Obolos 18

The Republicans. Cn. Domitius L.f. Ahenobarbus, 41 BC. Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 3.69 g, 6 h), uncertain mint moving with Ahenobarbus. AHENOBAR Lighlty bearded male head to right. Rev. CN.DOMITIVS.IMP Trophy on prow to right. Babelon (Domitia) 21. Crawford 519/2. CRI 339. Sydenham 1177. Lightly toned. A couple of small scratches on the obverse, otherwise, very fine.

From the Trausnitz Collection, acquired prior to 2007.

Exactly who the portrait on this coin is supposed to represent is uncertain: obviously an ancestor of Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, a rather piratical character. He had been a supporter of Pompey and was pardoned by Caesar, but became a partisan of Brutus, fleeing with him to Macedonia. While the conspirator’s army was defeated at Philippi, the fleet under Cn. Domitius won a signal victory over the ships of the Second Triumvirate. Reconciled with Antony, he became one of his generals and ultimately received the consulship of 32 BC, but was forced to flee Rome when Octavian and Antony went to war. He did not approve of Cleopatra and after remonstrating with Antony, defected to Octavian. He seems to have died naturally shortly thereafter, even before Actium.