My Latest "Notes" page on this coin is available here: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/the-last-days-of-sulla an RR denarius from the year after Sulla relinquished the dictatorship. There are more than 231 varieties of this type with only 2 struck by more than 1 die. This coin features Obv: subsellium (curule chair) and Rev: sella (seat or bench)) Post your coins of L. Papius, serrated denarii or anything else you find interesting or entertaining.
Very nice @Sulla80. I do not have a Papius coin, but would like one (or more) some day. How about a couple of carule chairs so I have something to post? P. FURIUS CRASSIPES ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS FURIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Turreted head of Cybele (Tyche) right, behind, foot pointing upwards, AED.CVR behind head REVERSE: Curule chair inscribed P FOVRIVS; CRASSIPES in exergue Rome 84 BC 3.88g. 19Mm Cr 356/1c; Syd 735b L FURIUS CN F BROCCHUS ROMAN REPUBLIC; GENS FURIA AR Denarius OBVERSE: Bust of Ceres right between wheat-ear and barley-corn; III VIR across field, BROCCHI below REVERSE: Curule chair between fasces; L. FVRI/CN. F above Rome 63 BC 3.9g, 20mm Cr414/1; Furia 23
Just have one L. Papius - not as good as the OP; it is what it is. Sydenham proposed that the symbols on these denarii represent trade guilds and merchants (collegia opificum) in "Symbols on Denarii of L. Papius and L. Roscius", Numismatic Chronicle, 1931. However, Crawford in RRC, suggested that there is no such association with the collegia. Rather he believes they are a "random selection of pairs of everyday objects". The symbols on this denarius may refer to the wine vendors trade guild. Denarius Serratus, Rome, 79 BC 18.5 x 18 mm, 3.607 g RRC 384/1, type 33; Sydenham 773; RSC I Papia 1; SRCV I 311 Ob.: Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat's skin; shallow cup behind. Rev.: Griffin springing right; rhyton ending in a horse left below L•PAPI in ex.
Sulla was who brought Iugurta to Marius: Iugurta was bound on hand and feet to Rome where he was paraded in 104 BC wearing his regal insignia in Marius’ Triumph. Afterwards he was thrown naked and bleeding (a Roman guard had ripped off a gold earring and Iugurta’s ear) into the Tulianum. Without food and shivering of cold, the once so proud king became insane. After six days, Iugurta was choked to death. Sulla’s tribunal that came over Rome in 86 BC is probably the bloodiest confrontation between the Optimates and Democrats that had its roots in the Graccian revolt.
AR Serrate Denarius 18mm. 3.80g. Rome Mint Head of Juno Sospita r., wearing goat's skin; helmet and sword behind. Gryphon springing r., ladle(?) below; In ex.: L.PAPI RSC I Papia 1; Craw 384/1 Roman Republic, L. Sulla & L. Manlius Torquatus, 82 BC Silver Denarius, Military Mint Moving with Sulla, 17mm, 4.01 grams Obverse: Helmeted head of Roma right. Reverse: Sulla holding branch and reings driving triumphal quadriga right, Victory flying above crowning him with laurels. Crawford 367/5 // Manlia 4
I have too many examples of the Papius types. I don't want to kill the thread with them. The main reason for believing there to be at least 246 die pairs is that one die pair has CCXLVI on each side. James Bonanno illustrates or cites 232 die pairs, building on Crawford's 211. This indicates that 21 die pairs have emerged in recent years. Here are 2 from my collection that were unknown to Crawford. Obv:– Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin tied under chin. Behind head, Shoe. Rev:– Gryphon running right; in ex., L. PAPI.; in field, Sandal Minted in Rome from . B.C. 79. Reference(s) – RSC Papia 1. RRC 384/1. RCTV 311. Symbol variety – RRC -. Babelon -. BMCRR -. 3.78g. 19.71 mm. 180 degrees. An unpublished symbol pair with five examples currently known. This is likely the best of the five examples. (Richard Schaefer) and one that I regularly trot out in such cuircumstances Obv:– Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat skin tied under chin. Behind head, Dolphin wrapped around anchor. Rev:– Gryphon running right; in ex., L. PAPI.; in field, Hippocamp Minted in Rome from . B.C. 79. Reference(s) – RSC Papia 1. RRC 384/1. RCTV 311. Symbol variety – RRC -. Babelon -. BMCRR -. A previously unknown symbol pair and the only known example as far as I have been able to confirm.
I love this period of coinage -- in large part because it's the golden age of the control symbol. Great examples so far! I love the way the Papius types tried to thematically match obverse and reverse symbols. I don't have a Papius, but here's my Censorinus (struck a bit earlier, of course, when he was still Moneyer), who played an important role in the Sulla-Marian war. (He was on team Marius.) Censorius was among the “last men standing,” captured after being defeated at the decisive Battle of the Colline Gate (Kalends of Nov. 82). Sulla ordered him executed and had his severed head sent to the remaining Marian army, which promptly deserted their leader Marius the Younger, who then promptly committed suicide. And, when possible, I like to show my Sulla / Lucullus issue for the Siege of Athens (or the occupation after expelling Mithradates VI). Although "New Style" coinage was known for them, no control symbols here, though, just the distinctive monograms!
