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Cr 329/1b AR Denarius P. Cornelius Lentulus M.f. 64 viewsRome, 100 BCE
o: Bust of Hercules right, seen from behind, holding club, shield in left field, K below pellet in right field, ROMA below
r: Roma standing facing, holding spear and wearing triple-crested helmet, Genius of the Roman People right crowning her and holding cornucopiae, K below pellet in left field, LENT•MAR•F in ex, all within laurel-wreath
Crawford 329/1b; Cornelia 25a
(3.94g, 20mm, 12h)
A somewhat busy design.
5 commentsPMah

Cr 44/1 AR Victoriatus Anonymous 54 viewsafter 211 BC. AR Victoriatus (17mm, 3.14g, 11h) Rome mint
O: Laureate head of Jupiter r.
R: Victory standing r., crowning trophy
Crawford 44/1
[my opinion: Although Victoriati can be seen as excruciatingly repetitive, with good reason, the obverse of this coin shows considerable artistry in execution.]3 commentsPMah

Cr 390/1 AR Denarius L. Lucretius Trio 53 viewsRome, 74 BCE
o: Radiate head of Sol right
r: Crescent moon surrounded by seven stars; TRIO above, L•LVCRETI below
Crawford 390/1; Lucretia 2.
(3.85g, 16mm, 12h)4 commentsPMah

Cr 25/3 AE Litra Anonymous51 viewsc 241-235 BCE Anonymous bronze Litra
16 mm, 3.07 grams
o: Head of Mars, right, beardless, wearing Corinthian helmet
r: ROMA below Horse head, right, with bridle; behind, sickle
Crawford 25/3
Ex. RBW collection2 commentsPMah

Cr 44/7 AR Sestertius Anonymous45 viewsO: Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, IIS [= 2 and Semi]
R: The Dioscuri galloping right; below, ROMA in linear frame
0.81 gms; 13.50 mm
Broad flan, toned

A bit light, but achieving a consistent weight in casting flans was one of the challenges with this small coin at a time when the silver weight was still a critical component of acceptance.

Although the quarter-denarius seems like it should have been a very handy coin, saving the need to carry two large As and the Semis, the silver sestertius was minted only sporadically and then was discontinued. Accordingly, they are relatively rare, and I have to say this one is very nice.
2 commentsPMah

Cr 296/1d AR Denarius Cn. Blasio Cn.f. 40 viewso: Helmeted male head (Mars or Scipio Africanus?) right; [mark of value] above, prow stem behind
r: Jupiter standing facing, holding scepter and thunderbolt, crowned by Juno on left and Minerva on right
Cn. Blasio Cn.f. 112-111 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.86 g, 6h). Rome mint. Helmeted male head (Mars or Scipio Africanus?) right; [mark of value] above, prow stem behind / Jupiter standing facing, holding scepter and thunderbolt, between Juno on left and Minerva on right, crowning Jupiter with wreath; Π between Jupiter and Minerva. Crawford 296/1d; Sydenham 561b; Cornelia 19.
2 commentsPMah

Cr 401/1 AR Denarius Mn. Aquillius Mn.f. Mn.n40 viewso: VIRTVS - III VIR Helmeted and draped bust of Virtus to right, with large head
r: MN F MN N / MN AQVIL / SICIL. Mn. Aquilius (Cos. 101) raising fallen Sicily
65 BCE Denarius Serratus (19 mm, 3.82 g, 6 h), Rome.
Babelon (Aquilia) 2. Crawford 401/1. Sydenham 798. Toned and struck on a broad flan.
This coin is somewhat unintentionally ironic. The moneyer's honored grandfather was accused of fleecing the people of Sicily, when he was governor of the province after the slave revolts. He later managed to antagonize Mithridates VI of Pontus, leading to widespread slaughter of Romans in Asia.
As Wikipedia summarizes the aftermath: "Mithridates defeated Aquillius in 88 near Protostachium. Aquillius was attempting to make his way back to Italy and managed to make it to Lesbos, where he was delivered to Mithridates by the inhabitants of Mytilene. After being taken to the mainland, he was then placed on a donkey and paraded back to Pergamon. On the trip, he was forced to confess his supposed crimes against the peoples of Anatolia. Aquillius's father, the elder Manius Aquillius, was a former Roman governor of Pergamon and was hated for the egregious taxes that he imposed. It was generally thought that Manius Aquillius the younger would follow in the footsteps of his father as a tax profiteer and was hated by some of the local peoples."
Grandpa was thereafter killed by Mithridates by having molten gold poured down his throat. 2 commentsPMah

Cr 386/1 AR Denarius L. Cassius Q. f. Longinus 39 viewsRome, 78 BCE
o: Head of Liber (or Bacchus) right, wearing ivy wreath; thyrsus over shoulder
r: Head of Liber left, wearing vine wreath; L•CASSI•Q•F behind
Crawford 386/1; RSC Cassia 6.
(3.88g, 14mm, 9h)
An unusual type, with heads on both sides there is some dispute as to the identity of the images. If both are manifestations of Bacchus, then this moneyer apparently really liked to have a good time and wanted his future constituents to know it.2 commentsPMah

Cr 308/1a AR Denarius M. Herennius 38 views 108-107 BCE. AR Denarius M. Herennius, Rome, (19mm, 3.83g, 11h).
O: Diademed head of Pietas r.; control mark before chin;PIETAS behind.
R: M HERENNI, left; Amphinomus carrying his father aloft r., who looks back
Crawford 308/1a; RBW -; RSC Herennia 1.
[The Herennii seem to have adopted the Sicilian image of the brothers who fled Aetna with their parents, but most sources put the origin of the gens in Campania.]2 commentsPMah

Cr 206/1 AR Denarius S Afra37 views150 BCE Rome mint
o: Helmeted head of Roma right, X behind
r: Victory in biga right, SAFRA below horses, ROMA in exergue
Afrania 1 3.67 gm 19.00 mm
A "controversial" coin, if one is a bit of a pedant. Both Crawford and Sear note that the absence of a period/dot/stop after the "S" must lead to the conclusion that this is not issued by a "Spurius Afranius", but rather someone else. Indeed, Sear, due to his system, repeats the assertion for each of the seven types in this issue, from denarius to uncia, using up roughly a half-page of type, net. However, Sear makes no attempt to identify "S Afra", and Crawford cops out with "Safra" representing an unknown cognomen. I personally find it a bit difficult to hang such an argument on the absence of a dot but disregarding a usually distinct space between S and A. The Afranii were a fairly prolific bunch; one of them may have felt a need to be a bit hip-er than others. Plus, "Safra" does not seem to mean anything in Latin, which would be a bit unusual for a cognomen.
So, which explanation fits best: omission of a dot in a design versus a meaningless cognomen used by an unknown person who is not one of the members of a sound-alike gens that was sometimes of tertiary importance .....?

