Lot 4407

Description

Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, (128 B.C.), silver denarius, Rome Mint, (3.85 g) obv. head of Roma right helmeted, below chin *, and ear of corn behind, dotted border, rev. Victory in biga right above ROMA, a man attacking a lion below, in exergue CN. DOM, (S.137, C.261/1, Syd 514, BMC 1025, RSC Domitia 14). Toned, very fine and rare.

Ex Dr V.J.A. Flynn Collection and previously from Noble Numismatics Sale 107 (lot 3570) and also coming from an old Hungarian collection, earlier from the C. Pitchfork Collection and that from Mark Vincenzi, England, October 2, 1978.
The moneyer is either a Cn. Domitius Calvinius or Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, but is generally regarded as the latter. The reverse relates to the defeat in 121 B.C. of the Gallic tribes under Bituitus by the moneyer's father. In this engagement Bituitus is said to have sent packs of enormous hounds against the Roman soldiers in order to frighten them.