★ Impressive Claudius Marcellus' Portrait ★

P. Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus. AR Denarius, 50 BC. Obv. Bare head of consul M. Claudius Marcellus right; trisceles behind. Rev. MARCELLVS COS QVINQ. The consul carrying trophy in front of tetrastyle temple. Cr. 439/1; B. (Claudia) 11 and (Cornelia) 69. AR. 3.85 g. 17.50 mm. RR. Very rare. A choice example from masterly engraved dies, with a superb portrait. Brilliant and lightly toned, with golden hues. Good VF. This moneyer, presumably the quaestor of 48 BC, here honors his most famous ancestor, the holder of five consulships and one of the principal Roman heroes of the Second Punic War. The triskeles alludes to his conquest of Sicily in 212-210 BC, the spoils from which rescued the state from imminent bankruptcy. The reverse type commemorates his spolia opina, the arms won in 222 BC when, as consul, he slew an Insubrian chieftain with his own hands in the course of the Roman conquest of Cisalpine Gaul. (CNG 61, 2002, 1495 note).