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1155
T. Vettius Sabinus. Silver Denarius (3.80 g), 66 BC. Rome. SABINVS behind, S C before, bare-headed
and bearded head of King Tatius right; below chin, TA monogram. Rev. IVDex above, T VETTIVS in
exergue, togate figure holding magistrates’s scepter driving biga left; behind, stalk of grain. (Crawford
404/1; Sydenham 905; Vettia 2). Iridescent toning. Extremely fine.
$ 1,000
The legendary Sabine king, Titus Tatius, who jointly ruled the Romans with Romulus appears on the obverse as a visual pun on
the moneyer’s cognomen, Sabinus. The reverse type, however, is obscure with the figure in the biga variously (and controversially)
described as Sp. Vettius, who appointed Numa Pompilius as interrex, Numa himself, or even Hercules(!). While the legendary Sp.
Vettius would provide a connection to the name of the moneyer, T. Vettius, Crawford is probably right to see a more generic judicial
figure (indicated by the legend IVDEX) here.
1156
Q. Pomponius Musa. Silver Denarius (3.73 g), 65 BC. Rome. Laureate head of Apollo right; behind, star.
Rev. Q POMPONI MVSA, Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, standing facing, head left, holding wand
pointed toward sphere set on tripod to left. (Crawford 410/8; Sydenham 823; Pomponia 22). Well centered
and toned. About extremely fine.
$ 1,200
Like any number of Roman Republican moneyers, Q. Pomponius Musa advertised himself and his family on his coins with types
that serve as a pun on his name. He produced a series of denarii representing each of the nine Muses and Hercules Musarum, all
of which referring to his cognomen, Musa. While they are not named on the coins, each of the Muses is easily identified by her
attributes. Urania, the eldest of the Muses and the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne, is perhaps the most distinctive of the group
in that she appears holding a wand pointing towards a globe.