Lot 103
Lot 30103 > P. Sepullius Macer (44 BC). AR denarius (18mm, 4.16 gm, 8h). NGC XF 4/5 - 4/5. Rome, under Marc Antony, April-May 44 BC. CLEMENTIAE•CAESARIS, tetrastyle Temple of Clemency, globe in pediment / P•SEPVLLIVS / MACER, desultor right on horseback, wearing conical cap, reins in left hand, whip in right; second horse behind, palm frond and wreath at left. Crawford 480/21. Sydenham 1076. Julia 52. The reverse of this coin depicts a desultor, or a skilled rider that would jump from between multiple horses while the horses were in motion. This equestrian showmanship became part of the Parilian festival, an event that was celebrated every year on 21 April. The Parilia was originally a pastoral holiday, but throughout Rome's history it was adapted to fit the urbanized lives of the Romans and eventually became associated with the Founding of Rome (dies natalis). For example, in 45 BC, to celebrate his decisive victory in Munda, Julius Caesar added games to the ceremony, wanting to associate himself with Romulus and the Founding of Rome. Following Caesar's assassination earlier in the year, the combination of the riders with the obverse type, Marc Antony likely wanted to remind people of Caesar's clemency and his philanthropy towards the Romans, in order to prop up his own association and to gain support for his causes.
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