Roman Empire AE Sestertius 27 BC AUGUSTUS, 27 BC-14 AD - TITUS QUINCTIUS CRISPINUS SULPICIANUS, triumvir monetalis - Rome vf+ à vf/xf

weight 22,52gr. | orichalcum Ø 37mm.

obv. CIVIS within oak-wreath, flanked by two laurel-branches,
OB above, SERVATOS below
translated ′for saving the citizens′
rev. Large S C, surrounded by the legend
T•QVINCTIVS•CRISPIN•SVLPICIAN•III•VIR•A•A•A•F•F
(translated Titus Quinctius Crispinus Sulpicianus Triumvir Auro, Argento,
Aere, Flando, Feriundo. Senatus Consultum = Titus Quinctius Crispinus
Sulpicianus, moneyer (Triumvir Monetalis) for the casting and striking
of gold, silver, and bronze coins. Decree of the senate.) The gens Quinctia, sometimes written Quintia, was a patrician family at ancient Rome. The nomen Quinctius is a patronymic surname based on the praenomen Quintus, which must have belonged to an ancestor of the gens. The spelling Quintius is common in later times, but Quinctius is the ancient and more correct form, which occurs on coins and in the Fasti Capitolini. The only surname that occurs on coins is that of Crispinus Sulpicianus, which is found on coins struck in the time of Augustus. The Quinctia gens was one of the Alban houses removed to Rome by Tullus Hostilius, and enrolled by him among the patricians. It was consequently one of the minores gentes. Throughout the history of the Republic, its members often held the highest offices of the state, and it produced some men of importance even during the imperial period. For the first forty years after the expulsion of the kings the Quinctii are not mentioned, and the first of the gens who obtained the consulship was Titus Quinctius Capitolinus Barbatus in 471 BC but from that year their name constantly appears in the Fasti consulares. As with other patrician families, in later times there were also plebeian Quinctii. Some of these may have been the descendants of freedmen of the gens, or of patrician Quinctii who had voluntarily gone over to the plebs. There may also have been unrelated persons who happened to share the same nomen. Plinius the Elder relates that it was the custom in the Quinctia gens for even the women not to wear any ornaments of gold. Crispinus Sulpicianus was of Patrician descent from the Quinctia gens, and he was either the biological son of a Sulpicius who was adopted by a Titus Quinctius (otherwise unknown), or the son of a Titus Quinctius and a Sulpicia. Crispinus Sulpicianus′ career is largely unknown by 18 BC he was a triumvir monetalis, and in 9 BC, he was elected consul, serving alongside Augustus′ stepson Nero Claudius Drusus. During his consulship, he secured passage of the lex Quinctia, which provided penalties for damage to aqueducts. It was also during his consulship that the Ara Pacis was inaugurated in the Campus Martius. Velleius Paterculus characterized Crispinus Sulpicianus as "useless and defiant", and accused him of “unique depravity disguised by forbidding eyebrows”. A supporter of Iullus Antonius, he was accused of being one of the lovers of Julia the Elder and was either banished from Rome or executed in 2 BC as a result. It is speculated that Crispinus Sulpicianus had adopted a Valerius, who became Titus Quinctius Crispinus Valerianus, suffect consul in AD 2.
On the reverse of this coin the Corona Civica (civic crown) is depicted. The Corona Civica was originally a military honour bestowed upon a Roman who had saved a fellow citizen′s life in battle. It was one of the greatest public honours. It harkens back to the declarations of gratitude conferred on Augustus in 27 BC, when the senate awarded him the corona civica (civic wreath or crown) and the clipeus virtutis (shield of valour). In the imperial era the honour developed from a coveted military decoration into an imperial emblem granted by the Senate to the emperor. The wreath was made of oak leaves and is sometimes called a corona quercea after the common name for the oak. Plutarch believed the oak was chosen for this highest of honours for several reasons. The tree was easily found throughout the countryside and was quite convenient for fashioning a wreath when the need arose. Also, the oak is sacred to Jupiter and Juno and thus was an appropriate symbolic honour given to one who has saved the life of a fellow Roman citizen. Finally, the early settlers of  Rome, the Arcadians, were  nicknamed ′acorn-eaters′ in an oracle of Apollo. All the coins minted by Crispinus Sulpicianus are rare. Sestertii are rarely offered. This specimen also shows us a reverse legend that has not been published in the relevant reference literature. Of the greatest rarity, possibly unique. Cohen - (cf. 510) | RIC - (cf. 328-329) |
BMC - (cf. 181) | Sear - (cf. 1654) RRRR
Exceptionaly well-struck and complete for the type.
vf+ à vf/xf

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