This moneyer's grandfather was adopted into the family of Cornelius-Lentulii. Unusual for his family (who were mostly Pompeians) the moneyer was a supporter of Caesar and this coin perhaps the first struck after Caesar took Rome in 49 BC. Caesar entered Rome after famously crossing the Rubicon River on January 10–11, 49 BC, a decisive act that initiated the Roman Civil War. Caesar’s rapid advance southward forced Pompey and most of the Senate to flee Rome, allowing Caesar to occupy the city largely unopposed. The reverse shows Marcellus striding right, carrying spolia opima (captured armor from Viridomarus, the Gallic commander that he killed with his own hands) into the tetrastyle temple of Jupiter Feretrius. He was the third and last Roman to achieve spolia opima, a rare honor. Romulus celebrated spolia opima as he founded the first temple in Rome to Jupiter Feretrius (Jupiter who strikes). The coin would have supported Caesar’s self-image as a second Romulus re-founding Rome. The moneyer's son became consul in 18 BC under Augustus. (Public Domain Image Source: Guillemin, A. (1881). Le monde physique (Vol. 1). Paris: Hachette. Retrieved from Wellcome Library.) For a more complete review of the history and family of this moneyer see: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/cornelius-lentulus Archimedes of Syracuse (c. 287 – c. 212 BC) the mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor makes an appearance in the story, before dying tragically. Post your coins of the Cornelius-Lentulii (the father and grandfather of this moneyer were also moneyers) - coins depicting trophies or anything else that you find interesting or entertaining.
Great coin Sulla80, a very hard coin to find in any condition. I managed to pick up a worn version a little while ago.
This one is probably a different Lentulus: Cossus Cornelius Lentulus, moneyer in 12 BC, but from the same Cornelia gens. This coin depicts a colossal equestrian statue of Agrippa, raised after his untimely death. It was issued in large numbers for his funeral to raise the donative he bequeathed to every Roman citizen. The coin shows the spolia opima won by the ancestor of Cossus Cornelius Lentulus. AR Denarius, Rome 12 BC 19 mm, 3.609 g RIC I (2nd ed.) 412; BMCRE 122-123=BMCRR Rome 4672-3; BN 551-4; RSC 418; Ob.: AVGVSTVS Bare head to r. Rev.: COSSVS CN•F•LENTVLVS, equestrian statue (of Agrippa) to r., helmeted and bearing spolia opima over l. shoulder, on pedestal ornamented with two prows.
