Roman Republic - AR Denarius, L. Manlius Torquatus for L.
Are you interested in this item?This item is up for auction at Catawiki. Please click on "respond to advert" (orange button) to get redirected to the Catawiki website. Catawiki’s goal is to make special objects universally available. Our weekly auctions feature thousands of unusual, rare, and exceptional objects you won’t find in just any store. L. Manlius Torquatus for L. Cornelius Sulla Felix. AR Denarius, mint moving with Sulla, 82 BC.Obv: Helmeted head of Roma r.; before, L MANLI; behind, [PRO] Q, Rev: Triumphator, crowned by flying Victory, in quadriga r., holding reins and caduceus; in ex. L SVLLA IM. Ref: Crawford ; Manlia 4, Cornelia 39; Sydenham 757. Lustrous, near extremely fine. Rare in this conditionAs consul for the year 88 BC, Sulla was awarded the coveted assignment of suppressing the revolt of Mithradates VI of Pontus, but political maneuvers resulted in this assignment being transferred to Marius. In response, Sulla turned his army on Rome, captured it, and reclaimed his command against Mithradates. His prosecution of the first Mithradatic War was successful, but he spared the Pontic king for personal gain. In 83 BC, Sulla returned to Italy as an outlaw, but he was able to win the support of many of the leading Romans. Within a year he fought his way to Rome, where he was elected dictator. It was during this campaign to Rome that this denarius was struck. The obverse type represents Sulla's claim to be acting in Rome's best interest. The reverse shows Sulla enjoying the highest honor to which a Roman could aspire, the celebration of a triumph at Rome.See images for a proper impression. Read more