This weekends auctions didn't work out well for me - all bids struck out. Fortunately there was consolation in the coin in my mailbox this week. This is a coin, linked with Sulla, that I am glad to add to my RR collection. It is a bit stripped of character by too much cleaning for my taste, but hopefully a few years of exposure will solve that. M. Nonius Sufenas. Silver Denarius (3.70 g), 57 BC. Rome Obv: SVFENAS before, S C behind, head of Saturn right; behind, harpa and conical stone Rev: SEX NONI in exergue, PR L V P F around, Roma seated left on cuirass and shield, holding spear, crowned by Victory standing to left behind her, holding palm Ref: Crawford 421/1; Sydenham 885; Nonia 1 The obverse is Saturn - recognizable from the harpa, associated with Saturn as a god of the harvest, and for the story of his castration of Uranus which led to the birth of Venus. The stone recalling the trick played on him by his wife Rhea, disguising a stone as the infant Jupiter to keep Jupiter from being eaten by his father. The reverse of this coin provides the evidence that Sextus Nonius, was "PRaetor Ludos Victoriae Primus Fecit" ("Sextus Nonius as praetor first held the games of Victory"). The Ludi Victoriae Sullanae, in 81 BC honored Sulla's victory at the Colline Gate, Celebrated October 26th (through November 1?). Vitellius writes of this: "The siege of Marius in Praeneste was directed by Ofella Lucretius, who had been a general on the Marian side but had deserted to Sulla. Sulla commemorated the great good fortune which fell to him on this day by instituting an annual festival of games held in the circus, which are still celebrated as the games of Sulla's victory." -Vitellius Paterculus, Roman History, 2.27.6 As always, any additions or correction to the information in this post are appreciated. Post anything that you find interesting or entertaining.
Interesting information that I didn't know about this issue. Here's my example. M. Nonius Sufenas. 57 BC. AR Denarius (3.78g, 18mm, 12h). Rome mint. Head of Saturn right; to left, harpa above baetylus (conical stone); S • C upwards to left, SVFENAS downwards to right / Roma seated left on pile of arms, holding vertical spear in right hand, and sword in left, being crowned by Victory standing left behind, holding wreath in right hand and palm frond over left shoulder in left hand; SEX • NONI in exergue; • PR • L • V • P • F around. Crawford 421/1; Sydenham 885; Kestner 3436-7; BMCRR Rome 3820-4; Nonia 1. Provenance: Mario Ratto (Milano) Fixed Price List N. 3 July 1967, Lot 159 (20,000 - Italian Lira)
Great coin and cool verbiage, @Sulla80 ! Although cleaned, that is a nice looking coin, well centered, and a lotta detail. I just like this one: SULLA RR Manlius Torquatus L. Corn Sulla 82 BCE AR den 17mm 3.7g Mil mint w Sulla. Roma - Sulla triumphal quadriga vict wreath Cr 367-3 Syd 759 S 286
L Manlius Torquatus Ar Denarius 82 B.C. Obv. Head of Roma right. Rv. Sulla driving triumphal chariot r Crawford 367/5 RBW 1386 4.09 grms 19mm
My (very) poor example of Sulla at the reins. L. CORNELIUS SULLA Crawford 316-1 82 B.C. What it should look like
This is actually a denarius of M Tullius like this You can tell because of how the horses are rearing rather than walking forward and also the positioning of the figure on the reverse where the quadriga is obscured by the horses as on the denarii of M Tullius rather than behind them but fully visible as on the Sulla denarii. You can also see the bottom right corner of the X below the horses.
@red_spork I can see all of that to which you refer. Thank-you. When attributing this coin, I perhaps jumped to a 'conclusion' too early. (I will now make the necessary adjustments to my attribution.) I appreciate your comments. Thank-you, again.
A great example - and the 1967, 20K Lira price tag is fun to see! I like that one a lot! the reverse particularly great and hard to find that nice. Thanks for sharing this one - the necklet on obverse and victory on the reverse are particularly nice! I find the weathered coins that show their age attractive - thanks for sharing.
..wow...nice Sulla coins..(and Tullius's too)..i have much looked and bid on some but none haunt my collection yet..great coins all.
L CORNELIUS SULLA FELIX ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CORNELIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Diademed head of Venus right REVERSE: Double cornucopiae; Q below Rome 81 BC 3.77g, 19mm Cr 375/2; Syd 755; Cornelia 33 L CORNELIUS SULLA & L MALIUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS CORNELIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Roma right, L MANLI PROQ REVERSE: Triumphator in quadriga right, crowned by Victory, L SVLLA IMP in ex. Rome 82 BC 3.9g, 17mm Cr367/5; Cornelia39
