Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXIII 24-25 Mar 2022
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Q. Cornuficius Fourée Denarius. Uncertain North African mint (possibly Utica?), spring - early summer 42 BC. Head of Ceres to left, wearing wreath of grain / Q. Cornuficius standing to left, wearing veil and holding lituus, crowned by Juno Sospita standing to left, holding spear and shield, with crow perching on shoulder; Q•CORN downwards to left, VFICI in exergue, AVGVR•IMP upwards to right. For prototype, cf. Crawford 509/5; Sydenham 1354; CRI 231; BMCRR Africa 27; RSC Cornuficia 3; for other plated examples, cf. RRDP Processed Clippings 509. 2.87g, 19mm, 4h.
Very Fine; patches of core visible, edge chipped. Extremely Rare - one of the most sought after Republican pieces.
Ex Scipio Collection;
Acquired from Soler & Llach;
Sold with export license from Spain.
By the time he was appointed governor of Africa Vetus (the 'old' province) in 44 BC, Quintus Cornuficius already had enjoyed a distinguished career in government and as a poet and orator. He counted among his friends Catullus and Cicero, and had been a loyal ally of Julius Caesar in his struggle against the Pompeians. After the murder of Caesar, Cornuficius voiced his opposition to the Triumvirs: he sided with the senate in the War of Mutina (43 BC), refused to allow Antony's nominee to replace him as governor, and thus was named in the Triumviral proscriptions. From his base in Africa, he aided Sextus Pompey and allowed many of those who also had been proscribed to take refuge in his territory. Cornuficius' vocal opposition to the Triumvirs, however, proved to be his undoing, for in 42 BC he was attacked by Titus Sextius, governor of neighbouring Africa Nova (the 'new' province). The fact that Cornuficius was hailed Imperator and was able to produce an intriguing coinage with his title suggests his defence was initially successful before, late in the year, he was defeated and killed near Utica. His coin designs are highly personal, and the few dies used to produce them were engraved in unusually fine style. He chose for the obverse of his coins the portraits of Ceres-Tanit, Africa and Jupiter Ammon, all of which celebrated his province. These were paired with a single reverse type that showed Cornuficius being crowned by Juno Sospita. The fact that he is veiled, holds a lituus and includes AVGVR in the inscription underscores the pride he held in the augurate to which he had been appointed by Julius Caesar in 47 BC Since he is crowned by Juno Sospita, we should assume that is a reference to his Lanuvine origin.
Very Fine; patches of core visible, edge chipped. Extremely Rare - one of the most sought after Republican pieces.
Ex Scipio Collection;
Acquired from Soler & Llach;
Sold with export license from Spain.
By the time he was appointed governor of Africa Vetus (the 'old' province) in 44 BC, Quintus Cornuficius already had enjoyed a distinguished career in government and as a poet and orator. He counted among his friends Catullus and Cicero, and had been a loyal ally of Julius Caesar in his struggle against the Pompeians. After the murder of Caesar, Cornuficius voiced his opposition to the Triumvirs: he sided with the senate in the War of Mutina (43 BC), refused to allow Antony's nominee to replace him as governor, and thus was named in the Triumviral proscriptions. From his base in Africa, he aided Sextus Pompey and allowed many of those who also had been proscribed to take refuge in his territory. Cornuficius' vocal opposition to the Triumvirs, however, proved to be his undoing, for in 42 BC he was attacked by Titus Sextius, governor of neighbouring Africa Nova (the 'new' province). The fact that Cornuficius was hailed Imperator and was able to produce an intriguing coinage with his title suggests his defence was initially successful before, late in the year, he was defeated and killed near Utica. His coin designs are highly personal, and the few dies used to produce them were engraved in unusually fine style. He chose for the obverse of his coins the portraits of Ceres-Tanit, Africa and Jupiter Ammon, all of which celebrated his province. These were paired with a single reverse type that showed Cornuficius being crowned by Juno Sospita. The fact that he is veiled, holds a lituus and includes AVGVR in the inscription underscores the pride he held in the augurate to which he had been appointed by Julius Caesar in 47 BC Since he is crowned by Juno Sospita, we should assume that is a reference to his Lanuvine origin.