denarii collection - roman republic - Coin Auctions

Lot 3037 - denarii collection - roman republic  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3037 - denarii collection - roman republic - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Q. Fufius Calenus and M. Cordus. Silver Denarius (3.80 g), 68 BC. Rome. HO behind, VI(RT) before, KALENI below, conjoined heads of Honos, laureate, and Virtus, wearing crested helmet, right. Reverse CORDI in exergue (ITAL) to left, RO to right, Italia standing right, holding cornucopiae, clasping hands with Roma standing left, foot on globe, holding scepter; in left field, winged caduceus. Crawford 403/1; Sydenham 797; Fufia 1. Well struck with the obverse in high relief. A lustrous example and delicately toned. Mint State.

Most interpretations of the types on this coin relate the obverse depiction of Honos and Virtus with the reverse design showing reconciliation between Rome and Italy. Grueber even goes as far as to place this reconciliation under the tutelage of the gods Honos and Virtus, which of course on the surface seems entirely appropriate. However, there is another possible interpretation of the types that is espoused by Harlan, one which requires considering the obverse and reverse in isolation from one another. From this point of view, Calenus, whose design appears on the obverse, selected a type which was reflective of his Marian sympathies and popularis politics (in his later career Calenus became a popularis politician closely aligned with Caesar). Gaius Marius had dedicated a temple to Honos and Virtus after his conquest of the Cimbri in 101 BC, and of all his monuments it was the only one to survive destruction under Sulla. During the years since Sulla's dictatorship, anything remotely related to Marius was considered taboo, and it was only early in 69 BC when Caesar gave a public funeral oration for his aunt Julia, who was the widow of Marius, that attitudes began to change regarding the deceased political reformer.

The identification of the moneyer whose name CORDI appears on the reverse of this coin is debated. He is normally identified as Mucius Cordus Scaevola, but this seems unlikely as Scaevola acquired his cognomen for performing a daring act of bravery, and it would therefore be natural to use that name instead of CORDI. More plausible is that the moneyer is one Manius Cordius Rufus of Tusculum, the father of the Caesarian moneyer Manius Cordius of 46 BC. This supposes that he identified with the popularis political philosophy of his colleague, Calenus, and also better relates to the reverse in that he was a novus homo (new man) in Roman politics, having come from a municipia that benefitted from Roman citizenship following the Social War.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
Ex LHS 100 (23-24 April 2007), 396.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - roman republic
Lot 3056 - denarii collection - roman republic  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3056 - denarii collection - roman republic - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Faustus Cornelius Sulla. Silver Denarius (3.79 g), 56 BC. Rome. FEELIX, diademed bust of Hercules right, lion's skin tied at neck. Reverse FAVSTVS in exergue, Diana, holding lituus and reigns, driving galloping biga right; above, crescent and two stars; below horses, star. Crawford 426/2; Sydenham 881a; Cornelia 60. Very Rare. Well struck on a broad flan with a bold portrait and a light iridescent tone. Extremely Fine.

This splendid denarius again records the feats of the moneyer's father, the dictator Sulla. The obverse recalls the magnificent public feast that Sulla gave in honor of Hercules after defeating Mithradates VI of Pontus, and his piety for dedicating a tenth of all his property to the hero. The reverse commemorates Sulla's defeat of Gaius Norbanus, who had been sent to oppose his return from the East. Sulla credited the goddess Diana with the outcome as it had occurred in an area sacred to her, and he consecrated a spring well-known for its healing powers as well as the surrounding neighborhood to the goddess.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.
Ex NAC 73 (18 November 2013), 167.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - roman republic
Lot 3000 - denarii collection - roman republic  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3000 - denarii collection - roman republic - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Anonymous. Silver Denarius (4.36 g), 207 BC. Rome. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet ornamented with griffin's head; behind, X (denomination) Reverse ROMA in relief in linear frame below, the Dioscuri on horseback riding right, each holding couched spear; above, crescent. Crawford 57/2; Sydenham 219; RSC 20i. Lustrous and well centered. Nearly Mint State.
Estimated Value $400 - 500.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - roman republic
Lot 3017 - denarii collection - roman republic  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3017 - denarii collection - roman republic - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lucius Appuleius Saturninus. Silver Denarius (4.00 g), 104 BC. Rome. Head of Roma left, wearing winged helmet ornamented with griffin's head. Reverse L SATVRN in exergue, Saturn driving galloping quadriga right; above, pellet and T. Crawford 317/3a; Sydenham 578; Appuleia 1 var. Perfectly centered and delicately toned. Superb Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $500 - 600.
Ex Roma V (23 March 2013), 527.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - roman republic
Lot 3031 - denarii collection - roman republic  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3031 - denarii collection - roman republic - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