This coin is in wonderful condition for the type.2 commentsPMah

Cr 389/1 AR Denarius L. Rustius35 views74 BCE
o: Helmeted head of Minerva or Mars right, SC behind, star (value mark) below chin
r: Ram standing right, L RVSTI in ex
Crawford 389/1. Rustia 1
3.86g. (5h)2 commentsPMah

Cr 412/1 AR Denarius Serratus L. Roscius Fabatus 34 viewsRome, 64 BCE
o: Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat-skin headdress; pileus of the Dioscuri surmounted by star behind, L•ROSCI below
r: Female standing right facing serpent; [control mark in left field], FABATI in ex
Crawford 412/1; Roscia 3
(3.82g, 19mm, 4h) bankers marks
I should add that I am rather fond or appreciative of bankers' marks. They show the extremely practical nature of any ancient transaction. Imagine if even a small portion of our transactions had to undergo human scrutiny at the level of negating the value of the transaction for every participant, plus the prior and succeeding transactions!1 commentsPMah

Cr 354/1 AR Denarius C. Licinius L.f. Macer 33 views84 BC. (20mm, 3.60 g, 6h). Rome mint.
Diademed bust of Vejovis left, drapery on left shoulder, hurling thunderbolt
Minerva, holding spear, shield, and reins, driving galloping quadriga right, [C] LICINIVS [L F] MACER in ex

Crawford 354/1; Sydenham 732; Licinia 16; RBW 13551 commentsPMah

Cr 448/1a AR Denarius L. Hostilius Saserna 33 viewsRome, 48 BCE
o: Female head right, wearing laurel wreath
r: Victory walking right, holding trophy over left shoulder and caduceus in right hand; L•HOSTILIVS downwards before, SASERNA upwards behind. Crawford 448/1a; RSC Hostilia 5.
3.90g, 18mm, 10h.1 commentsPMah

Cr 433/2 AR Denarius M. Junius Brutus33 viewsAR Denarius 54 bce Rome 4.09 gm 17.5 mm
o: BRVTVS, downwards behind head of L. Iunius Brutus r, border of dots
r: AHALA, downwards behind head of C. Servilius Ahala r, border of dots
Junia 30; Servilia 17; Sydenham 932

This type has always puzzled me. It clearly depicts the two anti-tyrants in the Junia family tree, L. Junius Brutus and C. Servilius Ahala. (Crawford uses the phrase "tyrannicides", but Brutus did not kill Tarquin and Ahala seems to have sucker-stabbed Maelius in anger.) Young Brutus, or whatever his name was when he was a moneyer, clearly chose to put them on his coins at the time when Pompey's prominence in the state was at its peak; Caesar was in Gaul or Britain, and could not help him. This decision as to coinage, therefore, seems to me extremely unhealthy. Roughly the same number of dies have been identified for both of Brutus's moneyer issues, so it is unlikely that this type is an indiscretion that was quickly withdrawn. So, was Brutus being played or deployed by Pompey against Caesar? Pompey was ostentatiously NOT claiming the dictatorship, so why "warn" him, especially when a "warning" from a 30-ish year old aspiring politician who maybe had held a staff officer's post would not likely impress Pompey, "the teenage butcher"? Worth, I think, exploring a bit.2 commentsPMah

Cr 44/5 AR Denarius Anonymous33 viewsc. 211 BCE -- ish
o: Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, X
r: The Dioscuri galloping right, stars above heads; in exergue, ROMA partially incuse on raised tablet
4.10 gm 20.00 mm
This type is the earliest or nearly earliest denarius.2 commentsPMah

Cr 340/1 AR Denarius L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi32 views90 BCE Rome mint
o: Laureate head of Apollo to right; behind, inverted anchor; below chin, B
r: L PISO FRVGI Jockey riding galloping horse to right, holding palm branch; above, D; Below, star
Crawford 340/1; Calpurnia 11
(17 mm, 3.76 g, 12 h)
2 commentsPMah

cr 286/1 AR Denarius M. Sergius Silus32 views116-115 b.c.e. 3.84 gm; 18.00 mm.
o: Helmeted head of Roma right; before, EX. S.C; behind, ROMA and *
r: Horseman left, holding sword and a severed head in left hand; below horse, Q / [M.] SERGI; in exergue, SILVS.
A special issue, by Senate decree, Sergius holding the fiscal office of Quaestor. Another dynamic decapitation, this coin retaining the facial expressions of the recently-deceased barbarian.
The photo is a bit washed-out, but the excellent obverse strike is apparent. 3 commentsPMah

Cr 28/4 AR Half-Quadrigatus/Drachm32 viewsAnonymous, Rome mint
2.99 gm; 17 mm
c. 225 BCE?
Laureate head of Fontus/Janus
Jupiter in quadriga driven by Victory l., holding sceptre and thunderbolt; in ex. ROMA.
This type is associated with the series starting with the rare AU stater with Dioscuri/Oath scene, through the first Quadrigatus/ Didrachms. The half-piece has no value mark. The halves are considerably rarer than the full Didrachms and were presumably unsuccessful despite filling a gap to the unwieldy cast bronze denominations. A precursor, in a sense, to the denarius.
This coin is much nicer in hand than the photo.3 commentsPMah

Cr 344/4a AE As L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus 31 viewsRome, 89 BC. (31mm, 11.94g, 9h)
o: Laureate head of Janus
r: Prow right, L TITVRI L F above, [SABINVS] below, I before
Crawford 344/4a; RBW 13041 commentsPMah

Cr 293/1 AR Denarius L. Philippus31 views113 to 111-ish BCE
o: Head of Philip of Macedon right, wearing royal Macedonian helmet; under chin, Φ; behind, ROMA monogram
r: Equestrian statue right, base inscribed L. PHILIPPVS; below horse, flower; in exergue, XVI [mono]
Marcia 12. 3.92 gm 21.00 mm
The obverse oddly depicts Philip V of Macedon, sometime ally and sometime opponent of Rome, and seems to point to an earlier claim by the Marcii Philippi to a connection to the Macedonian dynasty. The reverse likely depicts a statue of another Marcius in the Roman Forum. There are monograms, flowers, and other elements to round out an array of meanings. The bronze issues, a quadrans and uncia, are also a bit busy and a bit scarcer.

