C. ANNIVS TF TN PRO COS, Silver Denarius, 82-1 BC.

Roman Republic, C. ANNIVS TF TN PRO COS, silver Denarius, Rome, 82-81 BC, C ANNI CT F T N PRO COS EX SC, female head right, rev. L FABI L F HISP, Victory in quadriga right, 3.85g, 6h (Crawford 366/1b). Good very fine.

Minted during the civil wars of the Roman Republic between 82 and 81 BC, the silver denarius of Gaius Annius serves as a compelling historical artifact of Sulla's regime. The coin's lengthy legend C. Annivs T. f. T. n. Pro Cos ex S. C. identifies the issuer as Gaius Annius (son of Titus, grandson of Titus), who served as a proconsul by decree of the Senate. Unlike standard civic coinage minted in Rome, this denarius was produced by a mobile military mint traveling with Annius's army as he campaigned in Spain and northern Italy to crush the remaining resistance of the faction of Marius. The obverse typically honours the ancient Roman deity Anna Perenna, while the reverse depicts Victory driving a triumphant quadriga, symbolizing the military successes of the Sullan faction. By turning precious metal into portable propaganda, this coin financed military operations while broadcasting the authority and legitimacy of Sulla's commanders across the provinces during one of Rome's most violent political transitions.

The obverse legend C ANNI CT F T N PRO COS EX SC translates to "Gaius Annius, son of Titus, grandson of Titus, Proconsul, by decree of the Senate."

The reverse legend L FABI L F HISP translates to "Lucius Fabius, son of Lucius, the Spaniard."