Ancient Coin of the Day: An absolute bloody stunner!

A silver denarius of Sextus Pompey from his mint on Sicily, ca. 42-40 BC. The Obverse design highlights the Pharos of Messana, while the Reverse is dominated by a Scylla wielding a rudder. #ACOTD #Roman

Image: RRC 511/4a

This is a bloody gorgeous coin and one that is packed with socio-historical messaging for the late Republic, and the final design minted by Sextus Pompey on Sicily. The Obverse features the Legend MAG(nus)·PIVS·IMP(erator)·ITER(um) – ‘Pompey the Great and Pious, Commander Again’.

The Legend shows the adoption by Pompey of the agnomen of his father, with the addition of ‘PIUS’, which had links to an earlier form of his coinage from 45 BC, where the idea of piety was inherently tied to the idea of being a good son.

Image: RRC 477/2

The Obverse also marks the official Republican position of Sextus Pompey at this point, as Prefect of the Fleet; his naval authority being marked by the warship and statue of Neptune atop the Pharos.

But it's the Reverse that shines here, with a glorious representation of Scylla and a Legend that again speaks of Pompey's official position:

PRAEF(ectus)·CLAS(ssis)·ET·OR[AE·MARIT(ae)·EX·S(enatus)·C(onsultum)] - 'Prefect of the Fleet and the Sea Coast, by decree of the Senate'

The design here is a deliberate commemoration of the events of 42 BC, where a fleet sent out by Octavian to attack Pompey - under the command of Quintus Salvidienus Rufus - was wrecked by a storm at the straits of the promontory of Scyllaeum (Appian, Civil War 4.85).

This forced the Second Triumvirate to recognise Pompey's position and significance in the Treaty of Brundisium in 40 BC. Following Pompey's flexing his muscles in 38 BC a second fleet was dispatched against him which was again wrecked off Scyllaeum!

Truly Pompey must have seemed blessed by Neptune! This may account for Pliny the Elder's claim (NH 9.55) that he "adopted Neptune as his father, so glorious were his naval exploits".

For more on Pompey's coinage, see:

Evans, Jane DeRose. “THE SICILIAN COINAGE OF SEXTUS POMPEIUS (CRAWFORD 511).” Museum Notes (American Numismatic Society), vol. 32, 1987, pp. 97–157.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/43573628 

#ACOTD #Roman