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Session Five - Tuesday, January 15, 2015 1:00 pm
Roman Imperator i a l Period
Enlargement
3138
Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.0 g), 44 BC
. Rome. L. Aemilius Buca, moneyer. CAESAR IM before, P M behind, wreathed head of Julius
Caesar right; behind, crescent.
Reverse:
L AEMILIVS BVCA, Venus standing left, holding Victory and leaning on scepter. Crawford 480/4; HCRI
102; Sydenham 1060; RSC 22. Some scratches mostly on reverse and not affecting portrait.
Very Fine
.
Estimated Value .....................................................................................................................................................................$1,000 - 1,200
3139
Q. Metellus Pius Scipio. Silver Denarius (3.6 g), 47-46
BC
. Military mint traveling with Scipio in Africa. Q METEL above,
PI[VS] below, laureate head of Jupiter right.
Reverse:
SCIPIO
above, IMP in exergue, elephant advancing right. Crawford 459/
1; HCRI 45; Sydenham 1050; Caecilia 47.
Rare. Very Fine
.
A Pompeian loyalist, Q. Metellus Pius Scipio introduced the leg-
islation that recalled Caesar from his Gallic command, thus pre-
cipitating the Civil Wars. This denarius was struck while Scipio
was in supreme command of the Pompeian forces in North
Africa, the elephant an obvious reference to the province, and
was probably struck during the later stages of the campaign in a
mobile mint traveling alongside the forces.
Estimated Value ................................................... $500 - 600
Enlargement
3140
Cnaeus Pompey Jr. Silver Denarius (4.1 g), 46-45 BC
. Corduba. M [POBLICI L]EG PRO PR, helmeted head of Roma right.
Reverse:
CN MA-
GNVS IMP, Hispania standing right, shield on her back, holding two spears and presenting palm to Pompeian soldier standing left on prow, armed
with sword. Crawford 469/1c; HCRI 48; Sydenham 1035; RSC 1 (Pompey the Great). A lovely lustrous example well struck on excellent metal.
NGC grade AU; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 5/5.
The reverse type represents the support of Further Spain for the Pompeian cause. The female figure, who Crawford does not identify, is obviously
Hispania, coming to lend her support (arms) which will lead to ultimate victory (palm-branch) and the restoration of a constitutional Republic.
Estimated Value .......................................................................................................................................................................... $700 - 800
