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3030
Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius. Silver Denarius (3.68 g), 81 BC.
Mobile military mint with
Sulla’s army in northern Italy. Diademed head of Pietas right; to right, stork standing right.
Reverse:
IMPER, jug and lituus within laurel wreath. Crawford 374/2; Sydenham 750; Caeci-
lia 44. Well struck, well centered and lustrous.
Nearly Mint State.
Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius came from one of the most important and wealthiest families of
Rome. Beginning in the 3rd century BC, his family held numerous consulships, tribunates,
censorships and military commands. His father, Q. Caecilius Metellus Numidicus, was the
chief commander in the JugurthineWar in Numidia until Marius displaced him, andwas later
censor until driven into exile by Marius. The obverse of this coin portrays the goddess Pietas
and alludes to the moneyer’s cognomen, Pius. The moneyer acquired the honorable title
from the people of Rome, whom he had beseeched in order to secure the restoration from
exile of his father. The reverse probably refers to an unattested augurate of themoneyer’s fa-
ther, but may also allude to Sulla’s holding of the augurate in ca. 82 BC (cf. Crawford p. 374).
Estimated Value ................................................................................................... $1,500 - 2,000
Ex Nomos 5 (25 October 2011), 219.
3031
C. Poblicius Q.f. Silver Denarius (3.65 g), 80 BC.
Rome. ROMA
behind, draped bust of Roma right, wearing Phrygian helmet or-
namented 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 Hercu-
les 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.
