Watch List notes:

Cn. Pompeius Magnus. 48 B.C. AR denarius (17 mm, 3.58 g, 5 h). Uncertain Greek mint. Terentius Varro, proquaestor. VARRO · PRO · Q, diademed terminal bust of Jupiter Terminus right / MAGN · PRO/COS in two lines in exergue, Vertical scepter; to left, dolphin swimming right; to right, eagle standing left. Crawford 447/1a; HCRI 8; Sydenham 1033; RSC 3. Toned, a very light scratches and a hairline flan crack. Nearly very fine.

Ex Künker (2 October 2015), 8526.

Struck prior to the Battle of Pharsalus in which Pompey was defeated by Caesar, this coin advertises Pompey's most considerable past achievements. Jupiter Terminus (or Terminalis), the divine guardian of boundaries, refers to the grant of proconsular powers awarded to Pompey by the Senate so that he carry the fight to Caesar and save the Republic. The images of the dolphin and eagle represent Pompey's most famous achievements by sea and by land: his decisive defeat of the Cilician pirates in 66 B.C., and his conquest over Mithradates VI of Pontus in 65 B.C. Additionally, the design of the reverse is divided by a scepter, which here serves not only as an artistic device separating the motifs of the dolphin and eagle, but symbolizes his delegated authority as it was only carried by victorious generals who had been acclaimed imperator by their troops.