Servius Sulpicius AR Denarius. Rome, 51 BC. Laureate male head right; SER• behind, SVLP before / Naval trophy, naked and bound captive at right, draped figure looking on at left. Crawford 438/1; RSC Sulpicia 8. 3.86g, 19mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine; dark cabinet tone; an excellent example of this type, difficult to obtain in high grade.

Acquired from Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG.

The reverse type may celebrate the achievements of P. Sulpicius Galba Maximus who was proconsul in Greece during the war against Philip of Macedon in 209-8 BC. He was responsible for leading the Roman fleet into the Aegean sea and capturing Aegina; hence the naval trophy would refer to the destruction of the enemy fleet, and the prisoner to those captured during the battle (cf. Livy XXVII, 5-6).