| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 143 | Auction date: 7 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 277 Price realized: 8,500 CHF (Approx. 9,395 USD / 8,727 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The Dioscuri Collection. The Roman Republic. L. Manlius Torquatus. Denarius 65, AR 18 mm, 4.01 g. Ivy-wreathed head of Sybil r.; below neck truncation, SIBYLLA. Rev. L·TORQVAT / III·VIR Tripod on which stands amphora flanked by two stars. All within torque. Babelon Manlia 12. Sydenham 835a. RBW 1490. Crawford 411/1b. Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. A portrait of excellent style struck in high relief and unusually well centred. Good extremely fine Ex Sternberg XIX, 1987, 480 and Hess-Divo 307, 2007, 1485 sales. The Apollo and tripod types of types of this denarius are believed to refer to the Roman priestly college of the Quindacemviri sacris faciundis (literally, "Fifteen Men for doing Sacred Things"), to which the moneyer L. Torquatus is assumed to have belonged. The college actually began its existence as a duumvirate of two priests drawn from the patrician class, but in 367 BC the number of members was increased to fifteen with half to be drawn from patrician and half from the plebeian families. The duties of the Quindecemviri were focused on the protection and interpretation of the Sibylline Books, a series of written oracles obtained from the famous Sibyl of Cumae, but they also had responsibility for overseeing the worship of foreign gods introduced to Rome and of interpreting omens. The depiction of Apollo and his mantic tripod on this coin refer to his role as the god from whom the oracles of the Sibylline Books were believed to come. The laurel wreath used as a border on the reverse is a modification of the traditional torque or neck-ring used in similar fashion on earlier coins struck by Torquati serving as moneyers. The torque was a visual allusion to the cognomen Torquatus, but here it is composed of the laurel leaves sacred to Apollo. Estimate: 4000 CHF |  |
Match 1:
| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 143 | Auction date: 7 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 99 Price realized: 1,100 CHF (Approx. 1,216 USD / 1,129 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The Dioscuri Collection. The Roman Republic. M. Porcius Laeca. Denarius 125, AR 18 mm, 3.95 g. LAECA Helmeted head of Roma r.; below chin, *. Rev. Fast quadriga driven r. by Liberty, holding pileus in r. hand; above, Victory flying l. to crown her. Below horse, M·PORC and in exergue, ROMA. Babelon Porcia 3. Sydenham 513. FFC 1051 (this coin). RBW 1088. Crawford 270/1. Lovely iridescent tone, virtually as struck and almost Fdc Ex Triton I, 1997, 1120 and Aureo & Calicó 319, 2018, Alba Longa, 613 sales. Estimate: 300 CHF |  |
Match 2:
| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 143 | Auction date: 7 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 226 Price realized: 900 CHF (Approx. 995 USD / 924 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The Dioscuri Collection. The Roman Republic. L. Rutilius Flaccus. Denarius 77, AR 18 mm, 3.93 g. FLAC Helmeted head of Roma r. Rev. Victory in biga r., holding reins and wreath; in exergue, L·RVTILI. Babelon Rutilia 1. Sydenham 780. FFC 1096 (this coin). RBW –. Crawford 387/1 var. Wonderful old cabinet tone and good extremely fine Ex Aureo & Calicó sale 319, 2018, Alba Longa, 237. Estimate: 300 CHF |  |
Match 3:
| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 143 | Auction date: 7 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 316 Price realized: 3,750 CHF (Approx. 4,145 USD / 3,850 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The Dioscuri Collection. The Roman Republic. M. Iunius Brutus. Denarius 54, AR 18 mm, 4.03 g. LIBERT[AS] Head of Libertas r. Rev. The consul L. Iunius Brutus walking l. between two lectors preceded by an accensus. In exergue, BRVTVS. Babelon Junia 31. Sydenham 906. RBW 1542. Crawford 433/1. Struck on an exceptionally large flan and complete, an absolutely unobtrusive metal flaw at three o'clock on obverse field. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc Ex NAC sale 52, 2009, 254. Estimate: 1500 CHF |  |
Match 4:
| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 143 | Auction date: 7 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 330 Price realized: 2,750 CHF (Approx. 3,040 USD / 2,824 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The Dioscuri Collection. The Roman Republic. Mn. Acilius Glabrio. Denarius 49, AR 18 mm, 4.00 g. SALVTIS Laureate head of Salus r. Rev. MN·ACILIVS – III·VIR·VALETV Valetudo standing l., resting l. arm on column and holding snake in r. hand. Babelon Acilia 8. Sydenham 922. Sear Imperators 16. RBW 1556. Crawford 442/1a. A very rare variety with part of reverse legend vertical. Wonderful iridescent tone and virtually as struck and almost Fdc Ex Tkalec sale 9 May 2005, 223. Estimate: 600 CHF |  |
Match 5:
| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 143 | Auction date: 7 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 237 Price realized: 2,500 CHF (Approx. 2,763 USD / 2,567 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The Dioscuri Collection. The Roman Republic. Q. Pomponius Rufus. Denarius 73, AR 18 mm, 3.69 g. RVFVS Laureate head of Jupiter r.; behind, S·C. Rev. Eagle perched on sceptre with l. talon and holding wreath with r.; on sceptre's tip, III and behind, vampire. In exergue, Q·POMPO[NI]. Babelon Pomponia 23. Sydenham 793. FFC 1031 (this coin). RBW –. Crawford 398/1. Very rare. Lovely old cabinet tone, surface somewhat porous and minor marks, otherwise good very fine Ex Schulman 243, 1966, 1458 and Aureo & Calicó 319, 2018, Alba Longa, 598 sales. Estimate: 1500 CHF |  |