This is a really nice coin, with a bit of deposit at 9:00 obverse, but I just can't get enthusiastic about the type.
3 commentsPMah

Cr 25/7 Æ cast Quadrans "Sickle series"31 viewsRome, c. 241-235 b.c.e.
o: Right hand with open palm; in l. field, three pellets (value), in r. field, sickle
r: Three pellets (value) between two barley-grains
68.5 gm
This series repeats the Cr 14 types, with the addition of a sickle. However, this issue, was produced some 30-40 years later on a lighter weight standard: the "14" were based on an As of approx 332 gms, but this issue was about 272 gm As. Extremely close readers of this gallery will note that my "14" specimens are actually lighter-weight average than my "25/sickles".
Although I am not a pedigree fanatic, my posted 25/sickle coins are in the pedigreed camp:
NAC Auction 61 (RBW Collection), lot 23; NAC Auction 7, 1994 (purchased by RBW), lot 342; RBW 44 (this coin)3 commentsPMah

Cr 236/1 AR Denarius M. Baebius Q. f. Tampilus 30 views137 BCE
o: Helmeted head of Roma left, X below chin, TAMPIL behind
r: Apollo in quadriga right, ROMA below horses, M. BAEBI. Q. F. in exergue
Cr. 236/1. Baebia 12.
(g. 3.93 mm. 19.00)2 commentsPMah

Cr 467/1 AR Denarius J. Caesar30 viewso: COS.TERT.DICT.ITER. Head of Ceres right
r: AVGVR above, PONT.MAX. below. Simpulum, sprinkler, capis and lituus; M in right field
Minted in Africa, c 46 b.c.
3.37 gms; 19.00 mm
This coin is not a beauty and may have been a pendant at some point. Yet it is one of those intensely historical coins, minted on either side of the Battle of Thapsus, which ended the old Republican resistance to Julius Caesar. This type, with "M" ligate in reverse field right, has been said to indicate "Munus" (gift in the sense of obligation); the other variation has "D", presumably "Donativum" (gift in the sense of "here you go, poorer person"). I personally find the distinction between M and D somewhat odd and perhaps there was a more sophisticated distinction being made. As the marks appear on coins of equal value, it seems a very obscure way of distinguishing among soldiers and mere beneficiaries.1 commentsPMah

Cr 250/1 AR Denarius M. Aburius M.F. Geminus 29 views132 B.C.E. Rome mint
(19.32 mm, 3.93 g, 7 h)
o: GEM, helmeted head of Roma right; XVI monogram below chin
r: M·ABVRI / ROMA, Sol, holding reins and whip, driving galloping quadriga right
Crawford 250/1; Aburia 61 commentsPMah

Cr 334/1 AR Denarius L. Pomponius Molo 28 viewsL. Pomponius Molo, 97 BCE Denarius (20 mm, 3.81 g, 6 h), Rome.
L.POMPON.MOLO Laureate head of Apollo to right.
NVMA POMPIL Numa standing before altar, sacrificing. Babelon (Pomponia) 6. Crawford 334/1. Sydenham 607.1 commentsPMah

Cr 352/1b AR Denarius L. Julius Bursio28 viewsRome, 85 BCE
o: Laureate, winged, and draped bust of Apollo Vejovis right; to left, trident above bow
r: Victory driving galloping quadriga right, holding reins and wreath; EX • A • P in ex.
Sydenham 729; Julia 6; Type as RBW 1348
(18.5mm, 4.04 g, 10h)
From the Andrew McCabe Collection.

I have noted some of my other coins whose types bear a variation on the indication of "from the Public Silver", usually interpreted to mean an issue that required a supplementary grant of authority from the Senate outside the normal annual authorization, as all of the coining metal was "public", including the precious metals from time to time appropriated from the temples of the state religion.

Since this coin is ex McCabe, I will quote his notes on the relative rarity of this type directly:
"The British Museum collection has 115 examples of RRC 352/1a or 352/1c with moneyers name L. IVLI BVRSIO, but just 4 examples with EX A. P. Crawford in RRC, p. 605, says that this issue was struck from money left to the Roman people by Ptolemy Alexander I of Egypt, which probably arrived at Rome in 86 BC. Given the rarity of the EX A. P. issue, perhaps the bequest was modest! "
As with the other 3 coins posted in this group, the coin is much better in hand, although the photos of the silver coins are clearer than the bronze.
1 commentsPMah

Cr 421/1 AR Denarius M. Nonius Sufenas27 viewscirca 57- 59 b.c.e., 17.5mm., 3.97gms.
o: SVFENAS – S·C Head of Saturn r.; in l. field, harpa and conical stone
r: PR·L·V·P·F Roma seated l. on pile of arms, holding sceptre and sword, crowned by Victory standing behind her; in exergue, SEX·NONI·. Nonia 1.
The reverse inscription expands as : PR[aetor] L[vdos] V[ictoriae] P[rimus] F[ecit]. Interesting back-story crammed into a busy reverse. The moneyer's father (or grandfather) while Praetor, was the First to "Make" the Games of Victory [of Sulla]. The son's willingness to advertise this on his coins was rather aggressive, considering Sulla's reputation was rapidly declining and his father was a mere partisan despite sponsoring one round of games, and he himself no more popular even though he became praetor, somewhat underlined by this being the first and only "Nonia" issue. Presumably he had faith in Pompey, who was the most enduring and successful of the Sullan partisans and seen as the senior in the power-sharing "First Triumvirate". This bet seemingly did not work out well, but the specifics are not available.3 commentsPMah