C. Poblicius Q.f. Silver Denarius (3.65 g), 80 BC. Rome. ROMA behind, draped bust of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet ornamented with plumes on sides; above, O. Reverse C POBLICI Q F, Hercules standing left, strangling the Nemean lion; between his feet, club; in left field, bow and quiver; above, O. Crawford 380/1; Sydenham 768; Poblicia 9. Boldly struck, well centered and lustrous, all delicately toned. Mint State.

Although the moneyer is unattested except for his coins, his family is well known for having built the small Aventine road, the Clivus Poblicius, as well as the temple of Flora, whose games they instituted in 241 BC. The types chosen by the moneyer for his coins should probably be viewed in light of Sulla's victories, but possibly there is a family connection as well. The reverse type showing Hercules strangling the Nemean lion may allude to the moneyer's family origins at Cora, where there was a famous temple to Hercules, and from Cora even further back to Argos and the valley of Nemea where Hercules killed the lion. The Phrygian helmet worn by Roma seems to be a simple artistic feature, with no further significance other than perhaps reflecting an awareness of Trojan origins.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
Ex Künker 174 (9 September 2010), 534.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - roman republic
Lot 3051 - denarii collection - roman republic  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3051 - denarii collection - roman republic - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

M. Aemilius Lepidus. Silver Denarius (3.73 g), 58 BC. Rome. ALEXANDREA below, diademed head of Alexandria right, wearing mural crown. Reverse M LEPIDVS in exergue, TVTOR REG on left, PO(NT) MAX in right, S C above, M. Lepidus, togate, standing facing, head left, crowning the young figure of Ptolemy V, standing facing, holding scepter. Crawford 419/2; Sydenham 831; Aemilia 23. Very rare. Boldly struck from well executed dies, fine style and delicately toned. Extremely Fine.

This interesting coin records an alleged guardianship that the moneyer's ancestor, Marcus Lepidus, held over the young Ptolemaic king, Ptolemy V. It may simply be that no record of the event has come down to us or - more plausibly - that the story is an invention of the later Lepidi, but neither Polybius nor Livy make any mention of it. What is known is that after the Second Punic War ended, the moneyer's ancestor served as a member of an embassy of the senators, two of whom were ex-consuls, sent in 201 BC to Antiochos III and Ptolemy V to gain their support should war develop between Rome and Macedon. At one point during their journey, Lepidus was sent to deliver an ultimatum to Philip ordering him to cease and desist from attacking his Greek neighbors,and above all else return the possessions of Ptolemy. The embassy occurred twenty years before Lepidus ever became Pontifex Maximus, and in fact he was not even praetor at the time, so it seems quite unlikely that such a junior member of an embassy which included two ex-consuls should find himself as guardian of the Ptolemaic king.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 5,000.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - roman republic
Lot 3011 - denarii collection - roman republic  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3011 - denarii collection - roman republic - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Q. Caecilius Metellus. Silver Denarius (3.89 g), 130 BC. Rome. Q (ME)(TEL) behind, head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet ornamented with griffin's head; below chin, denomination. Reverse ROMA in exergue, Jupiter, holding thunderbolt, reins and branch, driving slow quadriga right. Crawford 256/1; Sydenham 509; Caecilia 21. Boldly struck and well centered. Traces of luster present and lightly toned. Superb Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value $600 - 700.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - roman republic
Lot 3025 - denarii collection - roman republic  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3025 - denarii collection - roman republic - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Q. Antonius Balbus. Silver Denarius (4.01 g), 83-82 BC. Rome. S C behind, laureate head of Jupiter right; below A and pellet. Reverse Q (ANT)O B(AL)B / PR in two lines in exergue, Victory, holding wreath and palm, driving galloping quadriga right. Crawford 364/1c; Sydenham 742b; Antonia 1. A boldly struck example, perfectly centered. Lustrous and lightly toned. Nearly Mint State.

