Republic), Octavian (Caesar), Antony and Lepidus divided the Roman sphere of influence amongst themselves. To cement the alliance, Antony married Octavian's sister, Octavia. Some have believed to see her features in the face of Concordia, thus showing the importance of the politic marriage.
1 commentsSyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC544_(2).jpg
Antonius - Legionary Coinage, Legio V AlaudaeObv. [ANT AVG] IIIVIR RPC, galley right, mast with banners at prow;
Rev. LEG V, legionary eagle between two standards;
18mm, 3,40 gr.
Patrae, military mint of Antony, 31 B.C.
References: RRC544, RSC 32, Sear 1479

Legio V Alaudae was the first legion to be raised from non-Romans. These men were transalpine Gauls, enrolled by Caesar in 52 B.C, and took to wearing lark's feathers on their helmets - hence their epithet, Alaudae, "the Larks". The Fifth was long believed to have been destroyed in, or dissolved after the Batavian Revolt of 69/70 AD, where they participated with the rest of the Rhine legions and the Treveri and Lingones in the uprising. However, epigraphic material now indicates the presence of the Fifth on the Danube in Flavian times. Records disappear again soon afterward, and it may have been lost in the Dacian Wars under Domitian.
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC544.jpg
Antonius - Legionary Coinage, Unknown Legion)Obv. [ANT AVG IIIVIR RPC], galley right, masts with banners at prow.
Rev. [LEG ?], legionary eagle between standards,
16 mm; 3,13 g
Patrae, mint moving with Antony, 31 B.C.,
References: RRC544, RSC 32, Sear 1479

On this coin: the number of the legion can no longer be distinguished, though it begins with a V or the upper parts of an X. The obverse features three control punches made by bankers to test the silver.


SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC422-1.jpg
RRC422/1 (M. Aemilius Scaurus, P. Plautius Hypsaeus)Obv. King Aretas of Nabatea kneeling beside camel, raising olive branche with fillet; M SCAVR(VS) | AED CVR above, [E]X – SC at sides; [R]EX ARETAS in exergue
Rev. Jupiter in quadriga left, reins in right, hurling thunderbolt with left, horses trampling scorpion; P HYPSAEVS | AED CV(R) above, CAPTV[M] on right, C HYPSAE COS | PREIVER(NVM) in exergue
18 mm, 3.80 grams
Rome, 58 B.C.

Allusions: Scaurus refers to his own deed on the obverse, the first time a Roman dared to do so on a coin. In 62 B.C., he had defeated Haritha (Aretha) III of Nabatea, who was marching on Jerusalem, to help the rightful king John Hyrcanus II. Scaurus, a lieutenant of Pompey's, was bribed by Aristoboulos with 400 talents, then took another 300 from Aretas to spare the Nabetean capital of Petra (Josephus, BJ I.127, Ant. Jud. 14.2, 14.5). His colleague chose a more distant motive: C. Plautius Decianus had captured the Volscian city of Privernum (Piperno) in 329 B.C. Any direct relations between Hypsaeus and Decianus are most likely invented, however.

Moneyers: The moneyers of this coin were not the IIIViri Monetales, but the Curule Aediles of 58 B.C., M. Aemilius Scaurus and P. Plautius Hypsaeus. Both were Pompeian supporters ultimately dropped by their patron in 52 B.C. M. Scaurus, stepsone of Sulla, who had already battled in Judaea and Nabatea (where his massacred are mentioned in the Dead Sea Scrolls) would rise to be praetor in 56 B.C. and propraetor of Sardinia the following year. Accused of extortion, he was defended by Cicero and aquitted, only to be exiled on the charge of ambitus in 52. B.C. He was also the first major Roman collector of engraved gemstones, put together in a dactyliotheca exceeding even that of Mithridates of Pontus (Pliny, NH 37.5.11). Less is known about his colleague during his aedileship. P. Plautius Hypsaeus rose to the praetorship in 55 B.C. but was tried for bribery in 52 B.C. whilst standing for consul. He convicted and fled into exile.

On this issue: M. Aemilius Scaurus' aedileship is known and can be securely dated. It became famous for the unparalleled lavishness of its games. These included the construction of an artificial lake to show off crocodiles and hippopotamuses; Scaurus also brought a huge skeleton from Joppa, believed to be the monster to which Andromeda was to be sacrificed (Pliny NH 9.4.11). He also had a temporary theatre capable of holding 80,000 spectators built, standing for just one month, and adorned with all kinds of luxuries (Pliny, NH 36.2.5; 36.24.113ss). After the games, he had the huge marble columns transferred to his house, for which the sewer contractors demanded a hefty security fee, in case their weight caused the drains to cave in (ibid. 36.2.6). According to Pliny, the remains of the theatre alone were worth 30 million sesterces (or 7,500,000 denarii).
SyltorianNov 16, 2010
RRC415-1.jpg
RRC415/1 (L. Aemilius Paullus Lepidus) Obv. PAVLLVS LEPIDVS CONCORDIA, diademed and veiled head of Concordia facing right, graffito.
Rev. TER above trophy with togate figure of L. Aemilius Paullus on right, three captives on left, PAVLLVS in exergue.
18-19 mm, 3,94 gr.
Rome, ca. 63/2 B.C.
References: RRC415/1, RSC Aemilia 10, Syd. 926, Sear 366

Motif: It has been suggested that L. Aemilius Paullus took up the watchword of Cicero's consulate during and after the Catilinarian conspiracy (63 B.C.): Concordia Ordinum. The reverse shows the general L. Aemilius Paullus (no direct relation to the moneyer), who defeated King Perseus in the Third Macedonian War, at the Batle of Pydna. Here, the Macedonian phalanx originally had the upper hand, but broke apart over rough ground, allowing the Romans to enter the gaps between the huge sarissas and cut the phalangites down with their Spanish swords. Paullus took Perseus and his sons, Philip and Alexander, prisoner, as well as their daughter (unnamed and unrepresented on the coin). They were paraded in his triumph. The people reacted badly to this, feeling sympathetic towards the children, but by 63 B.C., this does not seem to have mattered anymore. Paullus triumphed three times in his life, hence the "TER" above the trophy.

