Scarpus Offers Friendship to Octavian

277, Lot: 206. Estimate $500. Sold for $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

The Triumvirs. Octavian. Autumn 31 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.46 g, 12h). Cyrene mint. L. Pinarius Scarpus, moneyer. Open hand / Victory standing right on globe, holding palm frond over left shoulder in left hand, and wreath tied with fillet in extended right hand. Crawford 546/6; CRI 413; Sydenham 1282; RIC I 534; RSC 500. Fine, lightly toned, banker’s mark on obverse.

L. Pinarius Scarpus had been appointed by Antony to command his four legions in Cyrenaica against Octavian's African army, under the command of Cornelius Gallus. After learning of Antony's defeat at Actium, Scarpus transferred his allegiance to Octavian. This issue was struck shortly after the battle of Actium, the open hand signaling a gesture of friendship toward Octavian.