Gladitorial Scene

236, Lot: 441. Estimate $100. Sold for $160. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

L. Livineius Regulus. 42 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.61 g, 1h). Rome mint. Head of the praetor L. Livineius Regulus right / Gladiator in foreground spearing lion, another behind him spearing a panther, a wounded bear awaits. Crawford 494/30; CRI 179; Sydenham 1112; Livineia 12. Fine, toned, banker’s marks.

The type represent the responsibility of the praefectus urbi to provide public entertainment in the form of gladiatorial games. The wounded animal awaiting the attentions of the gladiators is usually identified as a boar, but the general view of better specimens suggests it is probably a bear. Pliny relates that Caesar introduced bear fights in the arena, the speciality of the Thessalians.