43
3065
L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus. Silver
Denarius (3.92 g), 49 BC.
Military mint traveling in the
East. Triskeles, with winged head of Medusa facing at center
and ear of grain between each leg.
Reverse:
[L]E(NT) (MAR)
COS, Jupiter standing facing, head right, holding thunder-
bolt and eagle. Crawford 445/1b; HCRI 4; Sydenham 1029;
Cornelia 64a. Rare. Well struck with delicate iridescent ton-
ing.
Superb Extremely Fine.
Identical to the previous lot, but lacking the harpa on
the reverse. The harpa was a form of denticulated sickle
and is usually associated with the god Saturn, who used
it to mutilate his father, Uranus. Perseus also used a harpa
to cut off the head of Medusa. On the coins of this issue
where it does appear it signifies the aerarium, Rome’s
treasury, which was located in the Temple of Saturn in the
Roman Forum, but may also allude to the gruesome de-
sire to cut off Caesar’s head. If the common man drew
such an association, it is perhaps for this reason - which
would of course not fit with the honorable idealism of
the Pompeians - that it was removed from the design.
Estimated Value ............................................. $2,500 - 3,000
Ex Heritage 3011/Gemini VIII (14 April 2011), 225; Numis-
matica Genevensis 3 (29-30 November 2004), 100.
3066
L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcel-
lus. Silver Denarius (3.98 g), 49 BC.
Apollonia. L
LE(NT) C (MA) RC COS, Laureate head of Apollo
right.
Reverse:
Jupiter standing facing, head right,
before garlanded altar, holding thunderbolt and
eagle; in left field, star above . Q. Crawford 445/2;
HCRI 5; Sydenham 1030; Cornelia 65. Lustrous with
a light iridescent tone.
Superb Extremely Fine.
The questor who was involved in producing this
coin chose to remain anonymous, omitting his
name from the type. According to a letter Cicero
wrote to his friend L. Munatius Plancus, the reason
was the close friendship of the questor with Cae-
sar. Cicero identifies the man as T. Antistius (Cicero,
Ad familiares XIII.29), who after Pharsalus retired
to Bithynia in shame. Caesar subsequently visited
him there and spoke kindly to him, urging him to
return to Rome. Antistius never made it, though,
as he died in Corcyra on the return journey.
Estimated Value................................ $1,500 - 2,000
Ex Roma II (2 October 2011), 496.
