Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3044 3-4 January 2016
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Man. Aquillius m.f. (65 BC). AR serrate denarius (20mm, 3.91 gm, 5h). Rome. VIRTVS III VIR, draped bust of Virtus right, wearing crested Montefortino helmet, ornamented at the side with feather / MN · F · MN · N MN · AQVIL (partially ligate), Man. Aquillius senior (consul 129 and 101 BC) standing left, head right, supporting kneeling female figure of Sicilia; SICIL in exergue. Crawford 401/1. RSC Aquillia 2. A lovely example, crisply struck and displaying mirror-like luster in the fields. NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5. The moneyer's father, Manlius Aquillius the elder, was co-consul with Marius in 101 BC and was sent the following year to Sicily to suppress the slave rebellion of Salvius, which cut the grain supply to Rome and threatened famine. Aquillius accomplished this task with alacrity and was awarded an ovation by the Senate; his "raising of Sicily" is depicted symbolically on the reverse of this attractive denarius. He was charged with maladministration as governor of Sicily in 98 BC, but was defended by the gifted orator Marcus Antonius (grandfather of the triumvir) and acquitted. In 88 BC, Aquillius was sent to Anatolia with a small force to prosecute the war against Mithradates VI of Pontus, but was defeated, captured and executed by having molten gold poured down his throat as punishment for his supposed venality.
Estimate: 1500-2000 USD
Man. Aquillius m.f. (65 BC). AR serrate denarius (20mm, 3.91 gm, 5h). Rome. VIRTVS III VIR, draped bust of Virtus right, wearing crested Montefortino helmet, ornamented at the side with feather / MN · F · MN · N MN · AQVIL (partially ligate), Man. Aquillius senior (consul 129 and 101 BC) standing left, head right, supporting kneeling female figure of Sicilia; SICIL in exergue. Crawford 401/1. RSC Aquillia 2. A lovely example, crisply struck and displaying mirror-like luster in the fields. NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5. The moneyer's father, Manlius Aquillius the elder, was co-consul with Marius in 101 BC and was sent the following year to Sicily to suppress the slave rebellion of Salvius, which cut the grain supply to Rome and threatened famine. Aquillius accomplished this task with alacrity and was awarded an ovation by the Senate; his "raising of Sicily" is depicted symbolically on the reverse of this attractive denarius. He was charged with maladministration as governor of Sicily in 98 BC, but was defended by the gifted orator Marcus Antonius (grandfather of the triumvir) and acquitted. In 88 BC, Aquillius was sent to Anatolia with a small force to prosecute the war against Mithradates VI of Pontus, but was defeated, captured and executed by having molten gold poured down his throat as punishment for his supposed venality.
Estimate: 1500-2000 USD