Lot 1858
Sextus Pompey, d. 35 BC. Gold Aureus (8.39g), minted in Sicily, c. 42 BC. Bare head right of Sextus Pompey within oak wreath. Reverse: Confronted bare heads of Pompey the Great and Gnaeus Pompey, lituus and tripod in fields. Cr. 511/1; Syd. 1346; Calicó 71; Kent-Hirmer 102 (same obverse die). A little double-struck in left field on obverse; excellent portraits which are remarkably detailed. An extremely rare and historically important issue. NGC graded Uncirculated. Our grade is Nearly Mint State.
Sextus Pompey was the youngest son of Pompey the Great; the older brother of Sextus, named Gnaeus, is portrayed on the reverse of this coin, at right. Papa (Pompey the Great, so named for his many victories, first at his victorious African campaign of 81 BC) is depicted on the left of the reverse. There are not too many Roman coins which picture three individuals, but here we're trying to create a dynasty. While Pompey the Great was a partner in the first triumvirate with Crassus and Julius Caesar, he later fought against Caesar in the Civil War and was killed in Egypt by Ptolemy XIII. After numerous battles, Sextus was executed, without benefit of trial, at Miletus. Earlier, the elder brother Gnaeus was also executed.
There were comparatively few gold aureus emissions minted during the Republican and Imperatorial periods, with this being one of the most desired.
Estimated Value $50,000 - 75,000.
Ex Millennia Sale, lot 73; illustrated in Money of the World, coin 32.
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