Melpomene — Muse of Tragedy

Triton XX, Lot: 531. Estimate $500. Sold for $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Q. Pomponius Musa. 56 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 4.01 g, 2h). Rome mint. Laureate head of Apollo right; scepter to left / Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy, wearing long flowing tunic and peplum and sword, standing left, holding club set on ground in right hand and mask in left; Q • POMPONI downward to right, [M]VSA downward to left. Crawford 410/4; Sydenham 816; Pomponia 14; Kestner 3378; BMCRR Rome 3515; RBW 1486. Good VF, deep iridescent toning.

From the Archer M. Huntington Collection, ANS 1001.1.22566.