59 / 184
1157
C. Hosidius C.F. Geta. Silver Denarius (4.01 g), 64 BC. Rome. GETA before, III VIR behind, diademed and
draped bust of Diana right, bow and quiver at shoulder. Rev. C HOSIDI C F in exergue, the wild boar of
Calydon charging right, side pierced by arrow, harried by hound below. (Crawford 407/2; Sydenham 903;
Hosidia 1). Attractive cabinet tone, well centered. Superb extremely fine.
$ 800
The classical myth of the Calydonian boar served to illustrate the consequences for not respecting the gods. King Oeneus of Aetolia
neglected to accord the proper rites to the goddess Diana (Artemis), and for this sacrilege she sent a chthonic beast, the wild boar
of Calydon, to ravage the Aetolian hinterlaundated. The boar was the bane of the countryside, destroying vineyards and crops and
forcing the people to shelter behind their city walls. With starvation paramount, a hunt was organized and many heroes were called
to partake (the exception was Hercules, who fought his own chthonic beast, the Erymanthean boar). Amongst all these male heroes
was one female, the heroine Atalanta, who won the signal honor of being the first to wound the boar when she shot it through its
side with an arrow. Although the significance of this type in relation to the moneyer is unknown to us, we should assume that the
mythological episode depicted held some special importance to the moneyer’s family, perhaps a claimed descent from Atalanta.
1158
C. Piso L.F. Frugi. Silver Denarius (3.93 g), 61 BC. Rome. Head of Apollo right, hair tied with fillet; behind,
uncertain symbol. Rev. C PISO L F FRV, winged horseman galloping left, holding whip, torch and reins.
(Crawford 408/1b; Hersh 345 (O274/R3001); Sydenham 874; Calpurnia 27c). Old collection toning.
NGC
AU; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5.
$ 400
1159
L. Torquatus. Silver Denarius (3.88 g), 58 BC. Rome. SIBVLLA below, head of Sibyl right, wreathed with
ivy; all within dotted border. Rev. L TORQVAT III VIR, tripod surmounted by an amphora between
two stars; all within torque. (Crawford 411/1b; Sydenham 835; Manlia 12).
Scarce.
Attractive cabinet tone.
Extremely fine.
$ 2,500
The obverse and reverse types of this coin represent the mythical Sibyl of Cumae and her gift of prophecy. Prophecies attributed to
her were written down in the so-called Sibylline books and stored in the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter so that they could be consulted
in times of emergency. The torque that surrounds the reverse type refers back to the famous ancestor of L. Torquatus, T. Manlius,
who received the family agnomen (nickname) Torquatus for his bravery in 361 BC. According to Roman tradition, a Gaul of great
size and strength challenged the Roman army to settle the differences between their people in a duel of champions. Manlius, though
small in stature, accepted the challenge and managed to kill the giant Gaul and claimed the golden torque around his neck as a
trophy. Ever since that day he and his descendants were known as Torquati (literally “those with torques”).