Cr 50/3 Æ As Anonymous [Anchor]27 views209-208 b.c.e. Rome mint
Laureate head of Janus; I (value) above
Prow right; I (value) above, anchor before, ROMA below
32.66 gm 34 mm
This issue is associated with a 60-As gold piece. A nice specimen with a pronounced eye and oar-box on the prow.1 commentsPMah

Cr 217/1 AR Denarius C. Terentius Lucanus 26 views147 BCE
o: Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, X and small Victory
r: The Dioscuri galloping right; below horses, C. TER.LVC. In exergue, ROMA.
Cr. 217/1. Terentia 10
(g. 3.59 mm. 18.00). 1 commentsPMah

Cr 56/5 AE Quadrans Anonymous 26 viewsc. 211 BCE (20.4 mm, 6.04 grams)
o: Helmeted head of Hercules right, 3 dots behind
r: ROMA - Prow to right, 3 dots behind
Crawford 56/5.
Overstruck, possibly Hieron II of Sicily with Zeus/Trident
Ex. RBW1 commentsPMah

Cr 312/1 AR Denarius C. Sulpicius C.f. Galba26 views Rome, 106 BCE
o: Jugate heads of Dei Penates left, DPP before
r: Two soldiers swearing oath over sow, L above, C SVLPICI. C F in ex.
Crawford 312/1. Sulpicia 1
Serrated, 3.85g. (12h)
Penates were both personal and public gods, and this obverse emphasizes that these are the public form, "Publici", as it would be quite unusual to emphasize the private aspect of household gods. The oath scene on reverse likely refers to the founding myth of the white sow at Alba Longa in the Aeneid. The Sulpicii gens eventually culminated (and terminated) with the emperor Galba. 1 commentsPMah

Cr 232/4 AE Quadrans Cn. Gellius 25 viewsRome, 138 BCE
o: Head of Hercules right; three pellets behind
r: Prow right, CN. GELI above, S before, [ROMA] below
Crawford 232/4
(4.68g, 20mm, 8h)PMah

Cr 327/1 AR Denarius M. Servilius C.f. 24 views100 BCE
o: Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, Z
r: Two warriors, a Roman and a barbarian fighting on foot, each with a horse behind him; in exergue, M. SERVEILI. C. F / T
Cr. 327/1. Servilia 13
(g. 3.93 mm. 21.50)1 commentsPMah

Cr 39/4 Æ Uncia Anonymous24 viewsc. 217-215 B.C.E. Rome

Radiate and draped facing bust of Sol; • (value) to left
Crescent; two stars and • (value) above; ROMA below
24mm 12.47 gm

ex. McCabe; ex RBW

This large "unit" of the semilibral standard comes from the series sometimes also described as "collateral", "anomalous", and, painfully, "anomalous anonymous". Crawford identified only struck bronzes from Triens to Semuncia for this issue. There are no clearly-associated cast bronze larger denominations, with the nearest-dated such cast types having more directly-related struck smaller denominations.
Yet, this series demonstrates the last great gasp of creativity in Republican bronze, no Prows in sight and without standardized presentations of the soon-to-be-rigid obverse gods.
Although not rare, these interesting types do not show up in every sale. This specimen has a bit of roughness but also a wonderful strike.1 commentsPMah

Cr 232/1 AR Denarius Cn. Gellius 23 viewsCn. Gellius. Denarius 138 BCE, (18mm., 3.96g)
O: Helmeted head of Roma r.; behind, X. All within laurel wreath
r: Warrior in quadriga r., holding shield and grasping captive beside him; below, CN·GEL. In ex, ROMA
Babelon Gellia 1. Sydenham 434. RBW 962. Crawford 232/1.PMah

Cr 213/1 Æ As "Mast & Sail"22 viewsRome, 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.

1 commentsPMah

Cr 261/1 AR Denarius Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus 21 views128 BCE. (20mm, 3.90 g, 6h). Rome mint.
o: Helmeted head of Roma right; grain stalk to left, mark of value below chin
r: Victory, holding reins and whip, driving biga right, ROMA above; below, man attacking lion with spear, CN. DOM in ex
Crawford 261/1; Sydenham 514; Domitia 14; RBW 1056.
The Domitii Ahenobarbi peaked early in the late Republic, with many a contentious character active at key moments.
The last to hold the name for long was Nero's father, conveniently dying in time for Nero's mother Agrippina to marry Claudius, who adopted young Domitius.
PMah

Cr 328/1 AR Denarius P. Servilius Rullus 20 viewsRome, 100 BCE
o: Cuirassed bust of Minerva left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet; RVLLI upwards behind
r: Victory driving fast biga right, holding palm and reins; P below horses, [P]•SERVILI•M•F in ex
Crawford 328/1; RSC Servilia 14.
(3.92g, 17mm, 4h.)
Although this is a "head/Victory-in-biga" type, I think the style of the reverse of this coin is very dynamic.
PMah

Cr 38/7 AE Semuncia Anonymous 20 viewsc. 217-215 BCE (19.5mm., 6.09g)
o: Head of Mercury r., wearing winged petasus
r: ROMA Prow r.
Sydenham 87. RBW 101. Crawford 38/7.PMah

Cr 444/1a Q. Sicinius & C. Coponius AR Denarius20 views49 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. 1 commentsPMah

Cr 479/1 Æ As Sextus Pompey 19 views42-38 BC. Æ As (30mm, 26.45 g, 12h). Uncertain Sicilian mint.
o: Laureate head of Janus with the features of Pompey the Great, MAGN above
r: Prow of quinquereme right, [PI]VS above, IMP below
Crawford 479/1; CRI 336; Sydenham 1044; RPC I 671.PMah

Cr 494/23 AR Denarius P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus 19 viewsRome, 42 BCE
o: Laureate head of Apollo right; lyre behind
r: Diana standing facing, head right, with bow and quiver over shoulder, holding lighted torch in each hand; P•CLODIVS downwards to right, M•F• downwards to left.
Crawford 494/23; Claudia 15.
(3.81g, 17mm, 3h)
Note: Lyre is NOT a die symbolPMah