Q. Antonius Balbus was a Marian loyalist who was appointed praetor in Sardinia in 82 B.C. The obverse marking S C shows the issue was struck ex senatus consulto, that is, by special decree of the Senate, and presumably forms part of the preparations to resist the return of Sulla. Balbus was subsequently defeated at his post in Sardinia by Sulla's legate, L. Philippus, and died in the battle.
Estimated Value $700 - 800.
Ex Elsen 106 (11 September 2010), 301.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - roman republic
Lot 3044 - denarii collection - roman republic  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3044 - denarii collection - roman republic - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

L. Furius Cn.f. Brocchus. Silver Denarius (4.0g), 64 BC. Rome. III VIR across field, BROCCHI below, bust of Ceres right, wreathed with grain ears, between wheat ear and barley corn. Reverse L FVRI / CN F in two lines above, curule chair between fasces. Crawford 414/1; Sydenham 902; Furia 23. Well struck on a nice broad flan and lustrous. Nearly Mint State.

The obverse possibly relates to a family history where an ancestor served as aedile of the grain supply, the cura annonae, or it may just reflect the moneyer's populist political philosophy. At the time this coin was struck, Catiline's conspiracy was secretly developing, only to be exposed and crushed the following year during Cicero's consulship. Although grain shortage was not one of the social causes of the Catiline conspiracy as outlined by Cicero - remember that Pompey had cleared the Mediterranean of the pirate menace in the early 60s BC and thus the grain supply had been secured - after the revelation of the plot, Cato proposed a grain measure extending the dole to include Rome's poor. Obviously, then, even though supply was plentiful, it was a source of discontent for the many urban plebs who were not benefitting from free distribution, and perhaps it was this mood that Brocchus was attempting to exploit by his choice of types on this coin.
Estimated Value $700 - 800.
Ex Tkalec (8 September 2008), 154.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - roman republic
Lot 3067 - denarii collection - roman republic  -  Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Lot 3067 - denarii collection - roman republic - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Albinus Bruti f. Silver Denarius (3.94 g), 48 BC. Rome. PIETAS behind, bare head of Pietas right. Reverse ALBINVS BRVTI F, clasped hands holding winged caduceus. Crawford 450/2; HCRI 26; Sydenham 942; Postumia 10. Well struck and perfectly centered. The surfaces are lustrous with beautiful multicolor iridescense on the reverse. Superb Extremely Fine.

The moneyer, Decimus Junius Brutus, is better known to us than are most moneyers as he saw extensive service under Caesar during the Gallic Wars and was later made governor of Transalpine Gaul. Additionally, he was made Caesar's heir should Octavius reject the inheritance. Despite the favor Caesar showed him, he was amongst the conspirators in his assassination (he should not be confused with M. Junius Brutus, however, who was one of the principals of the conspiracy). The types chosen for this coin advertise Caesar's leniency in dealing with those Romans who had opposed him, Pietas personifying devotion and love of country, and the clasped hands an obvious symbol of reconciliation. The winged caduceus is most associated as the attribute of the personification of Felicitas, and here represents the beneficial outcome of Caesar's clemency.
Estimated Value $800 - 900.
Ex Gemini V (6 January 2009), 246.

Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc. Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

denarii collection - roman republic