This worn, affordable example was struck in 81 BC by the moneyer Capito, who was the adopted son of General Gaius Marius' brother Marcus. Marius died in 86 BC, days after his seventh Consulship. Since Sulla had returned to Rome by 82 BC and was nominated Dictator, only Sertorius, the last Marcian general, continued the civil war in Hispania. According to that time-line Marians were still minting coins years after the death of Marius and while Sulla was Dictator. I hope someone can help clarify or correct that curious event in history. I'm unable to precisely discover the significance of the 'devices'.....and the control marks and numbers vary greatly among this issue, although the number VIII appears evident. Why a reference to Ceres and a farmer ploughing at that specific period of time? Perhaps, just a reuse of former dies during the more successful period of Marian rule? AR serrated denarius of C Marius c. f. Capito, 81 BC, 3.64 grams Draped bust of Ceres, CAPIT and unidentified control mark under chin Farmer ploughing with yolk of oxen, C MAR I C F ans SC in EX Maria 9, Cr 378/1C; Ex K Vaughn
I checked out Crawford in reference to the type. He doesn't offer any theories for why the moneyer chose Ceres as the obverse, but says that the reverse is meant to complement the obverse. From the Wikipedia article on Ceres: "Ceres was credited with the discovery of spelt wheat (Latin far), the yoking of oxen and ploughing, the sowing, protection and nourishing of the young seed, and the gift of agriculture to humankind;"
Nice one, Mikey. One I'd welcome in my collection any day. I'd say the control symbol on the obverse is a lit altar. The reverse control numeral is LVIII (the L looks like an inverted T).
Thanks guys for all the info!!! Yeah, Bing it seems like it.....but my RR binge will pause for a while as i begin focusing on some Greek issues as the New year arrives...
The LVIII=58 is a die number showing this was the 58th reverse died used. Mine below is 37 which seems odd since that same number is on the obverse. Usually the reverse dies wore faster so the reverse number would be higher. Centering makes your obverse number unclear. Banti confirms the numbers should match so you have the bottom of the L (upside down T) and small traces of the others. Banti calls the device on 58 'Ara' so altar is it. Banti lists these up to 149 (CXXXXVIIII) with 'serpe su ancora' (snake on still?).
@Mikey Zee excellent capture! Cool history... Love the wear...looks like the coin has touched many ancient hands! Lots of history within it!
Thanks everyone for the clarification---I noticed the acsearch example, but the upside down L T threw me off.... Yeah, AL, many times the more heavily worn examples appeal to me as much---if not more---than the more 'pristine' types....and for all the reasons you mention...
That's an awesome OP-coin, Mikey-Z .... very cool (doug's is also a winner) Sadly, I don't have a sweet AR-RR example .... oh, but wait => I do have this disturbing Titus example *awkward* => ummm, stop that and plow 'dem fields!!
