Q. ANTONIUS BALBUS (83-82 BC)

"Civil War" Quintus Antonius Balbus was a member of Marius' faction and was elected praetor of Sardinia in 83 BCE. However, before departing for Sardinia, the Senate ordered him to take silver from temple treasuries and mint denarii to fund the armies gathering to oppose Sulla's return to Rome. The idea of a praetor being tasked with minting denarii might seem unusual, but it reflects the chaos engulfing Rome at the time.

Unfortunately for Quintus, his tenure as praetor in Sardinia proved to be his last. Balbus' army was defeated by Sulla's legate, L. Philippus, and Balbus himself was killed. Sulla emerged victorious, and the Victoria depicted on the reverse of Balbus’ denarius turned out to be a false hope.