Naval Superiority of Sextus Pompey
Sextus Pompey. 44-43 BC. AR Denarius (21mm, 3.99 g, 9h). Massilia (Marseilles) mint; Q. Nasidius, commander of the fleet. Bare head of Pompey the Great right; NEPTVNI to left, trident to right; below head, dolphin right / Quinquereme with five rowers, advancing right under full sail,
gubernator at stern, uncertain figure at prow; six-rayed star in upper left field; Q • NASIDIVS below. Crawford 483/2; CRI 235; Sydenham 1350; Kestner 3698; BMCRR Sicily 21-4; RSC 20 (Pompey the Great). EF, lustrous, reverse struck slightly off center. Bold portrait.
Quintus Nasidius was commander of Sextus' fleet while Sextus was in Massalia watching political events unfold further east. Coins of this issue do not bear the title praefectus classis et orae maritimae (commander-in-chief of the fleet and of the sea coasts) awarded to Sextus by the Senate in April 43 BC, indicating a prior striking date. They also do not bear Sextus' name, although the trident, dolphin, and legend NEPTVNI may refer to Sextus' naval superiority in the western Mediterranean.
