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3044
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 Ca-
tiline 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 ben-
efitting from free distribution, and perhaps it was this mood that Broc-
chus was attempting to exploit by his choice of types on this coin.
Estimated Value............................................................................ $700 - 800
Ex Tkalec (8 September 2008), 154.
3045
L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus. Silver Denarius (4.1g), 62 BC.
Rome. PAVLLVS LEPIDVS behind and above, CONCORDIA before, dia-
demed and veiled head of Concordia right.
Reverse:
TER above, PAVLLVS in exergue, the consul, L. Aemilius Paullus, togate, on right
standing left, erecting trophy; to left, the Macedonian king, Perseus, and his two sons standing right. Crawford 415/1; Sydenham 926;
Aemilia 10. Boldly struck with complete legends, lustrous surfaces and nicely toned.
Superb Extremely Fine.
The Hellenistic state of Macedonia ended along with the Third Macedonian War in 168 BC when the moneyer’s ancestor and
namesake, the consul Lucius Aemilius Paullus, defeated King Perseus of Macedon at Pydna. Prior to Aemilius Paullus’ arrival, only
Perseus’ persistent lack of military intelligence prevented a total rout of the Roman legions as the prior consuls were inept and totally
unworthy of the task. Aemilius Paullus, however, was an experienced commander, having seen service in the Hanniballic Wars. Af-
ter Macedon’s defeat, Paullus conquered Epirus, laying waste numerous towns and taking as many as 150,000 prisoners to supply
Rome’s slave markets. For his magnificent conquests the Senate awarded him the title Macedonicus along with a splendid triumph.
Estimated Value ....................................................................................................................................................................................$700 - 800
