Pre-Long Beach Auction #85

Ti. Veturius. Silver Denarius (4.01 g), ca. 137 BC. Rome. Helmeted and draped bust of Mars right; behind, TI VET (VET ligate) and denomination. Reverse: Youth kneeling left head right, holding a pig; flanked by a soldier on either side, who each hold a spear and touch the pig with their sword; above, ROMA. RSC Veturia 1; Crawford 234/1; Sydenham 527. Lustrous and delicately toned. Superb Nearly Mint State. The Veturii were one of the most ancient gens of Rome, with both patricians and plebians sects, they were said to originate from the Sabines. The reverse refers to the involvement and oath ancestors of this gens took to join the Italian states at the end of the third Samnite War, in ca. 290 BC. Estimated Value $700 - 800 Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Zurich, Auction 73 (18 November 2013), Lot 60.