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Pompey the Great. Silver Denarius (3.9 g), 48 BC. Military mint traveling with Pompey in Greece. Terentius Varro, proquaestor. VARRO PRO Q, diademed bust of Jupiter right. Reverse MAGN PRO / COS in two lines in exergue, scepter between dolphin swimming right and eagle standing left. Crawford 447/1a; HCRI 8; Sydenham 1033; RSC 3. Very rare. Well struck and well centered, lightly toned. Superb Extremely Fine.
Struck prior to the Battle of Pharsalus in which Pompey was defeated by Caesar, this coin advertises Pompey's most considerable past achievements. Jupiter Terminus (or Terminalis), the divine guardian of boundaries, refers to the grant of proconsular powers awarded to Pompey by the Senate so that he carry the fight to Caesar and save the Republic. The images of the dolphin and eagle represent Pompey's most famous achievements by sea and by land: his decisive defeat of the Cilician pirates in 66 BC, and his conquest over Mithradates VI of Pontus in 65 BC. Additionally, the design of the reverse is divided by a scepter, which here serves not only as an artistic device separating the motifs of the dolphin and eagle, but symbolizes his delegated authority as it was only carried by victorious generals who had been acclaimed imperator by their troops.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.
Ex Dr. Busso Peuss 401/402 (3 November 2010), 447.
denarii collection - roman imperitorial |
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Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus. Silver Denarius (3.92 g), 41-40 BC. Uncertain mint in the region of the Adriatic or Ionian Sea. Imperator, died 31 BC. AHENOBAR, head of L. Ahenobarbus right. Reverse CN DOMITIVS IMP, trophy set on prow of galley right. Crawford 519/2; HCRI 339; Sydenham 1177; Domitia 21. Well struck on a sound planchet with delicate golden toning. An enchanting specimen with an excellent portrait of the Imperator. Extremely Fine.
Originally a Pompeian loyalist, Ahenobarbus allied with Brutus and Cassius after the Ides of March. After Philippi he engaged the fleet of the triumvirs under the command of Domitius Calvinus, inflicting a resounding defeat for which he was hailed imperator by his troops, which the reverse of this coin commemorates. Subsequently, however, he joined Antony in opposing Octavian, but then deserted to Octavian before Actium, having become disgusted with Antony's alliance with Cleopatra. Aside from his involvement in the civil wars that racked Rome in the latter half of the first century BC, Ahenobarbus is also remember for being the paternal great-grandfather of the future emperor Nero.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.
Ex Gemini V (6 January 2009), 778.
denarii collection - roman imperitorial |
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Brutus. Silver Denarius (3.75 g), 42 BC. Military mint, probably at Smyrna. P. Lentulus Spinther, legate. BRVTVS below, simpulus between sacrificial axe and knife. Reverse LENTVLVS/SPINT in two lines below, jug and lituus. Crawford 500/7; HCRI 198; Sydenham 1310; RSC 6. Boldly struck and well centered on a borad flan, all lightly toned. Superb Extremely Fine.
The types chosen for this issue indicate both Brutus' membership in the college of pontifices and the legate's, P. Lentulus Spinther, membership in the augurate. The pontificate and augurate were Rome's foremost priestly colleges, the former supervising all of the other priestly colleges, and the later being responsible for reading the signs of the gods to determine whether or not an anticipated undertaking would be divinely supported or opposed. The priestly symbols on this issue, which was struck to pay the military expenses of the tyrannicides while preparing for the expected showdown with the Triumvirs, suggests divine support and the just nature of their cause.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
denarii collection - roman imperitorial |
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Gaius Caligula, with Germanicus. Silver Denarius (3.54 g), AD 37-41. Lugdunum, AD 37/8. C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT, laureate head of Gaius right. Reverse GERMANICVS CAES P C CAES AVG GERM, bare head of Germanicus right. RIC 18; Giard 172; BMC 19; RSC 2. Well struck and perfectly centered with all letters complete. Delicate antique toning. Extremely Fine.
Germanicus was the son of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia, the daughter of Mark Antony, and was born in 15 BC. A scion of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, he also became one of Rome's most successful and beloved generals, having avenged Varus' defeat at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, retrieving two of the three lost standards and inflicting heavy defeats against Arminius, the protagonist in Varus campaign. He was not as successful in the field of politics, however, having inadvertently usurped the imperial prerogative on more than one occasion. The most egregious instance was his ordering the recall of the governor of Syria, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, for having canceled some of the arrangements for the settlement of Cappadocia and Commagene that Germanicus had ordered. Shortly after this episode, Germanicus fell severely ill and died at Antioch. Suspicion immediately fell on Piso, and it was thought that he had poisoned Germanicus at the instigation of Tiberius who was suspicious of Germanicus' popularity. The truth was never discovered, however, as Piso reportedly took his own life during the course of his trial (Tacitus believed Tiberius may have had him murdered before he could implicate the emperor in Germanicus' death).
