Silver Denarius of L. Cornelius Sulla, Italy
Title
Silver Denarius of L. Cornelius Sulla, Italy
Subject
Coinage--Rome
Description
Obv. bust of Roma r.; in front MANLI; behind PROQ; vague border of dots
Rev. triumphal quadriga marching r.; below [L] SVLLA IM[P]
Weight: 4.0g
Diameter: 16.3mm
Sulla held various political and military offices in the Roman Republic, during which time he attracted the jealousy of Marius, a commander. In 88 BCE, Sulla was elected consul and given command against Mithradates VI by the Senate. However, Marius ended up becoming commander instead due to his connection to tribune Sulpicius. Sulla marched into Rome and killed Sulpicius, but Marius escaped. Sulla campaigned against Mithradates, and by 86 had captured Athens and in 85 made Mithradates a vassal of Rome. While he was away in Greece, he had become a public enemy in Rome and was replaced by Flaccus in his command of Asia, though Flaccus was soon killed by his own lieutenant. Sulla marched on Rome again, this time alongside Crassus and Pompey, against Carbo and Marius. He won in 82 with victory at the Colline Gate, a victory which was followed by mass proscriptions. Sulla was appointed dictator without time limit under the Lex Valeria and introduced many reforms to reassert the power of the Senate. In 79, he retired suddenly and moved to Campania, where he wrote his memoirs. He died of a fever in 78.
Rev. triumphal quadriga marching r.; below [L] SVLLA IM[P]
Weight: 4.0g
Diameter: 16.3mm
Sulla held various political and military offices in the Roman Republic, during which time he attracted the jealousy of Marius, a commander. In 88 BCE, Sulla was elected consul and given command against Mithradates VI by the Senate. However, Marius ended up becoming commander instead due to his connection to tribune Sulpicius. Sulla marched into Rome and killed Sulpicius, but Marius escaped. Sulla campaigned against Mithradates, and by 86 had captured Athens and in 85 made Mithradates a vassal of Rome. While he was away in Greece, he had become a public enemy in Rome and was replaced by Flaccus in his command of Asia, though Flaccus was soon killed by his own lieutenant. Sulla marched on Rome again, this time alongside Crassus and Pompey, against Carbo and Marius. He won in 82 with victory at the Colline Gate, a victory which was followed by mass proscriptions. Sulla was appointed dictator without time limit under the Lex Valeria and introduced many reforms to reassert the power of the Senate. In 79, he retired suddenly and moved to Campania, where he wrote his memoirs. He died of a fever in 78.
Date
82 BCE
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