354/1. Licinia - denarius (84 BC)

AR Denarius (Rome, 84 BC)

O/ Diademed bust of Vejovis l., seen from behind, hurling thunderbolt. Banker's mark "V" on l. shoulder.

R/ C LICINIVS L F/MACER in exergue. Minerva in quadriga r., hurling spear and holding shield.

Crawford 354/1 (250 obverse dies/278 reverse dies)

3.25g

Gaius Licinius Macer (c.110-66 BC):

Macer belonged to the illustrious plebeian gens Licinia. He was the son of an unknown Lucius Licinius Macer (as mentioned on this coin) and the father of Gaius Licinius Calvus, a famous orator at the time.

Macer is principally known as a historian who wrote a massive History of Rome, now integrally lost. It seems that this work was well-documented, especially on the Monarchy and the earliest times of the Republic. Livy often quotes him as he liked his knowledge, but thought that Macer's work was sometimes dubious because he tried to improve the role of the Licinii in Roman History (VII, 9). It was not unusual at the time to see politicians writing history -- for example, Gaius Sempronius Tuditanus (Consul in 129 BC) or Gnaeus Gellius (moneyer in 138 BC) also told the History of Rome.

Apart from his scholarly works, Macer had an interesting political career, since he was appointed Quaestor in 78 BC, Tribune of the Plebs in 73 BC, and finally Praetor in 68 BC. He naturally became Propraetor at the end of his praetorship, but Cicero successfully accused him of embezzlement soon after. In order to avoid shaming the rest of his family, Macer committed suicide.

During his tribunate, Macer tried to restore the powers of the Tribunes of the Plebs, formerly removed by Sulla. The short gap in his career between 84 and 78 BC, during Sulla's prominence, and his impeachment by Cicero allow us to safely count Macer as a Popularis.

Sammlung : Roman Republic