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Lepidus_Mark_Antony_Quinarius.jpg
Mark Antony and LepidusThe Triumvirs. Mark Antony and Lepidus, 43 B.C. AR quinarius
Military mint traveling with Antony and Lepidus in Transalpine Gaul, 43 B.C.
O: M ANT IMP, emblems of the augurate: lituus, capis, and raven standing left.
R: LEP IMP, emblems of the pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis, and apex.
-Crawford 489/3; CRI 120; Sydenham 1158a; RSC 3.
4 commentsNemonater
AnDid.jpg
Anonymous Didrachm / Quadrigatus **SOLD**Anonymous. Silver Didrachm (6.80g, 22.5mm), ca. 225-214 BC. Uncertain mint.

O: Laureate head of Janus (Dioscuri?), two annulets atop head.
R: ROMA incuse on solid tablet in exergue, Jupiter, hurling thunderbolt and holding scepter, in galloping quadriga right driven by Victory.

- ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf., Crawford ?

"Silver Quadrigatus Roman coinage was fortified during the Second Punic War. In addition to gold coins, the Romans issued copper and silver coins, sometimes in enormous quantities. The principal silver coin of the war was a reduced-weight didrachm called a "quadrigatus" after its reverse design, a four-horse chariot (quadriga) bearing Victory and Jupiter. There are many varieties of quadrigati, as revealed by differences in die engraving, metal purity and production standards, not to mention subtle variations of the main design. This suggests that several mints issued quadrigati at different times, and under quite different circumstances. The double-head on the obverse usually is described as the god Janus because of its distinctive form, but the faces are of young men, and it more likely represents the Dioscuri, the gods Castor and Pollux, who were credited with saving Rome at the Battle of Lake Regillus nearly three centuries before." - David Vagi
3 commentsNemonater
Anonymous_Æ_TriensComp.jpg
Anonymous Æ Triens Overstruck on Akarnanian Federal Coinage Ex RBWAnonymous Æ Triens, 211-208 B.C. 5.38g, 24mm.
O: Helmeted head of Minerva right; four pellets above
R: Prow right
Overstruck on Akarnanian Federal Coinage (Akarnanian Confederacy) of Oiniadai.
O: Zeus
R: Head of river-god Acheloüs, trident above.
- Crawford 95a From the RBW Collection

This triens comes from the CA series thought to have been struck in Canusium, modern-day Canosa, Italy. You can't see the CA on this example but the style is entirely consistent with the CA series and the CA tridents which apparently always come overstruck on bronzes of Acarnania and Oeniadae. So, why would a series struck in Southeast Italy have so many known overstrikes on undertypes from far away across the Adriatic?

The answer is that Marcus Valerius Laevinus had earlier driven the Macedonians from this region and this issue from Canusium represents booty captured during this fighting and brought back with the fleet when M. Valerius landed in Southern Italy circa 210-209 B.C.. The trientes are all overstruck likely because many of the captured coins were close enough to the necessary weight and the rest of the denominations were probably largely struck on flans whose bronze came from melting down and recasting of the captured booty, with a small number being overstruck on earlier coins that were the correct size. Since this issue contains no precious metal coinage, it is likely that if any precious metal was captured it was either sent back to Rome or used by one of the other Roman field mints operating in Apulia.
1 commentsNemonater
LEGIIIIB.jpg
Antony LEG IIIIMARK ANTONY. 32-31 BC. AR Legionary Denarius. Patrae(?) mint.
O: Galley right
R: LEG IIII, legionary aquila between two standards.
- Crawford 544/16; CRI 353; Sydenham 1220; RSC 29.

