L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus. 49 BC.

L. Cornelius Lentulus and C. Claudius Marcellus. 49 BC. Silver Denarius (19 mm, 3.68 g, 12 h). Military mint accompanying Pompey in the East. Obv. Triskeles with winged head of Medusa at center; between each leg, an ear of grain. Rev. COS / LENT - MAR, Jupiter standing front, head right, holding thunderbolt in right hand and eagle in left. Babelon (Cornelia) 64; (Claudia) 9; Crawford 445/1b; Sydenham 1029a; RBW 1562. Light scratches, otherwise very fine. From the Joseph Markowitz Collection (1897–1981), brought to Israel in 1949 and preserved in the family thereafter.

This denarius was struck by the consuls L. Cornelius Lentulus Crus and C. Claudius Marcellus, two of Pompey’s chief supporters, in the opening year of the civil war against Caesar. Produced by a travelling military mint following Pompey in the East, the issue reflects both martial symbolism and divine legitimation at a moment when the Roman world was dividing into rival camps. The obverse depicts the triskeles, a three-legged emblem long associated with Sicily but also a wider Mediterranean symbol of cyclical motion and divine power. At its center appears the winged head of Medusa, a potent apotropaic image signifying protection and the turning away of evil. The ears of grain placed between the legs may allude to abundance and the provisioning of Pompey’s forces, essential to his war effort. On the reverse, Jupiter, king of the gods, stands in commanding pose with thunderbolt and eagle, asserting divine sanction for Pompey’s cause and his leadership under the auspices of Rome’s supreme deity. The type proclaims both religious and political authority, positioning the senatorial faction as defenders of the res publica against Caesar’s perceived usurpation. A historically charged issue struck at the dawn of the civil war, combining vigorous design and strong symbolism that reflect the ideological contest between the rival leaders who would decide the fate of the Roman Republic.