Ancient and Medieval Coins Canada

Auction 2  –  9 November 2019

Ancient and Medieval Coins Canada, Auction 2

Ancient and Medieval Coins

Sa, 09.11.2019, from 6:00 PM CET
The auction is closed.

Description

★ The year of Arausio ★

L. Thorius Balbus, 105 BCE, AR denarius. Rome, 3.91g, 18mm.
Obv: Head of Juno Sospita right, wearing goat-skin headdress; I•S•M•R downwards behind
Rev: Bull charging right; E above, L•THORIVS below, BALBVS in exergue.
Crawford 316/1
From the JB (Edmonton) collection, acquired from Calgary Coin in 2000.

105 BCE was a momentous year for the Roman Republic. At the Battle of Arausio, Rome suffered its worst defeat since facing Hannibal when the aristocratic commander, Quintus Servilius Caepio, refused to serve under the consul and “new man” Gnaeus Mallius Maximus. This split the Roman forces and allowed the Cimbri to rout them; due to the disaster, Gaius Marius was immediately permitted to initiate his sweeping reforms of the legions, on the strength of his recent victory in Numidia (with his future enemy Sulla as his lieutenant). (A footnote: this year the consuls offered the first state-sponsored gladiatorial matches at public games; previously they had been sponsored only privately, for funeral games.)

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Bidding

Price realized 75 CAD 4 bids
Starting price 45 CAD
The auction is closed.
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