Cr 383/1 AR Denarius Ti. Claudius Ti. f. Ap. n. Nero 19 views79 BCE
o: Draped bust of Diana right, bow and quiver on shoulder; before chin, SC
r: Victory in prancing biga right, palm-branch and reins in left hand and wreath in right; below horses, LXI. In exergue, TI. CLAVD. TI. F/AP. N.
Cr. 383/1 (g. 4.20 mm. 18.50) -- relatively heavy for type1 commentsPMah

Cr 50/3 Æ As Anonymous [anchor] 19 viewsc. 209-208 BCE
o: Laureate head of Janus, I above
r: Prow to r.; Anchor before; I above; ROMA in ex.
(34 mm, 33.91 grams)
Crawford 50/3
weighty coin
ex RBW PMah

Cr 20/1 Anonymous AR Didrachm19 viewsc. 269-266 b.c.e. Rome(?) or Neapolis mint (?)

o: Head of Hercules right, hair bound with ribbon with club and lion's skin over shoulder
r: She-wolf right, suckling twins; in exergue, ROMANO

6.89 gm 21.00 mm

This issue was likely the first to be minted in the city of Rome itself, rather than the prior didrachm issues from Naples or another Greek-oriented southern city, despite the Greek-styled "ROMANO" ethnic, soon permanently replaced with "ROMA".

Although a bit worn, this specimen retains all the design elements quite nicely. On ultra-well-preserved specimens, the wolf's dorsal hair is a bit more distinct, and it would have been nicer if the final "O" had stayed on the flan.1 commentsPMah

Cr 366/4 AR Denarius C. Annius Cr 366/418 viewsC. Annius. Denarius North-Italy and Spain 82-81, AR 18mm., 3.63g.
C·ANNIVS·T·F·T·N· PRO·COS·EX·S·C Diademed and draped female bust r.
Rev. Victory in quadriga r., holding reins and palm branch; above horses, XXXXVI and below, Q. In exergue, C·TARQVITI·P·F. Babelon Annia 1. Sydenham 749. Crawford 366/4.
Banker's marks on obv. and rev., PMah

Cr 298/1 AR Denarius Lucius Caesius 18 views112-111 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

Cr 282/4 AR Denarius L. Pomponius Cn.f. 18 views (21 mm, 3.82 g, 6 h). Rome.
Crawford 282/4; Sydenham 522; Pomponia 7.
o: L·POM-P-ONI C(NF), head of Roma right,in winged helmet; behind, X
r: L·LIC·CN DOM in ex, warrior hurling spear and holding shield, reins and carnyx, galloping biga rtPMah

Cr 304/1 AR Denarius L. Memmius18 views 109-108 b.c.e 3.93 gm; 19.50 mm
o: Young male head right (Apollo?), wearing oak-wreath; before, *
r: Dioscuri standing facing between their horses, each holding spear; in exergue, L. MEMMI.
This reverse breaks with the (boring) tradition of The Galloping Dioscuri reverse and presents a bold, frontal, sculptural presentation, similar to the sculptural group in front of the Quirinale Palace.
1 commentsPMah

Cr 244/3 Æ Quadrans C. Aburius Geminus18 viewsRome, 134 BCE
o: Head of Hercules right, wearing lion’s skin headdress; ••• (mark of value) behind, [club below]
r: Prow of galley right; C • (ABVR)I/GEM above, ••• (mark of value) to right
Sydenham 491a; Type as RBW 1008
18.5mm 4.29 gm

This coin, as with the other 3 posted at same time, is vastly better in hand. This coin also has a Republic-nerd pedigree to die for: From the Andrew McCabe Collection. Ex RBW Collection Duplicate; purchased by RBW from Roberto Russo. PMah

Cr 144/4 AE Quadrans 17 viewso: head of Hercules right, clad in Nemean Lion's scalp, three pellets (mark of value) behind
r: prow of galley right, Victory flying right crowning LFP monogram with wreath above, three pellets (mark of value) before, ROMA below

Roman Republic, LFP monogram (L. Furius Philus?), 189 - 179 B.CBronze quadrans, Crawford 144/4, Sydenham 300c, SRCV I 1088, F, nice olive green patina, pitting on obverse, Rome mint, weight 7.513g, maximum diameter 22.3mm, die axis 180o, 189 - 179 B.C.; obverse head of Hercules right, clad in Nemean Lion's scalp, three pellets (mark of value) behind; reverse prow of galley right, Victory flying right crowning LFP monogram with wreath above, three pellets (mark of value) before, ROMA below; from the Andrew McCabe Collection; very rare;
Purchased from Forum Ancient CoinsPMah

Cr 216/2a AE As L. Sempronius Pitio 17 viewsL. Sempronius Pitio. 148 B.C. AE as (30.7 mm, 20.60 g, 1 h). Rome mint. laureate head of bearded Janus; I above / L SEMP / ROMA, prow of galley right; I to right. Crawford 216/2a; Sydenham 403. Fine, sandy patina.
Ex RBW collectionPMah

Cr 265/3 AE Quadrans [Q. Max.] 17 viewsc. 127 BCE AE quadrans (16.6 mm, 3.23 grams)
O: 3 pellets behind Hercules head r.
R: Q.MAX ROMA 3 pellets, above and below prow r.
Crawford 265/3.
Ex. RBW CollectionPMah

Cr 318/1b AR Denarius C. Coelius Caldus 17 viewsRome, 104 BCE
o: Helmeted head of Roma left
r: Victory driving galloping biga left, holding reins; CALD below, C between two pellets in ex.
Crawford 318/1b; Coelia 3.
(3.82g, 19mm, 4h.)
Relatively unusual obverse that does not identify "Roma" or bear mark of valuePMah

Cr 249/1 AR Denarius P. Maenius Antiaticus M. f. 17 viewsRome, 132 BCE
o: Helmeted head of Roma right, XVI monogram behind
r: Victory driving quadriga right, P•MAE ANT (ligate) below; ROMA in ex.
Crawford 249/1; Maenia 7.
(3.82g, 19mm, 9h.)PMah

Cr 321/1 AR Denarius L. Cassius Caecianus 17 views102 BCE Rome mint
o: Draped bust of Ceres left, wearing wreath of grain ears; A[•] to upper right
r: Two yoked oxen pulling plow left; X• above
(17mm, 3.96 g, 6h)
Crawford 321/1; Sydenham 594; Cassia 4; RBW 1176 var. (controls)PMah

Cr 56/2 AE As Anonymous17 viewsAfter 211 BCE
(32.57 mm, 42.11 g, 5 h). Uncial standard. Rome mint
o: Laureate head of bearded Janus; I above
r: ROMA, prow of galley right; I above
Crawford 56/2; Sydenham 143.

