My new Statius Murcus denarius... and a welcome FedX miracle

[Phil Davis]

Last things first: There's been a fair amount of angst around here lately regarding poor FedX service and, especially, customer "service;" a lot of it perfectly justified. So when I received a shipping notice from Leu, I was psyching myself up for a seemingly inevitable battle with FedX and/or US Customs: forms to fill out for the nth time, bogus FedX "brokerage" fees to pay, endless waits in a phone queue, whatever. In the event, here's what happened: My coin left Leu's Winterthur, Switzerland office this past Wednesday; after FedX's shipping hours in fact, so it didn't actually leave Switzerland until the Thursday wee hours. Friday morning, it arrived at the HJB office in Chicago! As an added bonus, I don't typically work on Friday, but we have enough going on that I opted to come in an extra day. So... there it was when I arrived, safe sound and very very quick. No fuss, no muss. Every once in a while, virtue really is rewarded.

Now the coin. I mentioned it briefly in an earlier "Leu winnings" thread, but it really is a wonderful example of an important coin. It deserves its own thread. Here's the description and write-up, recycling my comments made for a different example in an HJB list a few years back:

L. Staius Murcus; Denarius, 42-41 BC. Cr-510/1, Syd-1315 (R8), RSC Statia-1, Sear Imperators-337.

Obverse: Head of Neptune right, with trident over shoulder.

Reverse: Male figure on right, with right hand raising kneeling female figure on left; behind, trophy; in exergue, MVRCVS IMP.

Lucius Staius Murcus began his political career as a legate of Caesar in Gaul and Africa from 48-46 BC. After Caesar's murder, he was appointed proconsul of Syria by the Senate. When Cassius arrived in the province in 43 BC, Murcus promptly transferred his allegiance and legions to the Liberator and was rewarded with command of a fleet. He demonstrated considerable skill as a naval tactician and in uneasy partnership with Ahenobarbus achieved complete control of the Adriatic and the seas around Greece. After the Republican disaster at Philippi, the two admirals waited developments in the Ionian Sea in support of no cause but their own, pirates in all but name. Murcus eventually made the ill-fated decision to throw in his lot with Sextus Pompey in Sicily. Pompey no doubt welcomed the arrival of Murcus' ships and well-seasoned crews, but Murcus himself was inconveniently accustomed to his own independent command. The two men soon quarreled; Pompey accused Murcus of conspiracy and ordered his execution in 40/39 BC. The rare coinage of Staius Murcus has never received the careful examination it merits. The depiction of Neptune on the obverse is an exact echo of an issue struck by Brutus in the previous year (Crawford 507/2), perhaps an indication of Murcus' lingering allegiance to the Republican cause. The type and legend of the reverse is more difficult to explain. For what victory did Murcus justify the adoption of the title IMP for Imperator? Sear in "Imperators" suggests the successful siege of Bassus in Apamaea in 43 BC as a suitable occasion, but Republican commanders didn't typically claim imperium for victory over their fellow Romans. Nor would that land siege two years earlier resonate with the sailors under Murcus' command in 41 BC, presumably the intended targets of the message. How does the title relate to the scene depicted? Is the standing male figure Murcus? Is the kneeling figure Roma, as suggested by Crawford? Again, what battle is represented by the trophy? It's been plausibly suggested [by whom, I don't recall] that the endemic poor centering and, especially, double-striking that notoriously plague this issue indicate that these coins were actually struck aboard a ship in Murcus' fleet!

The coin, borrowing the dealer's photo:

I'll just add that the coin in hand is substantially better than the rather unflattering photo; absolutely sound metal with hints of true luster, self-evidently free of the chronic problems noted above. An expensive coin by any measure, but well short of a record for the type, realized for several examples (all of which I've seen in person) which in no way compare to this one. It was described by the dealer without hype as "undoubtedly among the finest known." I'm not prone to superlatives either, but I can only agree.

Edited November 2, 2024 by Phil Davis

[CPK]

A beautiful coin @Phil Davis, worthy of your collection! Congratulations!

Also, good to hear the shipping went well. 👍

[ominus1]

...yup i do believe Fedex is getting their s$3T together in a BIG way...:)

FEDEX DELIVERS COIN WON SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN GERMANY TO RURAL MO IN LESS THAN 3 DAYS

By ominus1, Wednesday at 05:15 PM in General

[Ryro]

Incredible coin! I wish I had more to add, but this is the first I've heard of the man. 

[Qcumbor]

Everything is in order here : an exceptional coin going to an exceptional collection ! 
Congrats on this major acquisition Phil

Q

[antwerpen2306]

beautiful coin, often the coin in hand is better than the photo. I have a problem with this period : there are many emissions but often with only 30 or fewer obverse dies. Crawford mentions for these coins : mint - moving with.... so every commander had his mint with him to pay his soldiers ? So it is normal these coins are expensive, mainly being in the quality of your coin. I have few coins of this years 42/41 BC, only  Cr 494 23d, Cr495/2d and Cr506/2. Cr 495/2d is special : only 30 obverse dies and 33 reverse for 4 varieties :

obverse : LEPIDUS. PONT.MAX.III.V.R.P.C. : MA in ligatuur.

reverse : C. CAESAR.IMP.III.VIR.R.P.C.

dimensions : 20 x 18 mm , 3,5 gr , as 12 uur

period : 42 v Chr .

ref : Cr495/2d.

Dies : vz : minder dan 30, kz : minder dan 33 voor 4 varianten.

[Roman Collector]

Congratulations, @Phil Davis! That's a beautiful example of that rare coin! 

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

It's a beautiful coin, well worthy of a signature, and probably worth driving 25 miles for.  It was also at work, waiting for you.  FedEx is nice for businesses. I had no quarrel with the transport, just with the pickup and the lack of being able to forward it.

It's just an all-around spectacular pickup!

[AncientJoe]

What dirt do you have on the FedEx/Customs gods? 🤣 That shipping/clearance speed is almost more rare and exceptional than your excellent denarius!

[akeady]

Super coin, as always!

Aidan.

[jdmKY]

That’s a great example, Phil. Congratulations!

[Carthago]

Congratulations, Phil.  Epic example!

[DonnaML]

All I can say regarding both aspects of your post is WOW! Congratulations.