Roman Republic, Italy. C. Allius Bala, Rome, c. 92 BC, AR Denarius, 3.82g (16mm, 9h).

Female head r., wearing diadem; behind, BALA downwards. Border of dots / Diana in biga of stags r., holding sceptre and reins in l. hand and torch in r. hand, with quiverr over shoulder; below turtle; in exergue C.ALLI. Laurel wreath border

Pedigree: Ex NAC G, Zürich 1997, lot 1305 and Ex Marti Hervera & Soler y Llach 1122, Madrid 2021, lot 37

References: RRSC Vol 2 Moretti D134c, Bab 4, BMC -, Craw 336/1 c, Syd 595

Grade: Slightly porous surfaces but a great strike. EF

Price: $1750

rr1233

Nothing is really known of this Republican moneyer as is common. The denarii of the Roman Republic is largely anonymous excluding a few notables during the imperatorial time period such as Labienus or Brutus or Pompey. We can instead turn to what was happening in the Roman world at the time this coin was struck in order to assemble a historical context. In c. 92 BC Lucius Cornelius Sulla, known as Sulla, was at the forefront of Roman politics and battles. During this year he assembled an envoy and met with the Parthians to recognize the Euphrates as a common frontier between the two warring groups. Sulla also defeated Tigranes from Armenia from Cappadocia.