No great beauty, but one accumulates Cr 56 series. Any more specific attribution assistance would be appreciated.PMah

Cr 320/1 fouree AR Denarius Fouree L. Julius L.f. Caesar17 viewsc. 103 BCE fourrée denarius (16.8 mm, 3.01 g, 5 h)
o: CAESAR upwards behind helmeted head of Mars, left; above, control symbol Q OR p
r: Venus driving a chariot left, drawn by two flying erotés; lyre in field beneath; L·IVLI·L·F in ex.
cf. Julia 4
An extremely convincing fouree, with break-through wear on the highest points on the reverse. Crawford says that the type repeats the control mark, which is variable in execution on authentic pieces, on both sides, which I do not clearly see on this otherwise crisp coin; perhaps this was a "tell" to contemporaries.
PMah

Cr 335/3f AR Denarius Malleolus, Albinus & Metellus17 viewsRome, 96 BCE . AR Denarius
issue of C. Malleolus, A. Albinus Sp.f., and L. Caecilius Metellus

o: Helmeted head of Mars right; mallet above, mark of value below chin
r: Warrior standing left, right foot on cuirass, holding spear and leaning on tabella divided into two compartments, in one CM/(AL) in two lines, in the other a Π, retrograde and sideways; trophy in left field.
Sydenham 615b; Poblicia 8; Type as RBW 1205

18.5mm, 3.91 gms.

This coin is not a beauty, but the key details are quite clear. The placement of the mallet (= "Malleus") above the head of Mars is a bit comical to modern eyes, and reflects either a difference sensibility towards slapstick comedy in ancient times or an engraver not particularly well informed about divine sensitivities. ("Malleolus", by the way, is the medical term for the part of your ankle that sticks out.)

From the Andrew McCabe Collection. McCabe's notes as to this coin include: "This variety with the voting tablet inscribed C. MAL is quite a lot scarcer than that with a prow."
As with the other 3 coins posted in this group, the coin is much better in hand.PMah

Cr 69/5 Æ Quadrans Anonymous [Corn/KA]17 viewsSicily 211-208 BCE

o: Head of Hercules right, wearing lion's skin; ••• (mark of value) to left
r: Bull leaping right; ••• (mark of value) and grain ear above, serpent below.
20mm, 6.34 gm

Type and overstrike as RBW 292; for overstrike, see Crawford Table XVIII, 64. Overstruck on a Syracusan bronze (Poseidon/Trident). A bit of smoothing has been noted.

From the Andrew McCabe Collection. His note: " Essentially all known examples of this type are overstrikes, mostly on an Poseidon/Ornamental trident. This coin is an unusually clear strike, complete as to overstrike and with little visible under, but a number of lines can be seen on the bull's flank that may be from an underlying trident."

As with the other 3 coins posted in this group, the coin is much better in hand.PMah

Cr 187/2 AE As Furia 16 viewsRoman Republic, Furius Purpurio, 169 - 158 B.C., Bronze as, Crawford 187/2, Sydenham 359, BMCRR II Italy 424, Russo RBW 798, SRCV I 705

Bronze as, Crawford 187/2, Sydenham 359, BMCRR II Italy 424, Russo RBW 798, SRCV I 705, gF, green and red patina, 19th century India ink collection mark, R.L. Furia" on reverse, weight 23.130g, maximum diameter 37.9mm, die axis 225o, Rome mint, 169 - 158 B.C.; obverse laureate and bearded head of Janus, I (mark of value) above; reverse prow right, PVR (ligate) above, I before, ROMA in exergue; big 37.9 mm bronze, from the Andrew McCabe Collection; scarce

Purchased from Forum Ancient CoinsPMah

Cr 324/1 AR Denarius M. Lucilius Rufus 16 viewso: Helmeted head of Roma right; PV to left; all within laurel wreath
r: Victory driving galloping biga right, holding whip and reins

M. Lucilius Rufus. 101 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.93 g, 9h). Rome mint. Helmeted head of Roma right; PV to left; all within laurel wreath / Victory driving galloping biga right, holding whip and reins. Crawford 324/1; Sydenham 599; Lucilia 1. PMah

Cr 335/1b AR Denarius Caecilius / Postumius /Poblicius 16 viewsL. Caecilius Metellus, A. Postumius S.f. Albinus, C. Poblicius Malleolus, late 90s BCE (19 mm, 3.90 g, 10 h).
o: A-ALB.S.F / L. METEL Laureate head of Apollo to right; below neck, star
r: C.MALL / ROMA Roma seated left, crowned by Victory
Babelon (Caecilia) 46, (Poblicia) 3, (Postumia) 3. Crawford 335/1b. Sydenham 611a. PMah

Cr 350/3e AE As Vergilius / Gargilius / Ogulnius 16 viewsc. 86 BC, AE As of moneyers Vergilius, Gargilius & Ogulnius 26 mm, 11.86 grams.
O: Laureate bust of Janus.
R: GAR.OGVL.VER above prow l.
Crawford 350/3e
Ex. RBW CollectionPMah

Cr 322/1b AR Denarius C. Fabius C.f. Hadrianus 16 views102 BCE AR Denarius C. Fabius C.f. Hadrianus, Rome, (21mm, 3.94g, 10h)
o: EX•A•PV behind veiled & turreted bust of Cybele right
r: C•FABI•C•F, victory in biga right; D• and stork below

Crawford 322/1b; cf. RBW 1177; RSC Fabia 14. Rare?PMah

Cr 344/3 AR Denarius L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus 16 views 89 BCE. Rome
o: Bearded head of King Tatius right, SABIN behind
r: Victory in Biga right, bearing wreath, L TITVRI below, grain ear in exergue
(18mm., 3,86g)
Sydenham 700; Crawford 344/3PMah

