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.

Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is copyright J.M. and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Home / The Social War and the conflict of Marius and Sulla through the Imperatorial Period, 91 B.C.-27 B.C. /

Cr. 364/1d Quintus Antonius Balbus AR serrate denarius, 83-82 BC, Rome mint

Cr364.1d.JPG Cr. 363/1d L Marcius Censorinus AR Denarius,  82 BCThumbnailsCr. 368/1 L. Cornelius Sulla  Æ As, 82 BC, mint moving with SullaCr. 363/1d L Marcius Censorinus AR Denarius,  82 BCThumbnailsCr. 368/1 L. Cornelius Sulla  Æ As, 82 BC, mint moving with SullaCr. 363/1d L Marcius Censorinus AR Denarius,  82 BCThumbnailsCr. 368/1 L. Cornelius Sulla  Æ As, 82 BC, mint moving with SullaCr. 363/1d L Marcius Censorinus AR Denarius,  82 BCThumbnailsCr. 368/1 L. Cornelius Sulla  Æ As, 82 BC, mint moving with SullaCr. 363/1d L Marcius Censorinus AR Denarius,  82 BCThumbnailsCr. 368/1 L. Cornelius Sulla  Æ As, 82 BC, mint moving with SullaCr. 363/1d L Marcius Censorinus AR Denarius,  82 BCThumbnailsCr. 368/1 L. Cornelius Sulla  Æ As, 82 BC, mint moving with SullaCr. 363/1d L Marcius Censorinus AR Denarius,  82 BCThumbnailsCr. 368/1 L. Cornelius Sulla  Æ As, 82 BC, mint moving with Sulla

Roman Republic AR Denarius(18mm, 4.23g, 6h), Quintus Antonius Balbus, Praetor, 83-82 BC, Rome mint. Laureate head of Jupiter right; behind, S•C downwards. Border of dots / Victory in quadriga right, holding reins and palm-branch in left hand and wreath in right hand; in exerge Q•[ANT]O•B[AL]B PR. Border of dots. Crawford 364/1d; Russo RBW 1374; Antonia 1.

Ex London Ancient Coins auction 58, December 7 2016, lot 136

The Civil Wars of Marius and Sulla were a chaotic and violent period in Rome. Both the Marian and Sullan factions held the city of Rome at different times and with each change of control and military defeat came purges against the losing side. Many supporters of both sides lost their lives during this conflict including the individual responsible for the mintage of this coin.

Quintus Antonius Balbus was a member of the Marian faction and was appointed praetor of Sardinia in the elections of 83 BC. Before leaving for Sardinia, however, the Senate ordered him to take silver from the treasures of the temples(Valerius Maximus 7.6.4) and strike it into denarii to finance the armies that were being raised to resist the return of Sulla, including his own. The idea of a praetor(as opposed to a triumvir monetalis) being ordered to coin denarii might sound strange, but given the chaotic state of Rome at the time and the fact that the moneyer likely needed a large sum of money to finance his force in Sardinia, it makes sense that he might be required to oversee its mintage. Babelon even suggested that these denarii were minted in Sardinia, but Greuber in BMCRR points out that the good style and fabric of these denarii suggests the Rome mint and not a local mintage.

Unfortunately for Quintus, his command as praetor in Sardinia would be his last. His armies were defeated by Sulla's lieutenant-general L. Phillipus and he was evicted from his office and slain. Rome would also fall to Sulla's armies at the Battle of the Colline gate, and the much of the remainder of the Marian faction were either executed or slipped away from the city and went on the run.

0 comments

Add a comment