Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 114 13-14 May 2020
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Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. Petillius Capitolinus. 41 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.85 g, 10h). Rome mint. Bare head of bearded Jupiter right; CAPITOLINVS downward behind / Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus: richly decorated hexastyle façade with ornamented pediment and garlands hanging within three openings; PETILLIVS in exergue. Crawford 487/1; CRI 173; Sydenham 1149; Petillia 1; FFC 960 (this coin). Attractive old cabinet toning with some light iridescence. Choice EF. Struck from dies of fine style.
Ex Alba Longa (Jose Fernandez Molina) Collection; Ernst Lejeune Collection (Peus 250, 15 March 1954), lot 994.
Petillius Capitolinus was one of the last moneyers to strike an independent senatorial coinage prior to the Triumvirs seizing control of the minting process in 41 BC. The types he chose – a majestic portrait of Jupiter on the obverse, and the façade of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus on the reverse – are doubtless a play on his name. It is possible, though not certain, that he was the same Petillius Capitolinus who was later accused of peculation and acquitted. Horace mentions him in his Satires; a later Roman commentator embellished the tale, claiming that Capitolinus was custodian of the Capitoline temple, and was accused of stealing the golden crown from the statue of Jupiter. His acquittal was supposedly due to his close friendship with Augustus.
Ex Alba Longa (Jose Fernandez Molina) Collection; Ernst Lejeune Collection (Peus 250, 15 March 1954), lot 994.
Petillius Capitolinus was one of the last moneyers to strike an independent senatorial coinage prior to the Triumvirs seizing control of the minting process in 41 BC. The types he chose – a majestic portrait of Jupiter on the obverse, and the façade of the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus on the reverse – are doubtless a play on his name. It is possible, though not certain, that he was the same Petillius Capitolinus who was later accused of peculation and acquitted. Horace mentions him in his Satires; a later Roman commentator embellished the tale, claiming that Capitolinus was custodian of the Capitoline temple, and was accused of stealing the golden crown from the statue of Jupiter. His acquittal was supposedly due to his close friendship with Augustus.