OTD:October 26th 82 BCE saw the start of the Ludi Victoriae Sullae, the Victory Games of Sulla!

The 26th of October 82 BCE saw the start of the Ludi Victoriae Sullae, the Victory Games of Sulla, in Rome! Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix was a favorite maniacal dictator of mine as well as Roman General & Statesman who defeated one of the greatest, if not at least most innovative generals of all time in (as well as uncle by marriage to Julius Caesar), Marius during the political struggles between the Optimates & Populares factions during the 80s BCE.


(How could such a sweet looking fella commit so much evil?)


L. Sulla and L. Manlius Torquatus
82 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.8 g). Military mint traveling with Sulla. Helmeted head of Roma right / Sulla driving triumphal quadriga right; above, crowning Victory flying left.
As consul for the year 88 BC, Sulla was awarded the coveted assignment of suppressing the revolt of Mithradates VI of Pontus, but political maneuvers resulted in this assignment being transferred to Marius. In response, Sulla turned his army on Rome!

"The ludi were not holidays (feriae), as such, although they did have their origins in religion and ritual, and the days of their celebration were considered dies festi. The oldest and most famous of the public games were the Ludi Romani (Roman Games), which originally were vowed in honor of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, whose temple was dedicated on September 13, 509 BC, as a votive offering if victory were won in battle. They were celebrated in the Circus Maximus following the triumphal procession (pompa) from the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitol. By 366 BC, they had become an annual event, no longer associated with the triumph, and were held for several weeks in September."
Just imagine the site and spectical!



This coin may commemorate the event!

M.Nonius Sufenas
AR Denarius, (c.59 BC), head of Saturn right, harpa, conical stone and sc behind, svfenas behind s.c, rev. Roma seated left on shields, being crowned by Victory, sex.noni in ex., pr.l.v.v.p.f around (Cr. 421/1; Syd. 885), 81 B.C.16 mm., 3,49 g. nearly very fine
This type may refer to the moneyer''s father, Sextus Nonius, who inaugurated the Ludi Victoriae Sullanae in honour of Sulla''s victory at the Colline Gate in Ex: Savoca

Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, lived from 138-78 BCE. After committing mass murders on the Roman people during his prescriptions (that later gave Augustus the idea for his mass killings for the land and money of his wealthy statesmen) Sulla gave up his dictatorship (giving Julius Caesar the reason to quip later, "Sulla didn't know his ABCs." For having given up so much power). And according to our sources spent the rest of his short life committing all types of sexual perversions. My kinda guy.


(Imagine going to the forum only to find your name on his list and your friend or family member's dagger in your back!)
Other coins from the year:

C. Mamilius Limetanus
82 BC.
Silver Serrate Denarius, 4.06 g., 19 mm.
Obv. Bust of Mercury right, wearing petasus and holding caduceus.
Rev. Ulysses (Odysseus) greeting his dog Argos who wags his tail in recognition, the scene recounted in Odyssey 17.290 ff.
Crawford 362/1; Sydenham 741.


C. Annius T. F. T. N. and L. Fabius L. F. Hisoaniensis
82-81 BC. Mint in northern Italy or SpainDenarius AR17mm., 3,61g.
C ANNI T F T N PRO COS EX S C, draped bust of Anna Perenna right, wearing stephane, winged caduceus behind, scales below chin, sword (?) below neck / L FABI L F HISP, Victory driving quadriga right, holding palm branch and reins, Q above horses. fineCrawford 366/1a.
Former Savoca

And the great man's nephew:

Faustus Cornelius L.f. L.n. Sulla
56 B.C.E. AR fourrée denarius (18.5 mm, 3.15 g, 7 h). Rome mint. Bust of Hercules right, in lions skin; SC behind / Globe between jeweled wreath and three triumphal wreaths. Cf. Crawford 426/4b; Cf. Sydenham 884; Cf. RSC Cornelia 62. aVF. Rare. Former LANZ coin

Please post those coins that commemorate the times, the men or whatever murders your enemies!

 

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I only have a single RR denarius and it’s broken in half! Not worth posting here ...

 

Supposedly, the young and dashing, Pompey the Great was the only man Sulla would stand up for when he entered a room.
Sulla was also said to have referred to Pompey as magnus with tongue in check. Pomps liked it so much he started having everyone call him "The Great" thereafter:

 

..Sulla was the man of the hour...then he decided to stay for the day.....kool coins