Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

Q. Thermus M.f. Silver Denarius (3.91 g), 103 BC. Rome. Head of Mars left, wearing crested helmet ornamented with plume on side. Reverse Q (THE)RM M F in exergue, Roman and barbarian soldiers fighting, each holding forth a shield and raising a sword, the Roman soldier on the left protecting a fallen comrade. Crawford 319/1; Sydenham 592; Minucia 19. Well struck and well centered with attractive light multi-color toning. Superb Extremely Fine.

It is likely that the reverse alludes to a specific event of martial prowess of one of the moneyer's ancestors, but if so the precise details have been lost to us. Perhaps it relates to Quintus Minucius Thermus, consul in 193 BC, who, according to Livy, distinguished himself fighting the Ligurians: "Before the consul Lucius Quinctius arrived in his province, Quintus Minucius, in the neighborhood of Pisa, met the Ligures in a pitched battle; he killed nine thousand of the enemy, routed and put to flight the rest and drove them into their camp" (Livy XXXV, 21.7-8). However, he was not awarded a triumph by the Senate for this campaign, although earlier he had received one for fighting the Iberians near Turdo in Spain.
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,200.
Ex Heritage 3019 (4 April 2012), 23256; M&M Deutschland 9 (4-5 October 2001), 438.