Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus. Silver Denarius (3.98 g), 49 BC. Apollonia. L LE(NT) C (MA) RC COS, Laureate head of Apollo right. Reverse Jupiter standing facing, head right, before garlanded altar, holding thunderbolt and eagle; in left field, star above Q. Crawford 445/2; HCRI 5; Sydenham 1030; Cornelia 65. Lustrous with a light iridescent tone. Superb Extremely Fine.

The questor who was involved in producing this coin chose to remain anonymous, omitting his name from the type. According to a letter Cicero wrote to his friend L. Munatius Plancus, the reason was the close friendship of the questor with Caesar. Cicero identifies the man as T. Antistius (Cicero, Ad familiares XIII.29), who after Pharsalus retired to Bithynia in shame. Caesar subsequently visited him there and spoke kindly to him, urging him to return to Rome. Antistius never made it, though, as he died in Corcyra on the return journey.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
Ex Roma II (2 October 2011), 496.