Cr 215/2a Æ As Q. Marcius Libo 16 viewsc. 148 BCE (30.5mm., 20.05g)
o: Laureate head of Janus; above, mark of value
r: Q·MARC Prow r.; before, LIBO and below, ROMA
Marcia 2. Sydenham 396. Crawford 215/2a.
Not a beauty, but I posted this for sharp detail on left reverse showing oar box and superstructure quite clearlyPMah

Cr 244/3 AE Quadrans C. Aburius Geminus 16 views134 BCE 18.7 mm, 4.24 grams.
o: Hercules head r, 3 pellets behind
r: ROMA, M.ABVRI M.F. GEM above and below prow r., 3 dots
Crawford 244/3
Ex. RBW

PMah

Cr 282/4 AR Denarius L. Pomponius Cn. f.16 viewsL. Pomponius Cn. f. AR Denarius serratus 118 b.c.e.
o: Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, X; around, L. POMPONI CN F.
r: Bituitus in biga right; in ex, L. LIC. CN. DOM.
3.81 gms; 20.00 mm
This coin is much better in hand.
If the attribution of the reverse figure to Bituitus is correct, this coin commemorates the defeat of one of the most incompetent generals ever defeated by Roman valor, who lost over 120,000 troops according to severely outdated sources. The moneyers are splitting the designs -- Pomponius gets the interesting obverse, yet Domitius, whose father(?) was the winning general a few years earlier, chose a very ordinary reverse. Perhaps there is more to the story than meets the eye. PMah

Cr 405/2 AR Denarius M. Plaetorius Cestianus16 viewsM. Plaetorius M. f. Cestianus
Rome mint c. 69 BCE
Draped female bust r. (Fortuna?); behind, [control symbol]
M PLAETORI CEST S·C around half-length boy? girl? facing on tablet inscribed SORS.
20mm, 3.49 gm
Plaetoria 10

A fascinating type among this varied issue with four main types of denarii. There are multiple theories as to the unique figure on the reverse, clearly a reference to divination by lots "SORS", but no agreement as to exactly what it signifies. Even on nicely preserved specimens, of which there are not many, the gender of the reverse figure is difficult to say. Crawford cites reason to think it refers to the origin of the moneyer's adoptive gens, expanded greatly by Michael Harlan. To me, given that the moneyership is an electoral stepping-stone, it seems a rather obscure reference; although the "S C" indicates a special issue perhaps unconnected with regular duties. Crawford notes that Cestianus became Praetor c. 64 BCE, so perhaps he was right to trust in luck.
This type is deemed rare and this specimen's condition is not unusual for the type.1 commentsPMah

Cr 179/1 AE As Anonymous [BAL] 15 viewsAnonymous [BAL]. Ca. 169-158 B.C. AE as (31.9 mm, 24.03 g, 8 h). Central Italian mint. Laureate head of Janus, I above / BAL monogram / ROMA, prow of galley right, I to right. Crawford 179/1; Sydenham 354.
Ex RBW collectionPMah

Cr 440/1 AR Denarius Q. Sicinius 15 viewsQ. Sicinius. 49 BCE (17mm., 3.83g.
o: FORT – P·R Diademed head of Fortuna Populi Romani r.
r: Palm branch tied with fillet and winged caduceus in saltire; above, wreath. On either side, III – VIR and below, Q·SICINIVS

Sicinia 5. Sydenham 938. Sear Imperators 1. RBW 1555. Crawford 440/1.PMah

Cr 38/7 AE Semuncia Anonymous 15 views circa 217-215 BCE. Rome (19mm., 7,43g.)
o: Head of Mercury right, wearing winged petasos
r: Prow right, ROMA above
Crawford 38/7; RBW 100.PMah

Cr 56/7 Æ Uncia Anonymous 15 viewsAfter 211 BCE. (18mm, 5.38 g, 10h). Rome mint.
o: Helmeted head of Roma right; • (mark of value) behind
r: Prow of galley right; • (mark of value) below.
Crawford 56/7; Sydenham 143e
PMah

Cr 364/1b AR Denarius Serratus Q. Antonius Balbus 15 viewsRome, 82 BCE (3.71g, 20mm, 11h)
o: Laureate head of Jupiter right; S•C behind, O below
r: Victory driving quadriga right, holding reins, wreath, and palm frond; Q•ANTO•BALB PR in two lines in ex
Crawford 364/1b. Antonia 1a
Banker's mark near chin obverse
Striking as Praetor, he was a Marian who was slain after the Sullan victory.PMah

Cr 337/3 AR Denarius D. Iunius Silanus L.f. 15 viewsD. Iunius Silanus L.f.91 BCE (17.5mm., 3.78g)
o: Helmeted head of Roma r.; behind N
r: Victory in biga r., holding palm-branch and reins in l. hand and whip in r.; above IVI. D·SILANVS·L·F / ROMA in ex.
Junia 15. Sydenham 646. Crawford 337/3
This coin has much nicer toning than shown in this photo.PMah

Cr 56/2 Æ As Anonymous (Spanish)15 viewsSpanish imitative cast circa 100 BCE (29.5mm., 20.84g)
o: Laureate head of Janus; above, mark of value
r: Prow r.; above, mark of value and value mark before below, ROMA
Crawford 56/2.
In retrospect, why would anyone imitate the ubiquitous "Cr 56/2"? This is a cast contemporary copy, likely from SpainPMah

Cr 453/1a AR Denarius L. Plautius Plancus 15 views47 BCE
o: Facing head of Medusa with coiled snake on either side; below, L. PLAVTIVS
r: Aurora flying right, head facing slightly left, holding palm branch and reins in each hand and conducing four horses of the Sun; below, PLANCVS Cr. 453/1a. Plautia 15
(g. 3.82 mm. 18.50)
Several very nice specimens on these galleries, see JayT4 and Carausius for example.
Reasonable minds can differ, slightly, but this reverse is possibly the most artistic of the Republican series. This coin is decent, but some examples are breathtaking. Obviously, an infusion of Greek engravers that year. Perhaps from Alexandria or the aftermath of Pharsalus (speculating a bit here).PMah

