373/1b. Anonymous (81 BC)

AR Quinarius (uncertain mint, 81 BC)

O/ Laureate head of Apollo right; I below chin.

R/ Victory right crowning trophy, control-mark C between them; ROMA in exergue.

1.43g

Crawford 373/1b (100 obverse dies/111 reverse dies, all varieties)

This anonymous issue reuses the reverse of the victoriatus, which had however not been used for a century. It was probably minted for military purpose at the end of the Civil War between Sulla and the Marianists. Crawford attributed it to a remnant of the Marianists as this type was found in several hoards in Northern Italy, where they were still active in 81. It could however have been minted by a legate of Sulla pursuing the Marianists.

The I below Apollo's chin looks like a control-mark, but according to Crawford it is simply an error of the engraver, as it only appears on one obverse die.

Collection : Roman Republic