Dear Friends, Yes I bought a coin in 2016, I am off the wagon... During Sulla's Dictatorship following his victory over the forces of Marius, Quintus Sertorius, became the only surviving commander of note in opposition to the Sullan regime. In 83 BC Just before Sulla returned from the war against Mithridates of Pontus, Sertorius was sent to Spain by the Marian consuls to prevent Sulla gaining control there. Sertorius travelled there with a single legion, taking his post as Governor of the province Hispania Ulterior. He worked to eliminate all Sullan support in Spain, and instituted policies that endeared him to the natives. In 81 BC, Sulla sent Gaius Annius Luscus as governor to Spain with a large army who drove Sertorius out of Spain. Sertorius, a fugitive now, took over the Balearic Islands, but Luscus pursued him and drove him off after a small naval battle. Sertorius went to Mauretania where he intervened in a dynastic struggle, defeating also Paccianus' forces that Sulla had sent to assist the opponent in this conflict. After having successfully ended this struggle in Northern Africa, Sertorius was approached by Lusitanian emissaries. Having enough of Sulla's hard rule, the Lusitanians offered to submit themselves to Sertorius as their leader with absolute authority. Sertorius set out to Spain, defeated C. Aurelius Cotta in a naval battle and landed in Southern Spain, not far from Gibraltar in 80 BC. His army, consisting of 2,600 Romans and 700 Moorish cavalry, was quickly joined by 4,000 Lusitanian infantry and another 700 cavalry. Spain then became a battleground for nearly a decade where Sertorius outfought, outmanoeuvred, and outwitted a succession of Roman generals before being betrayed by his own subordinates. So this coin should represent Sertorius issued in Bolskan Spain or it is issued during his reign in certain area's.
One coin and you are already off the wagon? Why don't you save that for when you've bought your third or fourth coin this month? I love the horse and rider reverse. That was a sweet flirtation with falling off the wagon, but I can't wait to see what you will end up with when you trully fall off the wagon in the next 3 weeks.
I really need to pick up a Spanish denarius from the period of this conflict. I do have a coin related to the Sertorian War however, this one was a special issue minted somewhere in Spain(possibly a mint moving with Pompey's troops) under the quaestor Cn. Cornelius Lentulus to pay the troops of the war. Pompey actually spent quite a bit of money financing it on his own before going to the Roman Senate to ask for them for the money that became this special denarius issue: Roman republic, AR Denarius(3.4g) Cn. Cornelius Lentulus, moneyer. 76-75 BC. Obverse: Male bust right(Genius Populi Romani), draped hair tied with band, and with sceptre over shoulder; above, G P R. Border of dots. Reverse: Sceptre with wreath, globe and rudder; on left, EX; on right, S C; below, CN LEN Q. Border of dots. Crawford 393/1a. Cornelia 54. Sydenham 752
This example is the closest I have to Marius and Sertorius, struck 81 BC as Sulla returned to Rome and was nominated Dictator and Sertorius was continuing the war in Spain---Marius having died in 86 BC. Serrated denarius of C Marius c.f. Capito; altar with flame control mark Draped bust of Ceres and 'Farmer ploughing with yolk of oxen
The date ranges for these Bolskan horseman types seem to be quite wide. Is there any way to tell which ones can be ascribed to Sertorius's time there? I have mine as 150-100 BC, but I've also seen quite a few other dates.
Nice write up and coin Cy! I always liked how Sertorius was able to keep fighting with innovative gorilla warfare.
zumbly's coin appears to to me to be Villaronga ACIP 1419 and correctly dated at second half of the 2nd century BC. and should be about 23/24mm, 7.76g. Cyrrhus's coin, the OP coin, appears to me to be ACIP 1424 struck from 80 to 72 BC during the Sertorian wars, also known as a Palenzuela type and a bit smaller at 22/23mm, 7.57g. Although worn, there are still signs of the dolphin behind the head on the obv. and a star above on the rev. Both coins have the same designs, but the portrait on the OP coin, to me looks like the later issue. Interestingly, these Iberian issues with the Bearded Head on the front and the Horseman holding a spear on the back are often identified and dated by the hair style... number of curls, type of curls, placement, ect.
Thanks for that info, Doucet, and the ACIP attribution. I only had the CNH number in my notes. My coin is indeed 24mm, but the weight is a full 10g. I imagine there's a fair weight range for these as well?
Nice => Cyrrhus, that's a fantastic OP-coin (congrats) I tried figuring-out what type of coin I should post, but I got a bit rattled and gave-up (*sigh*) *whatev* ... the show must go on, eh?!! => yah, I'm pretty sure that this coin fits-in well enough to the time period (during the time of Sulla) M. Caecilius Q.f. Q.n. Metellus (Restored issue) AR Denarius 82-80 BC Rome mint Diameter: 18 mm Weight: 3.85 grams Obverse: Head of Apollo right, wearing taenia; mark of value below chin Reverse: shield with elephant's head in central boss, surrounded by laurel wreath Reference: Macedonian. Crawford 369/1; Sydenham 719; Caecilia 30 ... thanks for letting me play
zumbly said...... "My coin is indeed 24mm, but the weight is a full 10g. I imagine there's a fair weight range for these as well?" In ACIP they give sizes and one weight only. In FAB they give a weight range and no sizes. Both zumbly's and the OP coin's weight range in FAB is 12.8/7.2g Nice coin stevex6.