Cr 44/6 AR Quinarius Anonymous 15 viewsAfter 211 BCE
o: Helmeted head of Roma right (small, normal nose), V behind head
r: The Dioscuri riding right, stars above, ROMA in linear frame below
Crawford 44/6PMah

Cr 53/1 AR Victoriatus Anonymous15 viewsAfter 211 BCE
(17.38 mm, 2.93 g, 1 h). Rome mint
o: Laureate head of Jupiter right
r: ROMA, Victory standing right, crowning trophy
Crawford 53/1; RSC 9 PMah

Cr 382/1a AR Denarius C. Naevius Balbus15 views79 BCE Denarius Serratus (18 mm, 3.65 g, 6 h), Rome.
o: S C Diademed head of Venus right; before, E
r: C.NAE.BALB Victory driving galloping triga right, holding reins
Crawford 382/1a. Sydenham 769
Much nicer in hand; toned.PMah

Cr 18/5 Cast Sextans15 viewsApollo/Apollo series. 275-270 BC.
Obv. Head of Dioscurus right; behind, two pellets.
Rev. Head of Dioscurus left; behind, two pellets.
Vecchi ICC 37; Haeberlin pl. 36
(Photo is incorrectly oriented.) Not a beauty, but the obverse is a bit sharper. PMah

Cr 519/2 Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus AR Denarius15 viewsc. 41 b.c.e. Greek coastal mint or possibly a Shipboard mint

o: Bearded head of Lucius (?) Ahenobarbus r., AHENOBAR before
r: CN.DOMITIVS.IMP Ship's prow r., w/ military trophy

HCRI 339 Domitia 21

3.79 gm.

A flip-flopper of exquisitely flexible principles, Gnaeus salvaged his family’s future by deserting to Octavian days before the battle of Actium, paving his posthumous way to becoming Emperor Nero’s great-grandfather. Suetonius says that Gnaeus “omnibus gentis suae procul dubio praeferendum” -- was “undoubtedly the best of his entire extended family, ever”. Considering that the entire extended family was considered remarkably depraved, Nero’s father most of all, that is faint praise indeed.

Lucky he was also to have previously commanded the "Liberators' " fleet and at sea instead of standing in the mud at Philippi, as the trophy presumably represents his irrelevant victory over Domitius Calvinus in October 42. To my eye, the trophy is not distinctly nautical standing alone and perhaps the entire design reflects a naval trophy that he erected on a friendly shore point.

His allies Brutus and Cassius having committed suicide, Gnaeus took his 72 ships and two legions a-pirating rather successfully for nearly a decade. Thinking he had made a good pile of stolen booty but that the tide was turning (indeed, he also struck an aureus), he then struck a deal with Antonius (an add-on to the Sextus Pompeius work-out) and became consul for 32. Dry land politics being more fickle than piracy, he soon had to choose between Octavian and Antonius and headed east. There, he suddenly became a Model Virtuous Roman in antagonism to Cleopatra, persuading no one, and finally rowed over to Octavian, who accepted him rather than having Agrippa treat him to a game of "walk the plank". Yet he died a few days later of “fever”, which tended to happen to temporarily incapacitated power brokers recuperating near Octavian (see my Cr. 449/2 Pansa) or Livia Drusilla (see, "I, Claudius"). His defection and various marriage connections (and I would like to think a map to his buried pirate treasure, but wrong movie ...) kept his descendants comfortably depraved for almost 100 years.

This denarius is scarce, and particularly scarce with anything other than a horrible obverse. It perhaps depicts pater Lucius, who also ran afoul of Caesar and Antonius (see my post of Cr. 448/3 L. Hostilius Saserna). This specimen shares the weak obverse strike seen on most, yet is a slight bit less worn and less marked than many. On the better-struck coins, whichever Ahenobarbus this is can be seen to sport a scraggly beard, presumably to cue the "red beard" cognomen, but the portraits on almost all dies are quite distinctively coarse. The reverse, which is the main appeal of this specimen, is much more carefully engraved, with distinct waves, "eye", oar box and trophy. The keel and "beak"/rostrum are clear, and the prow-stem is outlined and shows internal beam-structure.
1 commentsPMah

Cr 469/1a AR Denarius Cn. Pompey Minor15 viewsissued 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.1 commentsPMah

Cr 270/1 AR Denarius M. Porcius Laeca 14 viewsM. Porcius Laeca. 125 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.82 g, 6h). Rome mint.
o: Helmeted head of Roma right; X below chin; LAECA behind
r: Libertas in quadriga right, vindicta, reins & pileus, crowned by Victory flying left above, M.POR/ROMA below
Cr 270/1; Sydenham 513; Porcia 3: RBW 1088.PMah

Cr 97/7c AE Uncia Anonymous 14 viewsBronze Uncia Luceria mint, 211 - 206 B.C.E. (4.316g, maximum diameter 17.9mm, die axis 45o)
o: helmeted head of Roma right, pellet (mark of value) behind
r: ROMA, galley prow right, ROMA above, L and pellet (mark of value) below;
scarce
Crawford 97/7c, Sydenham 304, BMCRR Italy 173, SRCV I 1320
PURCHASED FROM FORUM ANCIENT COINSPMah

Cr 257/1 AR Denarius M. Vargunteius 14 viewsRome, 130 BCE
o: Helmeted head of Roma right; XVI monogram below chin, M•VARG behind
r: Jupiter driving triumphal quadriga right, holding palm frond and thunderbolt; ROMA in ex
Crawford 257/1; RSC Vargunteia 1.
3.80g, 20mm, 1h.PMah

Cr 448/1a AR Denarius L. Hostilius Saserna 14 viewsL. Hostilius Saserna 48 BCE (18mm., 3.67g.)
o: Female head r. (Pietas?), wearing oak wreath
r: L·HOSTILIVS – SASERNA Victory advancing r., holding caduceus and palm branch
Crawford 448/1aPMah

Cr 117/A/1 AR Denarius Anonymous [Rudder] 14 viewsc. 206-195 BCE
o: Helmeted head of Roma right; behind, X
r: The Dioscuri galloping right; below, rudder and ROMA in partial tablet.
Cr. 117 A/1;RSC Anon. 20y (g. 3.62 mm. 19.50)
a bit scarce

PMah

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