Lot 225: Q. Minucius M.f. Thermus. 103 B.C. AR denarius. Rome.

Q. Minucius M.f. Thermus. 103 B.C. AR denarius (18 mm, 3.85 g, 5 h). Rome. Helmeted head of Mars left / Q · (TH)ERM · (MF), two warriors fighting, the one on the left protects fallen comrade, the other wears horned helmet. Crawford 319/1; Sydenham 592; Minucia 19. Lightly toned. Very 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 B.C., 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.

• Offered By: Barry P. Murphy
• Lot #: 225
• Listing #: 174233
• Closed: Friday, June 21, 2019 5:14:40 PM CT
• Estimate: $100