Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

C. Memmius C.f. Silver Denarius (3.47 g), 56 BC. Rome. C MEMMI C F before, QVIRINVS behind, laureate head of Quirinus right. Reverse MEMMIVS AED CERIALIA PREIMVS FECIT, Ceres seated right, holding torch and grain ear; at her feet, serpent. Crawford 427/2; Sydenham 921; Memmia 9. Struck on a nice broad flan and perfectly centered. Intricate detail and simply superb, lightly toned. Possibly the finest example to exist. Nearly Mint State.

Quirinus was a god of war of Sabine origin who was assimilated with Romulus, Rome's founder. It seems that here Memmius is either referencing a Sabine family origin, or else claiming descent from Romulus. The reverse legend states that it was an ancestor of the moneyer who in 202 BC as (plebeian) aedile held the first festival to the goddess Ceres, the Cerealia. The festival was held annually for several days in April since being first instituted, and included races in the Circus Maximus and theatrical events.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
Ex NAC 59 (4-5 April 2011), 801.