Melpomene – Muse of Tragedy

439, Lot: 442. Estimate $300. Sold for $1100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.96 g, 12h). Rome mint. Laureate head of Apollo right; scepter to left / Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy, wearing long flowing tunic and peplum, standing right, wearing sword, holding club in right hand and tragic mask in left. Crawford 410/4; Sydenham 816; Pomponia 14. Good VF, toned with some iridescence, Melpomene’s face weakly struck.

From the Fay Beth Wedig Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 11 (29 April 1998), lot 253.