Description
Gnaeus Cornelius Cn.f. Lentulus Clodianus, Moneyers of the Roman Republic, Silver Denarius (3.51g, 16.5mm), struck at Rome 88 BC. Obverse: Helmeted Bust of Mars wearing Corinthian helmet, seen from behind with head turned right, spear over left shoulder and parazonium over right shoulder, denomination mark below chin. Reverse: Victoria commanding biga to right, holding reins in left hand and wreath in right hand raised, “CN·LENTV[L]”. Sear-254; RSC Cornelia-50. A commendable example, fairly well centred with only one letter of the moneyer’s name off flan, and some nice underlying blue steel toning to obverse. About Very Fine.
The Nomen Cornelia was one of the greatest patrician houses of ancient Rome, producing many prominent statsmen and generals than any other gens between the early decades of the Roman Republic to the third century AD – as an example, at least 75 consuls under during the Republic were Cornelii, beginning with Servius Cornelius Maluginensis in 485 BC. Although a few of the smaller family groups were part of the Plebeian class, such as the Balbus and Gallus Cognomen, the majority of the Cornelii were Patrician and amongst the gentes maiores, or major gentes, as opposed to the gentes minores, or minor gentes. They were amongst other notable Roman families, which for centuries dominated the Republican magistracies, such as the Aemilii, Claudii, Fabii, Manlii, and Valerii. Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Clodianus was a prominent Cornelii member and a Roman politician and general – of note, he served as one of the two Republican Consuls in 72 BC along with Lucius Gellius and was one of the consular generals who led Roman legions against the slave armies of Spartacus in the Third Servile War.