A young man named Titus Flavius Vespasianus was in the Fourth Legion and the legion sided with him years later during the Civil Wars.
2 commentsNemonater
Dioscuri.jpg
C. Fonteius Dioscuri GalleyC. Fonteius AR Denarius. Rome, 114-113 BC.
O: Laureate, janiform heads of the Dioscuri, G to left and mark of value to right
R: Galley left with three rowers, gubernator at stern; C•FONT above, ROMA below.
- Crawford 290/1

In his oration, Pro Fonteio, Cicero mentions that the Fonteii came originally from Tusculum, of which municipium it was one of the most distinguished families. The Fonteii claimed descent from Fontus, the son of Janus. Vaillant and others suppose the obverse of this coin is the head of Janus, in reference to this tradition. But as Janus is always represented in later times with a beard, Eckhel maintains that the two heads refer to the Dioscuri, who were worshipped at Tusculum with especial honours. The galley on the reverse is a reference to Telegonus, son of Ulysses and according to myth the founder of Tusculum.
1 commentsNemonater
SullaTorquatusI.jpg
L. Manlius Torquatus and L. Cornelius SullaL. Manlius Torquatus and L. Cornelius Sulla (82 BC). AR denarius 3.99 g. Military military mint with Sulla.
O: Helmeted bust of Roma right, with peaked visor, cruciform earring and necklace, hair in three locks; L MANLI before; PRO•Q behind
R: Sulla, togate, driving triumphal quadriga right, holding branch and reins; above, Victory flying left crowning Sulla with laurel wreath; L•SVLLA•IM in exergue. - Crawford 367/5. Sydenham 757. Manlia 4.
Fine style, light golden toning.

As consul for the year 88 BC, Sulla was awarded the coveted assignment of suppressing the revolt of Mithradates VI of Pontus, but political maneuvers resulted in this assignment being transferred to Marius. In response, Sulla turned his army on Rome, captured it, and reclaimed his command against Mithradates. His prosecution of the first Mithradatic War was successful, but he spared the Pontic king for personal gain. In 83 BC, Sulla returned to Italy as an outlaw, but he was able to win the support of many of the leading Romans. Within a year, he fought his way to Rome, where he was elected dictator. It was during this campaign to Rome that this denarius was struck. The obverse type represents Sulla's claim to be acting in Rome's best interest. The reverse shows Sulla enjoying the highest honor to which a Roman could aspire: the celebration of a triumph at Rome.

We learn from Plutarch that L. Manlius Torquatus was one of Sulla’s generals. This type was struck during Sulla’s political campaign to be elected dictator, following his return to Rome after his victory against Mithridates. Prior to the Mithridatic Wars, L. Manlius Torquatus had been Sulla’s quaestor - a post he had resigned to assume his military role; hence on this issue he is proquaestor.
1 commentsNemonater
BRUTUS_LIBERTAS_Denarius.jpg
M. Junius Brutus Denarius Libertas/LictorsM. Junius Brutus, Denarius, Rome, 54 BC; AR (g 3,83; mm 20; h 6); O: Head of Libertas r., behind, LIBERTAS
R: L. Junius Brutus (Cos. 509), walking l., between two lictors and preceded by an accensus; in ex. BRVTVS.
- Crawford 433/1; Junia 31; Sydenham 906. ex Bertolami Fine Arts auction 37 lot 415 2017
1 commentsNemonater
Vesp_Countermark.jpg
Q. Metellus Pius Scipio w/ Vespasian CountermarkQ. Metellus Pius Scipio. Silver Denarius 47-46 BC. Military mint traveling with Scipio in Africa.
O: Q METEL above, PIVS below, laureate head of Jupiter right, c/m: IMP VES (ligate) in incuse rectangle.
R: SCIPIO above, IMP in exergue, elephant advancing right.
- Crawford 459/1; HCRI 45; Sydenham 1050; Caecilia 47.

A Pompeian loyalist, Q. Metellus Pius Scipio introduced the legislation that recalled Caesar from his Gallic command, thus precipitating the Civil Wars. This denarius was struck while Scipio was in supreme command of the Pompeian forces in North Africa, the elephant an obvious reference to the province, and was probably struck during the later stages of the campaign in a mobile mint traveling alongside the forces (stylistically it is quite distinct from the coins of Scipio struck at the provincial capital of Utica). In 46 BC, Caesar finally managed to corner the Pompeians at Thapsus, where he inflicted a crushing defeat. After the battle Scipio committed suicide knowing that, despite Caesar's usual leniency towards his enemies, he would not allow so persistent an foe as Scipio to survive.

