L. Sulla and L. Manlius Torquatus. 82 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 4.03 g, 1h). Military mint moving with Sulla. Head of Roma right, wearing winged helmet, ornamented with griffin’s head, the visor in three pieces and peaked, single-pendant earring, and ornate necklace; PRO • Q to left, L • MANLI-I to right / Sulla, holding branch in right hand and reins in left, driving triumphal quadriga right; above, Victory flying left, crowing him with wreath; L • SVLLA • IMP in exergue. Crawford 367/3; Sydenham 759; Manlia 8; BMCRR East 13-15; Kestner 3171-3; RBW –. Lustrous with traces of iridescence, some die rust. Superb EF.
From the 1930’s Collection of Robert W. Hubel of Michigan.
As consul for the year 88 BC, Sulla was awarded the coveted assignment of suppressing the revolt of Mithradates VI of Pontus, but political maneuvers resulted in this assignment being transferred to Marius. In response, Sulla turned his army on Rome, captured it, and reclaimed his command against Mithradates. His prosecution of the first Mithradatic War was successful, but he spared the Pontic king for personal gain. In 83 BC, Sulla returned to Italy as an outlaw, but he was able to win the support of many of the leading Romans. Within a year he fought his way to Rome, where he was elected dictator. It was during this campaign to Rome that this denarius was struck. The reverse shows Sulla enjoying the highest military honor to which a Roman could aspire, the celebration of a triumph at Rome.
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