Res Publica Coin Gallery

Ancient coins in the collection of J.M., focused on the Roman Republic and related series. The attributions and information are all verified to the best of my ability but, if I have made a mistake, please leave a comment and I'll do my best to rectify it. For more information about the reference works listed, a bibliography is provided. Additionally, this site is made available purely for informational purposes and none of the coins are currently for sale.

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Home / The Conquests of Macedonia, Spain, Carthage and Greece and the lead-up to the Social War, 206 B.C.-92 B.C. /

Cr. 205/5 "P SVLA"(Publius Cornelius Sulla?) series Æ quadrans, 151 B.C., Rome mint

Cr205.5.jpg Cr. 205/1 P SVLA(Publius Cornelius Sulla) AR denarius, 151 B.C., Rome mintThumbnailsCr. 206/2 "SAFRA"(Spurius Afranius?) series Æ as, 150 BCCr. 205/1 P SVLA(Publius Cornelius Sulla) AR denarius, 151 B.C., Rome mintThumbnailsCr. 206/2 "SAFRA"(Spurius Afranius?) series Æ as, 150 BCCr. 205/1 P SVLA(Publius Cornelius Sulla) AR denarius, 151 B.C., Rome mintThumbnailsCr. 206/2 "SAFRA"(Spurius Afranius?) series Æ as, 150 BCCr. 205/1 P SVLA(Publius Cornelius Sulla) AR denarius, 151 B.C., Rome mintThumbnailsCr. 206/2 "SAFRA"(Spurius Afranius?) series Æ as, 150 BCCr. 205/1 P SVLA(Publius Cornelius Sulla) AR denarius, 151 B.C., Rome mintThumbnailsCr. 206/2 "SAFRA"(Spurius Afranius?) series Æ as, 150 BC

Roman Republic Æ quadrans(7.29g, 21mm). "P SVLA" series(Publius Cornelius Sulla, moneyer), 151 B.C. Rome mint. Head of young Hercules right, wearing lion's skin headdress, ••• behind / P SVLA, prow of galley right with female head(Venus?) decorating prowstem, ••• below. ROMA below. Crawford 205/5; Sydenham 387c; Cornelia 5

Purchased from ManorCollections, eBay, 4/22/2018, ex E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection, Naville Numismatics Live Auction 38, 3/11/2018, lot 610(part of)

This quadrans comes from the P SVLA series, thought to have been struck by a Publius Cornelius Sulla, likely an uncle of the dictator whom most associate with the name "Sulla". Interestingly, this bronze is decorated with a small female head on the prow-stem. This decoration is on every one of this moneyer's bronze denominations(except possibly the unique sextans), but often disappears due to wear, corrosion or bad striking so is not always visible.

As far as the identity of the female head on the reverse, the moneyer unfortunately didn't give many hints but based on the affinity shown for Venus in the later coinage of the Cornelii Sullae and in particular of the dictator's coinage, Crawford suggests that this should also be interpreted as Venus. I tend to agree and have seen no convincing arguments to the contrary.

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