Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 143 7 May 2024
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
The Dioscuri Collection. The Roman Republic.
L. Cornelius Sulla. Denarius, uncertain mint 81, AR 18 mm, 4.18 g. Diademed head of Venus r.; behind, Π. Rev. EX – S·C Cornucopia; all within wreath. Babelon Cornelia 44. Sydenham 763. RBW 1399. Crawford 376/1.
Very rare and in exceptional condition for this difficult issue. Struck in
high relief on sound metal and extremely fineδδδδδδEx Sternberg XVI, 1985, 213 and NAC 70, 2013, 134 sales.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla, 138-78 BC, was from a a very wealthy but relatively undistinguished patrician family. He proved an exceptional general during the Social War (91-87 BC), defeating the Samnites in southern Italy, for which he was awarded a consulship. Shortly after the war's conclusion, Mithradates VI of Pontus, on one murderous night, had more than 80,000 Roman citizens residing in Asia Minor slaughtered. The Roman Senate, needing to respond with force promptly, gave the command to deal with Mithradates to the recent war hero, Sulla.Unfortunately, Marius, who had more experience than Sulla, wanted the command for himself, and through political maneuvering, obtained it. Sulla was forced to flee Rome for his life, but his legions remained loyal to his cause, and they marched on Rome itself. Sulla was victorious, causing Marius to flee the city, after which Sulla marched east to confront Mithradates. Sulla was successful in forcing Mithradates from Greece, parts of which he had occupied, but his command expired and was transferred to the suffect consul, L. Valerius Flaccus. Flaccus was soon murdered in Bithynia by his own general, Gaius Fimbria, who nearly captured Mithradates, but infighting between him and Sulla allowed the Pontic king to evade capture. After concluding a peace agreement with Mithradates, Sulla went on to impose his authority over much of Asia Minor, and in the process extracted great wealth, which he then used to invade Italy once again (Marius had once again re-established his power in Rome). It was at this time that this beautiful denarius of Sulla was struck. The obverse portrays the head of Venus, Sulla's patron deity, with a small control letter behind, while the reverse depicts a cornucopiae – in this instance an attribute of Fortuna – with the attendant legend, EX S C ('by authority of the Roman Senate'), all within a laurel wreath. Sulla went on to establish a three-year dictatorship in Rome before eventually retiring from political life. While in office, he re-established the rule of the Senate, in essence, returning power to the wealthy.
L. Cornelius Sulla. Denarius, uncertain mint 81, AR 18 mm, 4.18 g. Diademed head of Venus r.; behind, Π. Rev. EX – S·C Cornucopia; all within wreath. Babelon Cornelia 44. Sydenham 763. RBW 1399. Crawford 376/1.
Very rare and in exceptional condition for this difficult issue. Struck in
high relief on sound metal and extremely fineδδδδδδEx Sternberg XVI, 1985, 213 and NAC 70, 2013, 134 sales.
Lucius Cornelius Sulla, 138-78 BC, was from a a very wealthy but relatively undistinguished patrician family. He proved an exceptional general during the Social War (91-87 BC), defeating the Samnites in southern Italy, for which he was awarded a consulship. Shortly after the war's conclusion, Mithradates VI of Pontus, on one murderous night, had more than 80,000 Roman citizens residing in Asia Minor slaughtered. The Roman Senate, needing to respond with force promptly, gave the command to deal with Mithradates to the recent war hero, Sulla.Unfortunately, Marius, who had more experience than Sulla, wanted the command for himself, and through political maneuvering, obtained it. Sulla was forced to flee Rome for his life, but his legions remained loyal to his cause, and they marched on Rome itself. Sulla was victorious, causing Marius to flee the city, after which Sulla marched east to confront Mithradates. Sulla was successful in forcing Mithradates from Greece, parts of which he had occupied, but his command expired and was transferred to the suffect consul, L. Valerius Flaccus. Flaccus was soon murdered in Bithynia by his own general, Gaius Fimbria, who nearly captured Mithradates, but infighting between him and Sulla allowed the Pontic king to evade capture. After concluding a peace agreement with Mithradates, Sulla went on to impose his authority over much of Asia Minor, and in the process extracted great wealth, which he then used to invade Italy once again (Marius had once again re-established his power in Rome). It was at this time that this beautiful denarius of Sulla was struck. The obverse portrays the head of Venus, Sulla's patron deity, with a small control letter behind, while the reverse depicts a cornucopiae – in this instance an attribute of Fortuna – with the attendant legend, EX S C ('by authority of the Roman Senate'), all within a laurel wreath. Sulla went on to establish a three-year dictatorship in Rome before eventually retiring from political life. While in office, he re-established the rule of the Senate, in essence, returning power to the wealthy.