Prelude to Civil War: A Denarius of the Moneyer Quintus Sicinius

The coin I'm sharing today is the first type listed in Sear's History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators. This issue was minted in early 49 B.C., right as the senate was hearing of Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon. The senate threw their support behind Pompey and this issue was likely minted in Rome shortly thereafter. Read in context, the types come off as pure pro-Pompey propaganda: the palm frond, a traditional Roman symbol of victory and of triumphs; the wreath, awarded to Pompey by the senate for his defeat of Mithridates VI; the winged Caduceus, symbol of the god Mercury, patron of merchants, for his defeat of the Cilician pirates and return of commerce to the Mediterranean. The obverse with is Fortuna Populi Romani, the Fortune of the Roman People, suggesting of course that they should throw in their lot with Pompey.

Fortune was not on Pompey's side, however, and he quickly realized he was in no position to defend Rome and fled to Greece with much of the senate. This moneyer fled to the east with Pompey and the Senate(probably a wise choice after having publicly thrown your support behind him), and later minted an issue along with the praetor C Coponius. Unfortunately, outside the coins we don't really know anything about the moneyer as his name appears nowhere else in the historical record, but he earned his tiny piece of fame in history as the first to mint a pro-Pompey issue during the Civil War.

Roman Republic AR denarius(4.00g, 17mm, 9h). Q Sicinius, early 49 BC, Rome. Diademed head of Fortuna right; P•R upward to left; FORT downward to right. Border of dots / Palm frond and winged caduceus, bound with fillet, in saltire; wreath with fillet above; III•VIR across field, Q•SICINIVS below. Border of dots. Crawford 440/1; Sear HCRI 1

Ex Roma Numismatics e-sale 72, 25 June 2020, lot 876, ex CNG Triton XXIII, 14 January 2020, lot 600

Here's a small video of this coin. My phone doesn't focus great when it comes to denarius-sized coins, but this one was too nice not to at least try to do a video for it:


As always, feel free to share anything relevant

 

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This was one of the best RR coins in the Roma sale. Couldn't ask for a better example, Plus the Triton pedigree. The video really demonstrates the appeal. Congratulations.

 

Great coin and the video looks really sharp! There's something to be said about looking at moving coins versus just flat images.

 

Great coin, Sporky! The in-hand video really shows the appeal.

 

That's a beautiful denarius - the video shows it off much better than the static photo. Here's another (I will choose to avoid comparing )

Imperatorial Rome, Q. Sicinius, Early 49 BC, AR Denarius, Rome mint
Obv: FORT P.R., head of Fortuna populi Romani right, wearing diadem. Border of dots.
Rev: Q·SICINIVS III·VIR, palm-branch tied with fillet and winged caduceus in saltire; above, wreath; inscription on either side. Border of dots.
Ref: Crawford 440/1

 

What a coin! The video shows it off so much better than the photograph.

 

Thanks! I agree, it was definitely one of the best in the auction and was actually on my list at Triton but I was being a bit tight with my cash trying to save for the NYINC bourse and I didn't chase as far as I should have. In the end I saved a few dollars versus the Triton hammer price buying it at Roma.

I've really come around to coin videos, especially now that coin shows are all cancelled and I can only handle my own coins. I wish more dealers posted them. I don't buy often from HJB, but I was happy to see a video with a recent coin I purchased from them.

 

WONDERFUL Denarius that you captured, @red_spork !

I have another version from Sicinius while Pompey is in exile:

While Pompey in Exile


RR Sicinius Coponius 49 BCE Apollo Club Pompey Moneyer Exile S 413 Cr 444-1

 

That's a beauty, and very interesting coin. I like how your video makes your coin come alive, it's very different compared to the picture.

Congratulations!

 

...very kool ....i must have one now!... ( i also concur with the peeps on the vid)