The countermark applied during Vespasian's rule is interesting proof that this older coinage continued in circulation.
3 commentsNemonater
Q__SiciniusI.jpg
Q. SiciniusMoneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. Q. Sicinius. Early 49 BC. AR Denarius, 18mm, 4.02 g. Rome mint.
O: Diademed head of Fortuna right, wearing cruciform earring and hair collected into a knot behind, two locks falling down her neck; P • R to left, FORT to right
R: Palm frond and winged caduceus, bound with fillet, in saltire; wreath with fillet above; III • VIR across field; Q • SICINIVS below. Crawford 440/1; CRI 1; Sydenham 938; Kestner 3509; BMCRR Rome 3947; Sicinia 5

While Pompey himself did not strike coinage, his supporters struck coins throughout 49 BC, using mints that travelled with the general. The last issue of denarii prior to the Caesarian occupation of the Rome, this coin was struck by a supporter of Pompey at a time when Caesar was gathering in the north prior to cross the Rubicon and, according to Sear (p. 5), “...clearly refers to Pompey himself, his past achievements, and his anticipated success against Caesar should matters come down to a trial of strength.â€

The palm-branch refers to Pompey’s numerous victories; the caduceus to the restoration of commerce after the destruction of the fleets of the Cilician pirates, the golden chaplet conferred on him by the citizens of Rome specifically for his defeat of Mithradates VI in 63 BC. These great deeds were effected by the special favour of the goddess Fortuna.

This was the last normal issue of denarii before Caesar's occupation of Rome, at which time Sicinius fled east along with the rest of the Pompeians.
1 commentsNemonater
Sextus_Pompey_Magnus.jpg
Sextus Pompey Naval TrophySextus Pompeius Magnus Pius AR Denarius. (3.52g) Uncertain mint in Sicily (Catania?), 42-40 BC.
O: Diademed and bearded head of Neptune right; trident over left shoulder; MAG•PIVS upwards behind, IMP•ITER downwards before
R: Naval trophy set on anchor, top of trident visible above helmet, the arms composed of the stem of a prow in right and aplustre in left, with two heads of Scylla at base; PRAEF•CLAS•ET ORAE•MARIT•EX•S•C around.
- Crawford 511/2a; RSC 1a; Sydenham 1347;

Struck by Sextus Pompey after his victory over Salvidienus and relates to his acclamation as the Son of Neptune. The inscription PRAEF CLAS ET ORAE MARIT abbreviates Praefectus Classis et Orae Maritimae, which translates Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet and the Sea Coasts.


Salvidienus and Agrippa were with Octavian at Apollonia in March 44 BC when Julius Caesar was assassinated in Rome. Salvidienus became one of the most trusted of Octavian’s generals during the civil wars following Caesar’s death. In 42 BC he commanded the fleet of Octavian against Sextus Pompeius, who had taken control of Sicily and was harassing the coasts of Italy. However, Salvidienus was defeated in a naval battle fought off Rhegium, largely because of the inexperience of his crews.

This title was held by both Pompey the Great and his son Sextus Pompey. Although Sextus Pompey was the supreme naval commander, Octavian had the Senate declare him a public enemy. He turned to piracy and came close to defeating Octavian. He was defeated by Marcus Agrippa at the naval battle of Naulochus (3 September 36 B.C.) and was executed by order of Mark Antony in 35 B.C.

In Greek mythology, Scylla was a monster that lived on one side of Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily, opposite her counterpart Charybdis. The two sides of the strait were within an arrow's range of each other - so close that sailors attempting to avoid Charybdis would pass dangerously close to Scylla and vice versa. Scylla made her first appearance in Homer's Odyssey, where Odysseus and his crew encounter her and Charybdis on their travels. Later myth gave her an origin story as a beautiful nymph who gets turned into a monster. The idiom "between Scylla and Charybdis" has come to mean being forced to choose between two similarly dangerous situations. - FAC
2 commentsNemonater
   
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