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
Ex The Millennia Collection (Goldberg 46, 26 May 2008), 84; NAC 25 (25 June 2003), 362.
denarii collection - roman imperitorial |
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Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.77 g), 44 BC. Rome. M. Mettius, moneyer. CAESAR IMP, laureate head of Julius Caesar right; behind, lituus and simpulum behind. Reverse M METTIVS, Venus standing facing, head left, holding Victory and scepter, resting elbow on shield set on globe behind her; in left field, G. Crawford 480/3; Alföldi type III, pl. XII, 26 (this coin); HCRI 100; Sydenham 1056; RSC 32. Rare and in exceptional state of preservation. A remarkable portrait of fine detail. Lovely dark tone with lighter iridescent highlights. Superb Extremely Fine.
In 44 BC the Senate honored Caesar with the right to place his portrait on the coinage. This presented a revolutionary change as never before had the effigy of a living Roman appeared on the coinage of the Republic (there is the instance of the exceedingly rare gold staters of T. Quinctius Flamininus struck in Macedon 196 BC, but those are not Roman issues). Whether this was simply another honor bestowed by the Senate to appeal to Caesar's vanity or it implied his acceptance of the role of monarch is debated, but certainly the average Roman interpreted it as monarchical aspirations of the dictator: within three months Caesar was dead, struck down by the conspirators on the Ides of March, 44 BC.
Estimated Value $30,000 - 35,000.
Ex The Rubicon Collection (Heritage 3015, 7 September 2011), 23260; NAC 38 (21 March 2007), 1; Bank Leu 10 (29 May 1974), 8; Levis Collection (Ars Classica XI, 18 June 1925), 157.
denarii collection - roman imperitorial |
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Octavian. Silver Denarius (3.9 g), 30 BC. Uncertain Italian mint (Rome?). Victory standing right on prow, holding wreath and palm. Reverse IMP CAESAR in exergue, Emperor, holding branch and reins, driving triumphal quadriga right. RIC 264; HCRI 416; BMC 617; RSC 115. Boldly struck on a full flan and well centered. Lovely old cabinet toning. Superb Extremely Fine.
Sear states that this is probably the first type of the IMP CAESAR series, having replaced an identical type with the legend CAESAR DIVI F. While the obverse type certainly harkens back to Actium, the reverse commemorates Octavian's entry into Alexandria, where he immediately seized the Ptolemaic treasury. This coin, in fact, was likely struck from the first batch of Ptolemaic silver received in Rome.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
Ex The Bru Sale 3 (6 May 2011), 74; Tradart (12 December 1991), 242; Bank Leu 20 (25-26 April 1978), 197.
denarii collection - roman imperitorial |
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Q. Metellus Pius Scipio. Silver Denarius (4.07 g), 47-46 BC. Military mint traveling with Scipio in Africa. Imperator, committed sucide in 46 BC. Q METEL above, PIVS below, laureate head of Jupiter right. Reverse SCIPIO above, IMP in exergue, elephant advancing right. Crawford 459/1; HCRI 45; Sydenham 1050; Caecilia 47. Rare. Perfectly struck and centered on a full flan with gorgeous iridescent toning. A remarkable specimen. Superb Extremely Fine.
A Pompeian loyalist, Q. Metellus Pius Scipio introduced the legislation that recalled Caesar from his Gallic command, thus precipitating the Civil Wars. This handsome denarius was struck while Scipio was in supreme command of the Pompeian forces in North Africa, the elephant an obvious reference to the province, and was probably struck during the later stages of the campaign in a mobile mint traveling alongside the forces (stylistically it is quite distinct from the coins of Scipio struck at the provincial capital of Utica). In 46 BC, Caesar finally managed to corner the Pompeians at Thapsus, where he inflicted on them a crushing defeated. After the battle Scipio committed suicide, knowing that despite Caesar's usual leniency towards his enemies he would not allow so persistent an foe as Scipio to survive.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
Ex NAC 62 (6 October 2011), 2001; Spink 5014 (28 September 2005), 386.
denarii collection - roman imperitorial |
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Q. Labienus. Silver Denarius (3.74 g), 40 BC. Uncertain mint in Syria or southeastern Asia Minor. Imperator, executed in 39 BC. Q LABIENVS PARTHICVS IMP, bare head of Labienus right. Reverse Horse standing right on ground line, wearing saddle with quiver attached and bridle. Crawford 524/2; Hersh 23; HCRI 341; Sydenham 1357; RSC 2. Extremely Rare. Boldly struck with a magnificent portrait of superb style in high relief, struck on a full flan, unusually fine metal and delicately toned. Among the finest specimens known. Superb Extremely Fine.
