36
3053
M. Nonius Sufenas. Silver Denarius (4.09 g), 57 BC.
Rome. SVFENAS
before, S C behind, head of Saturn right; behind, harpa and conical
stone.
Reverse:
SEX NONI in exergue, PR L V P F around, Roma seated
left on cuirass and shield, holding spear, crowned by Victory standing to
left behind her, holding palm. Crawford 421/1; Sydenham 885; Nonia 1.
Boldly struck, well centered and finely detailed. Lustrous surfaces.
Mint
State.
The reverse of this coin is historically important in that it alone preserves
the name of the praetor who first held the games, the ludi Victoriae Sul-
lanae, in 81 BC honoring Sulla’s victory at the Colline Gate. The abbre-
viated legend is normally read Sextus Nonius, praetor ludos victoriae
primus fecit (“Sextus Nonius as praetor first held the games of Victory”).
Estimated Value ..................................................................$1,500 - 2,000
Ex NAC 40 (16 May 2007), 496.
3054
L. Marcius Philippus. Silver Denarius (4.0 g), 57 BC.
Rome. AN-
CVS below, diademed head of Ancus Marcius right; behind, lituus.
Reverse:
PHILIPPVS on left, equestrian statue right on arcade of five
arches; within arches, AQVA (MAR). Crawford 425/1; Sydenham
919; Marcia 18. Well struck and well centered, lustrous.
Nearly Mint
State.
The obverse portrays the diademed head of Ancus Marcius, the
fourth King of Rome. He was the progenitor of the Marcia gens
which had at least two branches, the Philippi and the Reges. Al-
though L. Marcius Philippus belonged to the Philippi branch of the
Marcii, he appropriated an event from the Reges branch as it was
the praetor Quintus Marcius Rex who built the Aqua Marcia in 144-
140 BC. Perhaps the moneyer was being a little devious to illus-
trate something he could not rightfully claim; the man in the street
probably would simply assume that it was the moneyer’s ancestor
who had supplied Rome with it’s greatest source of potable water.
Estimated Value........................................................... $2,000 - 2,500
Ex Goldberg 59 (1-2 June 2010), 2335; Bank Leu 38 (1 May 1986),
189.
