Crawford 295/1

Moneyer:  L. Torquatus, 113-112 BC.

Denomination: Denarius

Obverse: Head of Roma to right, wearing crested and winged helmet; behind, ROMA; to right, X (mark of value); all within torque (torkwes). 

Reverse: L•TORQVA / EX•S[enatus]•C[onsulto] Horseman galloping to left, holding spear in his right hand and shield in his left; to upper right,

Reference: Crawford 295/1

Mint: Rome

Weight: 3,94 g

Rare and desirable type in wonderful cabinet old tone. 

Notes: The thorque on the obverse alludes to the victory of the moneyer's ancestor - T. Manlius Imperiosus Torquatus over a Gaul and to his acquisition of his fallen enemy's torque and thereby the cognomen Torquatus; the bqattle was fought on foot and cannot be connected with the reverse type.  

Torc (torque) is a a neck ornament consisting of a band of twisted metal, worn especially by the ancient Gauls and Britons.

The torc on the obverse serves as a canting pun with the moneyer's cognomen. 

EX. S.C = routine coinage, although authorized by the Senate, bore no special mark. Only when an issue was separately authorised during the year was it marked with EX. S.C.

Collection : 16 Roman Republic