Roman Silver & Bronze Coins - Republic

Lot 4486    Session 17 (11:30am Friday)    Roman Silver & Bronze Coins - Republic

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $850

SEXTUS POMPEY, younger son of Pompey the Great, (died 35 B.C.), silver denarius, mint of Massilia, issued 44-43 B.C., (3.41 g), obv. bare head of Pompey the Great to right, NEPTVNI to left downwards, trident before, dolphin to right below, rev. Q NASIDIVS in exergue, galley under sail to right, star above, (S.1390, Cr.483/2, Sear Imperators 235, RSC 20, BMC Sicily 21). Cleaned, porous surface, good fine/very fine and very rare.

Ex Dr Adrian Carr Collection.

Quintus Nasidius was commander of Sextus' naval fleet while Sextus was in Masallia watching political events unfold further east. Coins of this issue do not bear the title "praefectus classis et orae maritimae" (commander-in-chief of the fleet and of the sea coasts) awarded to Sextus by the Senate in April 43 BC, indicating a prior striking date. They also do not bear Sextus' name, although the trident, dolphin, and legend NEPTVNI may refer to Sextus' naval superiority in the western Mediterranean.