326/1. Fundania (101 BC)

AR Denarius (Rome, 101 BC)

O/ Helmeted head of Roma right; control-mark behind.

R/ Triumphator in quadriga right, holding laurel-branch and staff; rider holding laurel-branch on near horse; Q above; C FVNDAN in exergue.

3.97g; 18mm

Crawford 326/1 (57 obverse dies/71 reverse dies)

- Acquired from Münzen und Medaillen AG in Basel prior to 1975.

- Collection of Walter Friedrich Stoecklin, Amriswil, Switzerland.  W. F. Stoecklin was the second member of a dynasty of coin collectors based in Switzerland (see their story here).

- Obolos 9, lot 42.

Gaius Fundanius C.f.:

Fundanius belonged to a minor plebeian gens.  He was possibly the grandson of Marcus Fundanius, Tribune of the Plebs in 195 BC.  As mentioned on his denarii, he was Quaestor in 101 and seems to have been a great supporter of the Consul Gaius Marius, since he pictured him on the reverse of this denarius as triumphator, for his victories against the Cimbri and Teutons.  It was the first time a living Roman was depicted on a coin, hitherto a great offence, as personal ambition could not be displayed so blatantly.  

Fundanius' son Gaius was Tribune of the Plebs in 68, and the father-in-law of Varro.  Syme¹ thought that C. Fundanius C.f mentioned as senator in 81² was our moneyer's son, but he would have been too young at this date, so the senator must be the same as the moneyer.  Moreover, this senator was a witness to a decree of Sulla, therefore with some experience.  Perhaps Syme considered that since the moneyer supported Marius he would have been caught in Sulla's proscriptions, but there are twenty years between this denarius and the decree -- plenty of time to shift allegiance.

1. Ronald Syme, JRS  53, 1963.

2. Robert K. Sherk, Rome and the Greek East to the Death of Augustus, Cambridge, 1984, p.75-78.

Sammlung : Roman Republic