| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 143 | Auction date: 7 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 268 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: The Dioscuri Collection. The Roman Republic. Q. Pomponius Musa. Denarius 66, AR 17 mm, 4.31 g. Laureate head of Apollo r.; behind, lyre key. Rev. Q·POMPONI – MVSA Calliope standing r., playing lyre resting on column. Babelon Pomponia 10. Sydenham 812. RBW –. Crawford 410/2b. Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. Light iridescent tone and good extremely fine Ex NAC 7, 1994, 610 and NAC 73, 2013, Student and his Mentor, 140 sales. This denarius belongs to a larger series struck by Q. Pomponius Musa featuring the head of Apollo on the obverse and the nine Muses or Hercules Musarum on the reverse. All of these types serve as visual puns on the cognomen of the moneyer. Apollo was the leader of the Muses, nine minor goddesses who presided over literature and the arts-particularly music and poetry and who judged the deadly music contest between the god and Marsyas. The Muse Calliope (literally meaning, "Beautiful-Voiced") is depicted on the reverse of this piece. Her province was that of epic poetry and general eloquence. In addition to her fame as the voice of inspiration behind such poetic luminaries as Homer and Virgil, Calliope was also the mother of Orpheus and Linus, two of the greatest mythological singers of all time. The song of Orpheus was so beautiful and powerful that it could defeat the enchantment of the Sirens' voices and soften the heart of Hades. Linus was the inventor of lyric song and was so appreciated by the gods that Hephaestus sang his music while engraving the shield of Achilles. Unfortunately, he came to a bad end when he taught music to Hercules. After criticising his form one too many times, the hero took his master's harp and killed him with it. Estimate: 1500 CHF |  |
