Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Q. Sicinius. Silver Denarius (4.0 g), 49 BC. Rome. FORT P R, diademed head of Fortuna Populi Romani right. Reverse III VIR across field, Q SICINIVS, crossed palm branch and caduceus; above, wreath. Crawford 440/1; HCRI 410; Sydenham 938; Sicinia 5. A lustrous, beautiful specimen and delicately toned. Superb Extremely Fine.

Little is known of the moneyer Q. Sicinius, and his family, while noble, was not a driving force in Roman politics. The types of the coin show that he sided with Pompey after Caesar crossed the Rubicon. The obverse depicts the head of the Fortune of the Roman People, and the symbols on the reverse all reference Pompey's accomplishments: the palm for his many victories, the wreath that was awarded him by the Senate specifically for his defeat of Mithradates VI in 63 BC, and the caduceus for his defeat of the Cilician pirates. 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.
Estimated Value $800 - 900.
Ex Pat Coyle Collection (Goldberg 69, 29 May 2012), 3380.