Pompey’s “Victory”

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 626. Estimate $2500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $3250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Sextus Pompey. 38-37 BC. AR Denarius (3.61 g, 4h). Uncertain Sicilian mint. MAG PIVS IMP ITER, the Pharos of Messana, surmounted by statue of Neptune standing right, holding trident in right hand and rudder in left, left foot on prow; in foreground, galley left; aquila on prow; scepter, trident, and grappling-iron in stern / PRÆF CLAS ET ORÆ MARIT EX SC, the monster Scylla left, her torso of dogs and fishes, wielding a rudder as a club with both hands. Crawford 511/4a; CRI 335; Sydenham 1348; Kestner 3785; BMCRR Sicily 18-19; RSC 2. Good VF, deeply toned, iridescent highlights, a few light marks beneath tone. Exceptional centering for this issue.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group XXXIII (15 March 1995), lot 668.

It seems beyond doubt that this coin marks Pompey's "victory" over Octavian's fleet, which was mainly accomplished by an unfavorable wind that drove the latter's ships onto the rocks known as Scylleum near the harbor of Messana. Therefore the dates given for this issue in RSC and Crawford (42-40 BC) too early; the disaster at Messana occured circa 38 BC.