Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 63 7 Nov 2019
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L. Cornelius Sulla Felix AR Denarius. Italy, 81 BC. Diademed head of Venus right, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace / Filleted double cornucopiae; Q below. Crawford 375/2; BMCRR East 17-9; RSC Cornelia 33. 3.84g, 18mm, 12h.
Extremely Fine; attractive old cabinet tone.
Ex Andrew McCabe Collection, collector's ticket included;
Ex Archer M. Huntington (1870-1955) Collection, Triton XVII, 6 January 2014, lot 528 (HSA 1001.1.12798).
While Sulla's enemy Marius claimed Apollo as his divine patron, Sulla himself invoked the goddess Venus, and consequently she appears on the obverse of his coinage. The double cornucopiae is an attribute of Fortuna and may allude to Sulla's cognomen, Felix, but it likely also suggests that this issue was intended to defray the expenses of some special largesse of grain - the inhabitants of Rome must have badly needed some such assistance after the recent struggle.
Extremely Fine; attractive old cabinet tone.
Ex Andrew McCabe Collection, collector's ticket included;
Ex Archer M. Huntington (1870-1955) Collection, Triton XVII, 6 January 2014, lot 528 (HSA 1001.1.12798).
While Sulla's enemy Marius claimed Apollo as his divine patron, Sulla himself invoked the goddess Venus, and consequently she appears on the obverse of his coinage. The double cornucopiae is an attribute of Fortuna and may allude to Sulla's cognomen, Felix, but it likely also suggests that this issue was intended to defray the expenses of some special largesse of grain - the inhabitants of Rome must have badly needed some such assistance after the recent struggle.