Gemini III, January 9th, 2007



                  Lot # 310 - Auction is closed.Estimate: US$4000 / Unsold: 
                  Available at opening bid of US$3500 + 15% Buyers Fee 
                  (M. Valerius) Messalla. Silver denarius 



             



            (M. Valerius) Messalla. Silver denarius (3.52 gm). Rome, 53 BC. 
            Helmeted bust of Roma right, spear over shoulder, MESSAL F before / 
            Curule chair, PATRE COS above, scepter and diadem below, S C on 
            either side. Crawford 435/1. Sydenham 934. RSC Valeria 13. A 
            fascinating type, and quite rare (R7 in Sydenham). About extremely 
            fine. 

            The reverse legend PATRE COS, meaning “in the consulship of my 
            father,” affords an unusually vivid glimpse at the nepotism endemic 
            in the late Republic. It also would provide a rare precise date for 
            a Republican coin, if only the consul in question could be 
            positively identified. There are three possibilities, whose year in 
            office ranged from 61 to 31 BC. The consensus, for divergent 
            reasons, is that the father of MESSAL F is Messala Rufus, consul in 
            53 BC. 




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  ... Lot 310 was unsold.
 


Re-used by permission of Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com) and
                         Freeman & Sear (www.freemanandsear.com)