116, Lot: 186. Estimate $200. Sold for $360. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

OCTAVIAN. 41 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.61 g). L. Cornelius Balbus, propraetor. Military mint traveling with Octavian in Italy. Bare head of Octavian right / Club. Crawford 518/1; CRI 298; Sydenham 1325a; RSC 417. Fine, toned, obverse banker's mark. Scarce type.

From the Tony Hardy Collection.

Lucius Cornelius Balbus was a native of the Spanish city of Gades, and he was a friend of both Pompey and Caesar. Following the assassination of Caesar, he supported Octavian and as a result was rewarded with the consulship in 40 BC, the first foreign-born citizen to hold this position. This coin was issued when Balbus was propraetor in 41 BC. The club of Hercules on the back makes reference to his home of Gades.