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DR-918 | Crawford: 546/6
Gaius Octavius / Lucius Pinarius Scarpus
Gaius Octavius / Lucius Pinarius Scarpus


Gens: Julia / Pinaria
Moneyer: Gaius Octavius / Lucius Pinarius Scarpus
Date and mint: 31 BC - ?


Obverse: Open right hand. Dotted border.
Legend: IMP CAESARI SCARPVS IMP

Reverse: Victoria over globe, right, holding crown tied with fillet in right hand and palm branch over left shoulder with left hand. Dotted border.
Legend: DIVI F AVG PONT

Comment: According to Crawford, this coin represents the last denarius of the Roman Republic. Lucius Pinarius Scarpus commanded four legions of Mark Antony in Cyrenaica against Octavian's African army, which was under the command of Cornelius Gallus. After learning of Antony's defeat at Actium, Scarpus switched his allegiance to Octavian. This question was raised shortly after the Battle of Actium, and the open hand indicated a gesture of friendship towards Octavian.

Provenance: Numismatica Ars Classica (2019)
Price: 9,660
546/6
546/6
Image courtesy of: Numismatica Ars Classica

Other references

Crawford: 546/6
DR: 918
BMCRR (Grueber): Cyrenaica 5
B (Babelon): Pinaria 12 Julia 142
RSC (Seaby): Octavio 500, 500a
FFC (Fdez., Fdez., Calicó): Octavio y L. Pinarius 320, 321
RC / RCV (D. Sear): 1554
CRI (Sear Imperators) 49 - 27 BC: 413
CRR (Sydenham): 1282
Cal (Calicó): 1099, 1100
RBW: 1855
Other authors: Cohen 500

Read the article about catalogues of Roman Republican coinage on our blog