Rome - The Republic
| Moneyer: | Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus |
| Held Office: | Moneyer 76-75 BC |
| Denomination: | AR Denarius |
| Mint: | Spain? |
| Obverse: | Diademmed and draped bust of Genius of the Roman People, right, bearded, sceptre over shoulder. "G•P•R" above. |
| Reverse: | Globe between wreathed sceptre and rudder. "LENT•CVR•*•FL" |
| Reference: | RCVM 324, RSC Cornelia 55, RRC 393/1b |
| Weight: | 3.8 gms |
| Diameter: | 18.2 mm |
| Comment: | Cornelius Lentulus struck in Spain in his capacity as quaestor to the proconsul Pompey, who had been sent to the peninsula to assist Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius in the protracted war against Sertorius. On the second variety (this one) "quaestor" is replaced by "curator denariorum flandorum" (CVR * FL), meaning 'curator of the casting of denarii', an interesting title the origins of which would seem to go back to the very earliest phase of Rome's currency. |
CORNELIUS LENTULUSone of the haughtiest patrician families in Rome; so that Cicero coins the words Appietas and Lentulitas to express the qualities of the high aristocratic party. The name was derived from "Lens" (lentil). |
|
Back to main page
R04510