Quintus Labienus was the son of the Pompeian cavalry commander Titus Labienus. He sided with Brutus and Cassius in the war between the Republicans and the Triumvirs, and during the winter of 43/2 BC was sent by Cassius on an embassy to seek Parthian assistance in the Republican cause. Before he was able to do accomplish this task, however, he received the devastating news that Brutus and Cassius had been defeated at Philippi. Thus he found himself in the unpleasant situation of being stranded in Parthia and unable to return to Rome, where his former enemies were now unquestionably in control and would certainly execute him for being a traitor if he were to return.
With nothing to lose, Labienus convinced King Orodes II to allow him a force of 20,000 cavalry, and with the king's son, Pacorus, he marched into Syria. Labienus and Pacorus, splitting the command between them, quickly overcame Roman resistance, defeating the local governor, Decidius Saxa. While Labienus continued into southern Asia Minor, Pacorus headed west and south into Phoenicia and Palestine. Although Antony realized the seriousness of the situation, his attention was called for in the West. He therefore sent his legate Ventidius Bassus with eleven legions to oppose the Parthian invasion, and Bassus routed the Parthian cavalry at Mt. Taurus where Labienus was killed.
The obverse of this extremely rare issue shows the handsome portrait of Labienus along with his name and titles, while the reverse depicts a saddled horse complete with archer's bow-case, a feature used by the Parthians who were most renowned for their mounted archers. Thus, the coin seems to have been designed to appeal to both a Roman and a Parthian audience, although perhaps shortsighted, as certainly no Roman would have considered the design as anything less than unconscionable. In any case, the extreme rarity of the coins today suggests the majority of them were melted down shortly after Labienus' defeat.
Estimated Value $150,000 - 200,000.
Ex S. C. Markoff Collection (NAC 62, 6 October 2011), 2009.
denarii collection - roman imperitorial |
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Brutus. Silver Denarius (3.82 g), 42 BC. Military mint traveling with Brutus and Cassius in western Asia Minor or northern Greece. P. Servilius Casca Longus, moneyer. CASCA behind, LONGVS before, Laureate and bearded head of Neptune right; trident below. Reverse BRVTVS behind, IMP before, Victory advancing right, breaking diadem tied with fillet and holding palm; below, broken scepter. Crawford 507/2; HCRI 212; Sydenham 1298; RSC 3. Boldly struck and well centered. Needle sharp in detail, lustrous and delicately toned. Superb Extremely Fine.
On this splendid coin the image of Victory trampling upon a broken scepter and tearing the diadem powerfully evoke the long tradition of Roman hatred for monarchical rule. It was rumored that Julius Caesar had inclined to become king, purportedly wearing red boots as the Roman kings had worn and having his statue placed next to those of the kings, and these were all used by the tyrannicides to justify his assassination. The obverse type of Neptune was an obvious choice for Casca, who was the commander of Brutus' fleet.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.
Ex Helios 2 (25-26 November 2008), 221.
denarii collection - roman imperitorial |
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Gaius Caligula, with Agrippina I. Silver Denarius (3.69 g), AD 37-41. Lugdunum, AD 37/8. C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT, bare head of Gaius right. Reverse AGRIPPINA MAT C CAES AVG GERM, draped bust of Agrippina I right, hair tied in queue at back of neck. RIC 8; Giard 169; BMC 8; RSC 4. Two magnificent portraits of the finest style perfectly struck and centered on a full flan. Traces of luster still present and lightly toned. Very rare and among the finest examples known. Superb Extremely Fine.
Perhaps more than any other emperor of Rome Caligula honored his family on his coinage, both living and deceased members. Besides his surviving sisters, amongst those so honored were his great-grandfather Augustus, his grandfather Agrippa, his father Germanicus, and his mother and his two brothers, Agrippina I and Nero and Drusus Caesars, the latter three succumbing in the family's contest for power against Sejanus, Tiberius's notorious Praetorian Prefect.
Early in his reign, Caligula journeyed to the island of Pandataria, where his mother had died while cruelly imprisoned at the order of Tiberius, and recovered her ashes. Agrippina had been a strong critic of Tiberius' principate, questioning him about the mysterious circumstances of her husband's death and also accusing him of having attempted to poison her. Under Sejanus' manipulation, Tiberius' animosity towards her and her family grew increasingly stronger, which eventually lead to them being convicted of plotting against him. Nero starved to death while imprisoned in Rome, and Drusus committed suicide shortly after the trial. Agrippina, however, was banished to the island of Pandataria where she was imprisoned under very brutal circumstances (she lost an eye while being flogged, and she was regularly withheld nourishment). Eventually she died there of starvation.
Estimated Value $25,000 - 30,000.
Ex S. C. Markoff Collection (NAC 62, 6 October 2011), 2020.
denarii collection - roman imperitorial |
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