Lot 2094

Description

Republic, Q. Sicinius and C. Coponius (49 B.C.), silver denarius, mint moving with Pompey, obv. head of Apollo to right hair tied with band, star below, Q. SICINIVS before, III VIR behind, rev. club upright on which hangs lion skin, arrow to left, bow to right, [C. COP]ONIVS to right, PR SC to left, (S.311, Cr. 444/1a, Syd. 939). Attractive even tone, extremely fine and scarce.

The moneyer Q. Sicinius had issued coins in Rome prior to Caesar's invasion of Italy in 49 B.C. On the Pompeian withdrawal to Greece, Sicinius accompanied the praetor C. Coponius, who was given command of the Rhodian portion of Pompey's fleet. This remarkable coinage, issued in the joint names of a Roman moneyer and a praetor urbanus, both of whom had fled Rome and technically vacated their offices, was evidently intended for the use of the fleet.