Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXV 22-23 Sep 2022
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Marcus Arrius Secundus AR Denarius. Rome, 41 BC. Young, bare, male head to right, with slight beard (Octavian or Quintus Arrius?); M•ARRIVS upwards behind, SECVNDVS downwards before / Hasta pura (vertical spear) between wreath to left and rectangular phalera (military decoration) to right. Crawford 513/2; CRI 319; BMCRR Rome 4210; Sydenham 1084, RBW 1791; RSC Arria 2. 3.76g, 20mm, 2h.
Near Extremely Fine.
From the Vogelberg Collection (Switzerland), formed c. 1960-1985.
The Perusine War of 41-40 BC, fought between the forces raised by Marc Antony's wife and brother, Fulvia and Lucius Antony, and Octavian brought about an unusual development in the coinage of the late Republic, and heralded the demise of the tradition of moneyers producing currency at the Capitoline mint (save for a brief restoration early in the principate of Augustus). The obverse portrait of this coin, despite being identified as the moneyer's father, Quintus Arrius, looks notably similar to Octavian. Similarly, C. Numonius Vaala's aurei (Crawford 514/1) bears a head of Victory with a striking resemblance to Fulvia. It has been postulated that, owing to the uncertainties of the political climate, these types were produced with deliberately ambiguous meanings which could be aligned with whichever side should be victorious.
Near Extremely Fine.
From the Vogelberg Collection (Switzerland), formed c. 1960-1985.
The Perusine War of 41-40 BC, fought between the forces raised by Marc Antony's wife and brother, Fulvia and Lucius Antony, and Octavian brought about an unusual development in the coinage of the late Republic, and heralded the demise of the tradition of moneyers producing currency at the Capitoline mint (save for a brief restoration early in the principate of Augustus). The obverse portrait of this coin, despite being identified as the moneyer's father, Quintus Arrius, looks notably similar to Octavian. Similarly, C. Numonius Vaala's aurei (Crawford 514/1) bears a head of Victory with a striking resemblance to Fulvia. It has been postulated that, owing to the uncertainties of the political climate, these types were produced with deliberately ambiguous meanings which could be aligned with whichever side should be victorious.