Nomos 19

L. Staius Murcus, 42-41 BC. Denarius (Silver, 20 mm, 3.35 g, 1 h), mint traveling with Murcus in the area of the Ionian Sea. Bearded head of Neptune to right, trident over his far shoulder. Rev. MVRCVS IMP On the right, bareheaded soldier (Murcus?) standing left, clasping his right hand with the right hand of a female figure (Roma?), on the left, kneeling to right; behind them both, military trophy. Babelon (Statia) 1. Crawford 510/1. CRI 337. RBW 1782. Sydenham 1315. Extremely rare. Finely toned, an unusually well-struck example of a coin normally found both poorly made and badly preserved. Nearly extremely fine.

From a Swiss collection, formed in the last century.

Lucius Staius Murcus came from a family of Marsian origin - perhaps based in Sulmona, east of Rome. He first appears as a legate of Caesar's in 48 BC, during the war against the Pomepeians; by 44 Caesar had appointed him governor of Syria. When Caesar was murdered M joined the assassins, campaigning with success against the Caesarians. He also became a very competent fleet commander: on the same day as the first battle of Philippi, M destroyed the fleet of Domitius Calvinus, who was attempting to bring reinforcements to Antony and Octavian. However, after the final defeat of the Republicans at Philippi, M subsequently, in 41, fled with his fleet to Sextus Pompey in Sicily. Falling prey to internal feuding among Sextus Pompey's officer, M was executed in early 39.