Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Homer2, post: 25404242, member: 147282&quot;]The Bursio denarius was my first Republic coin. I got the first one at G&amp;M in Munich a couple years ago, and picked up a second (without thinking I already had one) locally from the coin guy at the flohmarkt. Happy though, as the second coin has an owl mint mark, and a bit better detail. There are about 450 different control marks for these coins listed in a paper by Ruyter. There are also differences between the size of the head, trident, berries on the wreath, and how the tunic is presented amongst the different types. I seem to have a large head and small head variety.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1627155[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="6"><b>Roman Republic. L. Julius Bursio,&nbsp; Rome, 85 BC</b></font></p><p>AR Denarius, 3.68g (19mm)</p><p>Obv. Male head to right, with attributes of Apollo, Mercury and Neptune; Owl? (control symbol) behind trident</p><p>Rev. Victory driving quadriga to right, holding reins and wreath</p><p>Crawf. 352/1a, Syd. 728</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1627156[/ATTACH]</p><p>Here is the version from G&amp;M with the smaller head. </p><p><br /></p><p>This coin was minted at the height of turmoil in the republic and the civil war between Marian faction (Cinna) and Sulla, who was in the east fighting Mithredites (and dealing with another Roman army sent to replace/defeat Sulla in the Mithreditic War.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>In 85BC when this coin was minted, Marius had died the year before and Cinna (Caesar&#039;s father-in-law) was Consul and continuing to purge Sulla supporters in Rome. The other consular army sent to replace Sulla in the east led by Flaccus killed their consul and was now led by Fimbria, who was not keen to face Sulla, but also did not join with him. Faced with two Roman armies, Mithradites made peace with Sulla, who then advanced on Fimbria. The army deserted Fimbria, who then committed suicide. Sulla then spent time settling affairs and stabilizing the east in preparation for his eventual march on Rome and becoming dictator.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in