Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Cnaeus Pompey Jr. Silver Denarius (4.02 g), 46-45 BC. Corduba. Elder son of Pompey the Great, Imperator, executed in 45 BC. IMP CN MAGN, bare head of Pompey the Great right. Reverse PR Q to left, M MINAT / SABIN in two lines in exergue, Spanish city-goddess standing right, wearing turreted headdress, holding caduceus and clasping hands with Pompeian solder standing facing; to right, another city-goddess standing left, crowning soldier and holding trophy over shoulder. Crawford 470/1c; HCRI 50; Sydenham 1038; RSC 11 (Pompey the Great). An absolutely incredible specimen! Well struck and perfectly centered, all delicately toned. Important Rarity and one of the finest known. Superb Extremely Fine.

Crawford records just five obverse and eight reverse dies for this issue, which suggests this very rare coin was introduced only shortly before Caesar's decisive victory over the Pompeian forces in Spain at Munda in 45 BC. The obverse features the portrait of the deceased Pompey, the central figure in opposition to Caesar until his tragic assassination in Egypt after Pharsalus, while the reverse alludes to Spanish support for the Pompeian cause. Although this issue was very limited to begin with and but few coins remain today (perhaps no more than a dozen specimens all told), it would seem that the coins circulated for some time as most examples exhibit at least some wear. This specimen, on the other hand, is quite pristine, struck on excellent metal, and is likely the finest example in existence.
Estimated Value $35,000 - 40,000.
Ex The Rubicon Collection (Heritage 3015, 7 September 2011), Previously from Stacks (private purchase).