Sear, D.R., Roman Coins and their Values 5 vols (London, Spink, 2000-2014) 323; Crawford, M., Roman Republican Coinage 2 vols (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2011) 393/1a; Sydenham, E. A. The Coinage of the Roman Republic (London, Spink, 1952; (Sanford J. Durst repr. 1976) 752; Seaby, H.A., Roman Silver Coins (London, B.A. Seaby, 1967) Concordia 54.

1966.76

Denarius of Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus

3.819 g. 75-74 BC

Obv.: Male bust r., bearded, draped, diademed. Behind, a sceptre. Above, G(enius) P(opuli) R(omani). (Genius of the Roman People)

Rev.: Globe, between rudder to the right and sceptre (with wreath and fillet) to the left. In field, EX S(enatus) C(onsulto). In exergue, CN(aeus) LEN(tulus) Q(uaestor).

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus (later consul, in 56 BC) was quaestor c.74 BC. At this time Rome was engaged in warfare on several fronts (against Mithridates in the East, the pirates in the Mediterranean, and Sertorius in Spain), and this coin may be part of an issue specially commissioned by the senate to meet the costs of these campaigns. Crawford associates it with the campaign against Sertorius, thinking it may have been minted in Spain. The Genius was the guardian or fostering spirit of the Roman people, and is associated on coins of this time with the ‘trappings of domination’ (Crawford 409).

Sear, D.R., Roman Coins and their Values 5 vols (London, Spink, 2000-2014) 323; Crawford, M., Roman Republican Coinage 2 vols (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2011) 393/1a; Sydenham, E. A. The Coinage of the Roman Republic (London, Spink, 1952; (Sanford J. Durst repr. 1976) 752; Seaby, H.A., Roman Silver Coins (London, B.A. Seaby, 1967) Concordia 54.