L. CORNELIUS SULLA and L. MANLIUS TORQUATUS. Denarius (82 BC). Mint moving with Sulla.

Obv: PROQ / L MANLI.
Helmeted head of Roma right.
Rev: L SVLLA IMP.
Triumphator, being crowned by Victory flying left, driving quadriga right, holding reins and caduceus.

Crawford 367/3; RBW -.

Lucius Cornelius Sulla, after an important political career as quaestor during the war against Jugurtha and then as praetor in the Social War of 93 BC, led the conquest and destruction of Stabiae and the siege of Nola, achieving several successes. In 88 BC, at the age of fifty, he was elected consul together with Q. Pompeius Rufus and was entrusted with the command of operations against Mithridates VI, king of Pontus. Starting from Phrygia and Mysia, Mithridates also succeeded in subjugating Lycia, Pamphylia, and Ionia. These events had prompted part of the province of Achaea and Athens to rebel against Roman rule. After capturing and killing Manius Aquilius, the Roman general in charge of the legions in that area, the Roman Senate declared war on him. Sulla arrived in Greece and sacked rebellious Athens, then won two important victories against Mithridates at Chaeronea and Orchomenus. Meanwhile, in Rome, an alliance between the equites and the plebeians brought Marius to a position of command and started a civil war. Marius wanted to command the army against Mithridates and convinced the Senate to entrust him with the operation. Sulla then marched on Rome with six legions, violating the sacred boundary of the pomerium, and forced Marius and his followers to flee to Africa. Upon the death of Marius and Cinna, a second, even bloodier civil war broke out against the populares and the Italic peoples. Sulla eventually managed to enter Rome and severely punished his opponents and their families. He was elected dictator in 82, when this coin was struck, which shows the celebration of his triumph.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 3.92 g.
Diameter: 19 mm.