294, Lot: 570. Estimate $300. Sold for $600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Livineius Regulus. 42 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.43 g, 3h). Rome mint. Bare head of the praetor L. Livineius Regulus right / Gladiatorial scene: in foreground, lion charging right toward a combatant who spears it; in background on left, a wounded boar or bear sits right; on right, another gladiator, holding sword and shield, defends himself against a panther charging left. Crawford 494/30; CRI 179; Sydenham 1112; Livineia 12. VF, porous in areas, light scratches, minor graze on cheek.

From the Goldman Roman Imperatorial Collection.

This type represents 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 may be a bear. Pliny relates that Caesar introduced bear fights in the arena, the specialty of the Thessalians.