Lot 4752

Description

Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus, (c.76-75 B.C.), silver denarius, uncertain Spanish mint, (3.99 g), obv. Genius of the Roman People with diadem, draped bust to right, sceptre on shoulder and G.P.R. above, rev. EX SC divided by globe between rudder and sceptre, CN. LEN. Q below, (S.323, Cr.393/1a, Syd.752, B.Cornelia 54). Brilliant, with full mint bloom, good extremely fine and rare.

Ex Dr. Adrian Carr Collection, previously from Harlan J. Berk Ltd. with their ticket.
This is a very interesting issue, struck to pay Pompey's troops during one of his campaigns in Spain in 76 B.C. Cn. Lentulus struck in Spain in his capacity as questor to the proconsul Pompey, who had been sent to the peninsula to assist Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius in the protracted war against Sertorius. (see also Sydenham, p. 122, #752).