81
Extraordinary Calvinus Commemorative Denarius
3095
Cn. Domitius Calvinus. Silver Denarius (3.86 g), 39 BC.
Rare. Osca.
Imperator in Spain, 39-36 BC.
OSCA, bearded male head right.
Re-
verse:
DOM COS ITER IMP, simpulum, aspergillum, axe and apex.
Crawford 531/1; HCRI 342; Sydenham 1358; Burgos 1509. A magnifi-
cent example, well struck and well centered. Lovely old cabinet tone
with a hint of iridescense.
Nearly Mint State.
Cn. Domitius Calvinus was stalwart Caesarean, having served as
Caesar’s Master of the Horse. He commanded the Caesarean center
at Pharsalus and was present at Thapsus, and in 39 BC Octavian ap-
pointed him governor of Spain with instructions to put down a revolt of
the Cerretani. The province, which had recently been ceded to Oc-
tavian after Sextus Pompey’s defeat, was in a state of extreme turmoil
following years of misrule and civil war. Calvinus was known as a strict
disciplinarian, and was a good choice for the job as he quickly put
down the revolt and restored order to the province. While in Spain he
established his capital at Osca where he minted these denarii. The
obverse directly copies the bearded male head found on Spanish
denarii of the second and first centuries BC, and the reverse presents
the symbols showing he was a member of the college of pontifices.
Estimated Value................................................................. $5,000 - 7,000
Ex NAC 52 (7 October 2009), 299; Gorny & Mosch 107 (2 April 2001),
339.
