One of our fellow members put me in touch with a seller that offered some Roman Republic coins at what I consider excellent prices. I didn't even haggle (which is odd for me), Anyway, this is the first of five coins I purchased. MN. AUILLIUS AR Denarius OBV: VIRTVS III VIR ; Helmeted bust of Virtus right. REV: MN AQVIL M N F MN N SICIL in ex.; The consul Man. Aquillius raising Sicilia Struck at Rome, 71 BC 3.8g, 18mm RSC/Aquillia-2 Historical Note: Mn. Aquillius (the moneyer's grandfather) was consul in 101 B.C. and sent as proconsul to end the second slave war in Sicily. The slaves were under the control of Athenion, a Cilician, one of their commanders, who had already defeated L. Licinius Lucullus. Aquillius succeeded the next year in defeating Athenion and this coin type commemorates his valour (Virtus). The coin was minted during the famous slave war led by Spartacus, when Rome was trembling, which may or may not be a coincidence. Mn. Aquillius was not so lucky after the defeat of the slaves. In 88 B.C. he went to Asia as one of the consular legates in the Mithridactic war; he was defeated and handed over by the inhabitants of Mytilene to Mithridates, who put him to death by pouring molten gold down his throat.
Very nice coin Bing. You are building a pretty good collection of Republican coins. I still don't have any.
Great coin my friend!! => *yikes* => wow, I'm thinking that molten gold poured down your throat would be a pretty nasty way to go!! ... ... and I'm also pretty sure that they'd cut you open afterwards and retreive their gold!!
What would be good enough a price for that, that you wouldn't haggle? lol Decent Roman Republic coins are very hard to find under $50. I've seen a few, but they were purchased fast before I had a chance.
I don't know diddly-squat from the Republic coin market, but I'll take a coin that old and with that much eye-appeal for $41 any day of the week. Well done!
