46
3071
P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus. Silver Denarius (4.2 g), 42 BC.
Rome. Laureate head of Apollo right; behind, lyre.
Reverse:
P CLODIVS on right, M F on left, Diana Lucifera standing
facing, head right, bow and quiver at shoulder, holding long
lighted torch in each hand. Crawford 494/23; HCRI 184;
Sydenham 1117; Claudia 15. Boldly struck on a nice wide
flan. Attractive old cabinet toning.
Superb Extremely Fine.
Estimated Value .............................................$1,000 - 1,400
Ex Goldberg 70 (2-5 September 2012), 3194.
3072
P. Accoleius Lariscolus. Silver Denarius (3.95 g), 41 BC.
Very Scarce. Rome. P ACCOLEIVS behind, LARISCOLVS
before, draped bust of Diana Nemorensis right.
Reverse:
Triple
cult statue of Diana Nemorensis facing, supporting on hands
and shoulders beam with five cypress trees; the figure on the
left holding poppy, the figure on the right holding lily. Craw-
ford 486/1; HCRI 172; Sydenham 1148; Accoleia 1.
Rare.
Per-
fectly centered and exceptionally complete. Beautiful light iri-
descent toning.
Probably the finest to exist
.
Superb Extremely
Fine.
The family of the moneyer P. Accoleius Lariscolus hailed from
the small Alban townof Aricia, sixteenmiles southeast of Rome.
The goddess Diana Nemorensis, the ruins of whose temple
are still visible today, was worshiped there in a cypress grove
beside lake Nemi. Her cult is particularly unusual in one way
- the high priest (Rex Nemorensis) attained his position by de-
feating his predecessor in mortal combat! Octavian’s moth-
er, Atia, was also born in Aricia, and it is perhaps in light of this
that we should see Lariscolus’ appointment as moneyer. That
is, Atia had died in 43 BC, and Octavian, wishing to honor
her birthplace, assured the appointment of a native son of
Aricia to the quattuorvirate who as a matter of convention
would surely use a type related to his (and Atia’s) hometown.
Estimated Value ................................................ $6,000 - 7,000
Ex NAC 63 (17 May 2012), 471; Kurpfälzische Münzhandlung
70 (30 May 2006), 41.
