Finely Detailed Venatio

CNG 108, Lot: 521. Estimate $2000. Sold for $4000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Moneyer issues of Imperatorial Rome. L. Livineius Regulus. 42 BC. AR Denarius (17mm, 4.08 g, 3h). Rome mint. Bare head right / Venatio scene: in foreground, lion charging right toward a bestiarius who spears it; in background on left, a wounded bear sits right; on right, another bestiarius, holding sword and shield, defends himself against a tiger charging left. Crawford 494/30; CRI 179; Sydenham 1112; Livineia 12; RBW 1735. EF, attractively toned, a little off center, minor flaw on obverse. Rare, particularly with such a detailed reverse.

From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex Eucharius Collection (Roma XI, 7 April 2016), lot 706 (hammer £2800).

This popular type depicts a venatio, a contest between bestiarii and various animals. Such activities served as the morning entertainment during a day at the games, with the “main event” – the gladiatorial contests – taking place in the afternoon.