Lot 3129
L. Furius Cn.f. Brocchus. Silver Denarius (3.7 g), 63 BC. Rome. BROCCHI below, III VIR across field above, draped bust of Ceres right, wreathed with grain ears, lock of hair falling down neck; in fields, grain ear to left, barley corn to right. Reverse: L FVRI/CN F in two lines above, curule chair between two fasces. Crawford 414/1; Sydenham 902a; Furia 23a. Delicately toned. Extremely Fine.
The obverse possibly relates to a family history where an ancestor served as aedile of the grain supply, the cura annonae, or it may just reflect the moneyer's populist political philosophy. At the time this coin was struck, Catiline's conspiracy was secretly developing, only to be exposed and crushed the following year during Cicero's consulship. Although grain shortage was not one of the social causes of the Catiline conspiracy as outlined by Cicero - remember that Pompey had cleared the Mediterranean of the pirate menace in the early 60s BC and thus the grain supply had been secured - after the revelation of the plot, Cato proposed a grain measure extending the dole to include Rome's poor. Obviously, then, even though supply was plentiful, it was a source of discontent for the many urban plebs who were not benefitting from free distribution, and perhaps it was this mood that Brocchus was attempting to exploit by his choice of types on this coin.
Estimated Value $400 - 500.
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| Realized $517 |
