91 Foreign

Ancient Greek Coinage

Enlargement

1944

P. Sulpicius Galba. Silver Denarius (3.86 g), 69 BC

Rome. S C behind, veiled head of Vesta right.

Reverse:

AE CVR

across field, P GALB in exergue, knife, simpulum, and orna-

mented axe. Crawford 406/1; Sydenham 838; Sulpicia 6. Beau-

tifully toned.

Extremely Fine

Estimated Value ................................................... $800 - 900

Tom Peterson collection; Private purchase from Tom Cederline

Enlargement

1945

L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus and L. Scribonius Libo. Silver

Denarius (4.84 g), 62 BC

. Rome. PAVLLVS LEPIDVS behind

and above, CONCORD before, diademed and veiled head of

Concordia right.

Reverse

PVTEAL SCRIBON above, LIBO in exer-

gue, garlanded well-head decorated with two lyres and ham-

mer. Crawford 417/1a; Sydenham 927; Aemilia 11. Boldly

struck, lustrous and lightly toned.

Superb Extremely Fine

Estimated Value ................................................... $700 - 800

Ex Tkalec (27 October 2011), 152; Ex Exceptional Roman Dena-

rii Coll. #3047

Enlargement

1946

L. Roscius Fabatus. Silver Denarius (3.88 g), 59 BC

. Rome. L ROSCI below, head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat' s skin headdress;

behind, uncertain symbol.

Reverse:

FABATI in exergue, female standing right, feeding serpent erect before her; in left field, uncertain symbol.

Crawford 412/1 (symbols 13); Sydenham 915; Roscia 3. Iridescent tone. A marvelous example with needle sharp details.

Superb Extremely

Fine

The types of Juno Sospita and the female feeding the serpent refer to the moneyer' s Lanuvine origin. Cicero (de Nat. Deor. 1.29) describes

the peculiar garb and attributes of Juno Sospita, while both Propertius (8.4.3) and Aelian (NA 11.16) discuss the role of the serpent in the ora-

cle located in the sacred grove attached to Juno Sospita' s temple at Lanuvim. In the religious rites, a virgin fed the reptile fruits and cakes,

which caused the oracle to speak. Failure of the oracle to pronounce was, of course, proof of a tainted chastity.

Estimated Value .....................................................................................................................................................................$800 - 900

Tom Peterson collection; Private purchase from Tom Cederline