TheNewYorkSaleauctionXL

1160

L. Torquatus. Silver Denarius (3.85 g), 58 BC. Rome. SIBVLLA below, head of Sibyl right, wreathed with

ivy; all within wreath border. Rev. L TORQVAT III VIR, tripod surmounted by an amphora between

two stars; all within torque. (Crawford 411/1a; Sydenham 837; Manlia 11). Well struck and centered.

Extremely fine.

$ 2,500

1161

P. Plautius Hypsaeus. Silver Denarius (3.95 g), 58 BC. Rome. P YPSAE before, S C behind, draped bust of

Leuconoë right; behind, dolphin. Rev. CEPI to right, C YPSAE COS/PRIV in two lines in exergue, Jupiter

driving quadriga left. (Crawford 420/2d; Sydenham 911b; Plautia 12b. Toned).

NGC grade AU; Strike: 4/5,

Surface: 4/5.

$ 400

1162

Cn. Plancius. Silver Denarius (3.96 g), 55 BC. Rome. CN PLANCIVS before, AED CVR S C behind, head

of Diana Planciana(?) right, wearing petasus. Rev. Cretan goat standing right; behind, quiver and bow.

(Crawford 432/1; Sydenham 933; Plancia 1). Attractive cabinet tone. Extremely fine.

$ 550

1163

Q. Servilius Caepio Brutus. Silver Denarius (3.86 g), 54 BC. Rome. BRVTVS, bare head of L. Junius Brutus

right. Rev. AHALA, bare head of Caius Servilius Ahala right. (Crawford 433/2; Sydenham 907; Junia 30).

Small test cut on edge. Very fine / Choice very fine.

$ 750

1164

C. Coelius Caldus. Silver Denarius (4.07 g), 53 BC. Rome. C COEL CALDVS before, COS below, head

of the consul C. Coelius Caldus right; behind, carnyx and spear. Rev. C/C/A/L/D/V/S on left; [I/MP/

(AV)/X on right, C(ALD)VS III VIR in exergue, veiled figure standing left behind lectisternium flanked

by trophies and inscribed L CALDVS/VII (VR) EP(VL). (Crawford 437/4a; Sydenham 898; Coelia 11).

Attractive cabinet tone. Extremely fine.

$ 1,000

C. Coelius Caldus issued two coin types during his tenure as moneyer, and both depict on the obverse the head of his namesake

ancestor who was the first of his family to attain the consulship. Toynbee noted the extremely realistic rendering of the portrait and

thought it must have been based on an original portrait (J. M. C. Toynbee,

Roman Historical Portraits,

p. 21). In Rome, nobles were

entitled to display images (

imagines

) of ancestors in the atrium of the family house, and these were either sculptures, or more often,

death masks molded directly from the face of the deceased. The superb lifelike rendering of the portrait of the consul C. Coelius

Caldus on this coin indicates that perhaps his death mask served as the model used by the die engravers for this issue.

1161

1162

1163