Sextus Pompeius Magnus Pius. 43–35 BC.

Sextus Pompeius Magnus Pius. 43–35 BC. AE As (33 mm, 22.35 g, 11 h). Uncertain mint in Sicily, circa 43–36 BC. Obv. MAGN, laureate janiform head of Pompeius Magnus. Rev. PIVS / IMP, prow of galley right. Babelon (Pompeia) 20; Crawford 479/1; CRI 336; Sydenham 1044a; RBW 1675.

An impressive and well preserved specimen, struck on a broad flan, with an exceptionally fine janiform portrait. Issued during Sextus Pompey’s control of Sicily and the western seas, this powerful bronze as is among the most distinctive issues of the late Republican period. The obverse presents a janiform portrait of Pompey the Great, an emphatic evocation of ancestral authority deliberately employed by Sextus to legitimise his position as heir to the Pompeian cause. The unusual double headed format, paired with the legend MAGN, elevates the memory of Pompey as a perpetual presence and a symbol of continuity in opposition to the Caesarian regime. The reverse type, a galley prow, directly proclaims Sextus Pompey’s naval supremacy. From his Sicilian base he commanded a formidable fleet, disrupted Rome’s grain supply, and styled himself as both Pius, in loyal devotion to his father’s memory, and Imperator, asserting autonomous military command. The clarity and confidence of the imagery reflect the high point of Sextus’ power, before his eventual defeat by Agrippa and Octavian. Large bronzes of this series were intended for regional circulation and were struck with particular care, often on generous flans. The present example, notable for its strong strike and refined portraiture, stands as a compelling numismatic statement of the last great Pompeian challenge to the emerging imperial order.