ROMAN REPUBLIC. Sextus Pompeius. Denarius 37-36 BC, military mint in Sicily. Obv. MAG PIVS IMP ITER. Bearded head of Neptune to the right, his hair tied with band and with trident over his shoulder. Rev. PRAEF C[LAS ET ORAE MARIT] EX S C. Trophy with trident above and anchor below; stem of prow on the left and aplustre on the right, two heads of Scylla at base. RRC 511/2a. AR. RR - AU reverse off-center Ex. Rodolfo Ratto auction "Riche Collection", 12 May 1925, lot 567; Ex. Numismatica Ars Classica auction 21, 17 May 2001, lot 310. After the formation of the second Triumvirat with Lepidus,

Marcus Antonius and Octavian; Sextus Pompeius as Praefectus Classis rally the Republican forces against the Caesarian Party. He commanded an important fleet, and with its supports took control of Sicily, the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. From those positions, Sextus Pompeius could control the food supplies of Roma and managed several piracy actions against Caesarians forces. In 36 BC, Octavian began a new campaign again Sextus Pompeius, but was beaten several times. By the way, he convinced Sextus Pompeius' second, Menas to rally the forces of Octavian. He helped Marcus Agrippa to beat Sextus at the Nauloque battle, on the Sicilian coast. This naval battle was the last important Roman fight on the sea (more of 300 galleys) and the final point of the Sextus Pompeius domination on Sicily. After that he fled to the province of Asia where he was murdered. This interesting issue of Sextus Pompeius has been struck to glorify his victories as Praefectus Classis in the Tyrrhenian Sea.