Moneyer: The moneyer was the brother of the later triumvir M. Lepidus, and would himself rise through the cursus honorum. Paullus would become quaestor (59 B.C.), praetor (53 B.C.) and reach the consulship (50 B.C.), before siding with Brutus and Cassius and ending up on the proscription list. He was pardonned after Philippi, but exiled himself to Miletus.
1 commentsSyltorianNov 16, 2010
Mn_Aquillius~0.jpg
RRC 401/1 (Mn. Aquillius Mn. F. Mn. N.) Serrate denariusObv. Helmeted and draped bust of Virtus right, VIRTVS before, IIIVIR behind, border of dots
Rev. Consul Mn. Aquillius in military dress standing facing, head left, holding shield in left, raising the female figure of Sicily slumped at his feet, facing right; MN AQVIL before, MN. F. MN.N behind (Mn. in ligature three times), SICIL in exergue, border of dots
Rome, 71 B.C. or 65 B.C.
Serrate; 19 mm, 3,88 g
References: RRC 401/1, Sear 336, RSC Aquillia 2

Mn. Aquillius chose to represent his father who was responsible for crushing the slave rebellion in Sicily in 101 B.C. If the date of 71 B.C. for this coin can be upheld, then the image was a commentary on the moneyer's own time - 71 B.C. was the last year of the Third Servile War (the Spartacus uprising). Mn. Aquillius may have found it opportune to remind people of his ancestors deed during the previous slave rebellion - Crassus must have been seething, with Pompey stealing his victory and a junior magistrate putting in his two cent as well.

The obverse is to be read in combination with the reverse, as Aquillius pater was famous for his Virtus. Despite being shown as raising Sicily, he was actually accused of maladminisration of the province (with good cause, says Cicero), but his laywer exposed his war-wounds, and had Aquillius acquitted because of his military Virtus. (Diod. Sicil. 36.10.3; Cicero, pro Flacco, 98 de Oratore 47).

Mn. Aquilius came to a horrid end, in 88 B.C. when he was betrayed by Mytilene and delivered to Mithridates of Pontus, to be executed in Pergamum by having molten gold poured down his throat.

This coin was also the first where the title of IIIVir occured.
3 commentsSyltorianNov 13, 2010
Iunius_Brutus.jpg
RRC 433/1 (Iunius Brutus)Obv. Head of Libertas right, LIBERTAS behind
Rev. L. Iunius Brutus (cos 509 B.C.) walking left between two lictors, preceded by an accensus, BRVTVS in exergue
Rome, 54 B.C.
19,8 mm, 3,96 g
References: RRC 433/1, Sear 397, RSC Junia 31

M. Iunius Brutus (who was then called Q. Servilius Caepio Brutus due to his adoption) struck this coin to honour his ancestor, the great L. Iunius Brutus who had led the rebellion against the kings, created the Res Publica and became the first consul. Brutus chose to represent Liberty on the obverse, to accompany the creator of the Republic, which was already having serious troubles at the time the coin as struck.

This really should have been a warning to Caesar: 10 years later, the moneyer of this coin would attempt to continue the family tradition and kill another "king".

4 commentsSyltorianNov 13, 2010
Lucius_Caesius.jpg
RRC 298/1 (L. Caesius)Obv. Diademed bust of young Veiovis left, viewed from behind, hurling thunderbolt, behind monogram (Roma, Apollo or Argento Publico, banker’s marks
Rev. Two Lares Praestites seated right, dog between them; (bust of Vulcan and thongs above, LA on left, ER on right), L. CAESI in exergue
18-19 mm, 3,3 g
Rome, 112-108 B.C.
References: RCC 298/1, Sear 175, RSC Caesia 1, Sydenham 564

There is much debate about the nature of Vejovis, some of it going back to Roman times: Aulus Gellius sees this deity as an anti-Jupiter (NA 5.12). Why he appears on coins is, to my knowledge, not clear. The reverse shows the Lares Praestites, protectors of the city strongly associated with dogs: they were clad in dog skins, and had a dog as their companion "the dog is terrible for strangers (...) but well-disposed and kind to those who live with them†but the Lares were also avenging deities who chased down evil doers (Plutarch, Quest. Rom 5.51, Ovid, Fastes 5.140-142) Ovid also mentions a statue of the “twin godsâ€, apparently lost by his time: it has been suggested that this coin represents this cult image, found in the temple at the Via Sacra (Ovid, Fastes 5.145-6).

According to Sydenham, the Lares portrayed on this coin are those of Rhegium, the monogram reading LA[res] RE[gienses]; for Palmer, RE reads regionum (quoted in D. G. Orr, ANRW, ‘Roman Domestic Religion’:1567n54), Freeman and Sear read “PREâ€.

Thanks to Amadis for pointing out an inscription (the "Bronce de Alcántara") mentioning a L. Caesius as a propraetor (?) in Hispania Ulterior in 104 B.C. It is conceivable this was indeed the moneyer of this coin.

1 commentsSyltorianNov 13, 2010
   
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