AR Denario¹, zecca militare in Sicilia, 42-40 a. C., Crawford 511/3a (pag. 520), Sydenham 1344 (pag. 210), indice di rarità "(4)".

1. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=73342 Frank Sternberg AG Auction 35 402 29.10.2000 Beschreibung: Imperatoren der späten Republik. Sextus Pompeius Magnus, † Sommer 35 v.Chr. No.: 402. Schätzpreis-Estimation: CHF 3000.- Denar, 42-40 (Sizilien). MAG PIVS IMP ITER Haupt Cn. Pompeius Magnus n.r. zwischen Kanne und Lituus. Rv. PRAEF / CLAS ET ORAE / [MA]RIT EX SC Neptun mit Aplustre steht auf Prora n.l. zwischen den, ihre Eltern auf den Schultern tragenden, catanäischen Brüdern Anapias und Amphinomus. Cr.511/3a; S.1344; B.(Pompeia) 27; C.17. 3,93g. Selten. Vorzüglich. Ex Auktion Numismatica Ars Classica 5, 25. Februar 1992, Nr. 381.
2. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=114127 Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel Auction 92 11 22.11.2002 Beschreibung: THE LATE ROMAN REPUBLIC. SEXTUS POMPEIUS, † 35 B.C. No.: 11. Schätzpreis - Estimation CHF 5500.- Denarius, Sicily, 42-40 B.C.; 3.77g. Obv. Head of Pompey the Great r., in field l., jug, r. lituus. Rev. PRAEF / CLAS. ET. ORAE / MARIT. EX. SC Neptune, nude but for cloak, crowned with reed, standing l., his r. foot on a prow; he is holding an aplustre in his r. hand; he is flanked by the two Catanian brothers Anapias and Amphinomus carrying their parents on their shoulders. Beautiful toning. Well centered. High relief on obv. Slightly short flan. Extremely fine. EUR 2'800,- References: Cr. 511/3a. Syd. 1344. Sear 105, Pompey the Great 17. Pedigree: Ex Numismatik Lanz, Munich sale 62 (1992), 486. This issue of Sextus Pompey, the younger son of Pompey the Great, was an open defiance to Octavian. The latter, adoptive son of Caesar, had always boasted of his pietas, the faithfulness for the divine rules, which pushed him to prosecute the murderers of his adoptive father. With the representation of the two brothers from the Sicilian city of Catania, who, by risking their lives, had once rescued their parents during an eruption of a volcano, Pompey the son is now formally claiming this pietas, this faithfulness, towards his parents. He represents himself, exactly like Octavian, as a son who wants to enter upon the inheritance of his murdered father, Pompey the Great. Even the title he uses on the coin, praefectus classis et orae maritimae ex senatus consulto (commander of the fleet and of the sea shores by decision of the Senate) is a well-aimed insult to the other triumviri: in order to put an end to the attacks of Pompey's fleet of pirates on the ships bringing grain to Rome, they were forced in 43 B.C. to reconciliate with Sextus Pompey and prove to him their good will by asking the Senate to bestow on him this official title. The mention of this title on the coin shows everybody that Pompey also was given an official command by the Senate, and that therefore he was not simply - as the triumviri claimed - a commander of pirates. But this was not the whole truth! In truth, Pompey had for some time the supremacy over the Mediterranean as claimed on this coin by representing Neptune, the master of the Sea. But he did not have all his captains totally under control and they did not fulfill all his orders or keep the truce agreement with the triumviri. We know of attacks on ships carrying the essential grain and therefore the triumviri charged in 40 B.C. Octavian to get rid of the problem called Pompey. That happened on September 3, 36 B.C., when Octavian, with the help of his friend Agrippa, destroyed the fleet of Pompey near Naulochos in Greece.
3. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=139355 Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG http://www.arsclassicacoins.com/ Auction 25    337 25.06.2003 Beschreibung: The Roman Republic No.: 337 Schätzpreis - Estimate CHF 6000. d=19mm. Sextus Pompeius. Denarius, Sicily circa 42–40, AR 3.72g. MAG·PIVS·IMP·ITER Head of Cn. Pompeius Magnus r.; behind jug and before, lituus. Rev. Neptune standing l., foot on prow, between the brothers Anapias and Amphinomus, with their parents on their shoulders; in exergue, CLAS·E.T·ORAE / MARIT·EX·S·C. Cr. 511/3a. Syd. 1344. B. Pompeia 27. C 17. FFC Pompeius 26. Rare. Well struck on a broad flan and complete, brilliant extremely fine / good extremely fine. This coin shows the iconography of the famous saga of the Sicilian brothers (in later sources referred to as Anphinomus and Anapias). In the most ancient version of this legend written by the Greek orator Lycurgus (In Leocr. 95 s.) there is actually no mention of names, and moreover there is but one pius hero, a fact which does not correlate with the classification eusebon choron (alms-place), as the spot where this event took place came to be known. The same event was also the inspiration for the final excursus of the pseudo-Virgilian poem "Aetna". Lycurgus retells the story thus: "It is said that in Sicily a river of fire erupted forth from Etna flowing throughout the area and towards one nearby city in particular; everyone tried to flee in an attempt to save themselves, but one young man, on seeing that his elderly father was unable to run from the torrent of lava, which had almost reached him, lifted the old man up onto his shoulders and carried him away. Weighed down by his burden, I think, the lava flow caught up with him too. Here, one can observe the benevolence of the gods towards virtuous men: the story says that the fire encircled the area and that they alone were saved. As a result, the place was dubbed ‘seat of the pious’, a name it still retains. The others who, in their haste to flee, abandoned their parents, all met a painful death."
4. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=140308 Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG http://www.arsclassicacoins.com/ Auction N 1647 26.06.2003 Beschreibung: The Roman Republic. The mint is Rome unless otherwise stated. No.: 1647. Schätzpreis - Estimate CHF 400. d=19mm. Denarius, Sicily, AR 3.54g. Cr. 511/3a. Syd. 1344. B. Pompeia 27. FFC 26. C 17. Toned, about VF.
5. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=152428 Numismatik Lanz München http://www.numislanz.de/ Auction 117 479 24.11.2003 Beschreibung: RöMISCHE MüNZEN. REPUBLIK. SEXTUS POMPEIUS PIUS. No.: 479. Schätzpreis-Estimation: EUR 400,- d=18mm. Denar, 42-40, ungesicherte Münzstätte auf Sizilien. MAG PIVS IMP ITER. Kopf des älteren Cn. Pompeius Magnus rechts, im Feld links Opferkanne, rechts Augurenstab. Rs: PR[AEF] / CLAS ET OR[AE] / MARIT EX S [C]. Neptun mit Aplustre in der Rechten nach links stehend, den rechten Fuß auf Schiffsprora gesetzt; links und rechts die kataneischen Brüder Anapias und Amphinomus, ihre Eltern auf den Schultern tragend. Cr. 511/3a. Syd. 1344. Bab. 27. C. 17. Sear 334. 3,76g. Leicht getönt, sehr schön.
6. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=170759 Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG http://www.arsclassicacoins.com/ Auction 27    284 12.05.2004 Beschreibung: The Roman Republic. Sextus Pompeius. No.: 284. Estimate: CHF 8000. d=20mm. Denarius, Sicily circa 42-40, AR 3.80g. MAG·PIVS·IMP·ITER Head of Cn. Pompeius Magnus r.; behind, jug and before, lituus. Rev. PRAEF Neptune standing l., r. foot on prow, holding aplustre; on either side one of the Catanaean brothers carrying his father on his shoulder. In exergue, CLAS·ET·ORæ / [MARIT·EX·S·C]. Syd. 1344. B. Pompeia 27. C 17. Cr. 511/3a. Very rare. Struck on an exceptionally large flan for this issue and with a superb portrait of Pompey the Great. Good extremely fine. This coin shows the iconography of the famous saga of the Sicilian brothers (in later sources referred to as Anphinomus and Anapias). In the most ancient version of this legend written by the Greek orator Lycurgus (In Leocr. 95 s.) there is actually no mention of names, and moreover there is but one pius hero, a fact which does not correlate with the classification eusebon choron (alms-place), as the spot where this event took place came to be known. The same event was also the inspiration for the final excursus of the pseudo-Virgilian poem "Aetna". Lycurgus retells the story thus: "It is said that in Sicily a river of fire erupted forth from Etna flowing throughout the area and towards one nearby city in particular; everyone tried to flee in an attempt to save themselves, but one young man, on seeing that his elderly father was unable to run from the torrent of lava, which had almost reached him, lifted the old man up onto his shoulders and carried him away. Weighed down by his burden, I think, the lava flow caught up with him too. Here, one can observe the benevolence of the gods towards virtuous men: the story says that the fire encircled the area and that they alone were saved. As a result, the place was dubbed ‘seat of the pious’, a name it still retains. The others who, in their haste to flee, abandoned their parents, all met a painful death."
7. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=192584 Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung http://www.gmcoinart.de/ Auction 134 2507 11.10.2004 Beschreibung: RÖMER RÖMISCHE REPUBLIK NACH 211 v. Chr. Objekt-Nr.: 2507. Sextus Pompeius Pius, 42 - 40 v. Chr. Denar, (3,77g), Mzst. in Sizilien. Vs.: MAG.PIVS.IMP.ITER, Kopf des Cn. Pompeius Magnus n. r., im Feld l. Kanne, r. Lituus. Rs.: Neptun mit Aplustre in der Rechten setzt den Fuß auf einen Schiffsbug, r. u. l. die kataneischen Brüder Anapias u. Amphinomus mit ihren Eltern, oben PRAEF, im Abschnitt CLAS.ET.ORAE / MARIT.EX.S.C (in Ligatur). Cr. 511/3a; Syd. 1344. Schönes Porträt. Vs. Schrötlingsfehler, sonst gutes ss. Estimation: 900,00€.
8. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=193773 Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung http://www.gmcoinart.de/ Auction 133 386 11.10.2004. Beschreibung_ RÖMER. RÖMISCHE REPUBLIK NACH 211 v. Chr. Objekt-Nr.: 386. Sextus Pompeius Pius, 42 - 40 v. Chr. Denar, (3,87g), Mzst. Sizilien. Vs.: MAG PIVS IMP ITER., Kopf des Cn. Pompeius n. r., l. Kanne, r. Lituus. Rs.: Neptun mit Aplustre n. l. stehend, den Fuß auf Prora, l. u. r. die Catanaeischen Brüder, ihre Väter auf den Schulter, darüber PRAEF, im Abschnitt CLAS ET ORAE / MARIT EX S C (teilweise in Ligatur). Cr. 511/3a; Syd. 1344. Herrliche Tönung, ss­vz. Estimation: 1.500,00€.
9. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=207969 The New York Sale http://www.thenewyorksale.com/ Auction 9 15313.01.2005 Beschreibung: ROMAN COINS. IMPERATORIAL COINAGE. No.: 153. Estimation: 2500$ d=20mm. Sextus Pompeius, + 35 B.C. Denarius, Sicily, about 42-40. AR 3.92g. MAG. PIVS - IMP. ITER Head of Cn. Pompey the Great r., in field r., lituus, l., jug. Rev. PRAEF / CLAS. ET. ORAE / MARIT. EX. S.C. Neptune, nude, chlamys in the back, standing l. between the two Catanean brothers Amphinomus and Anapias carrying their parents on their shoulders; Neptune holds aplustre in his r. hand, his r. foot on prow. Cr. 511/3a. Syd. 1344. Seaby 105, 17. Rare. Excellent portrait. Toned. Short flan. Extremely fine.
10. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=213702 Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung http://www.gmcoinart.de/ Auction 138 1870 07.03.2005 Beschreibung: RÖMER RÖMISCHE REPUBLIK NACH 211 v. Chr. Objekt-Nr.: 1870. Sextus Pompeius Pius, 42 - 40 v. Chr. Denar, (3,77g), Mzst. in Sizilien. Vs.: MAG PIVS IMP ITER, Kopf des Cn. Pompeius Magnus n. r., im Feld l. Kanne, r. Lituus. Rs.: Neptun mit Aplustre in der Rechten setzt den Fuß auf einen Schiffsbug, r. u. l. die kataneischen Brüder Anapias u. Amphinomus mit ihren Eltern, oben PRAEF, im Abschnitt CLAS ET ORAE / MARIT EX S C (teilweise in Ligatur). Cr. 511/3a; Syd. 1344. Sehr schönes Porträt. Prägeschwächen, sonst ss. Estimation: 800,00€.
11. https://www.deamoneta.com/auctions/view/577/173 Prezzo di partenza: 350€ Osservato da: 2. Monete 173 Pompey the Great. AR Denarius, 42-40 BC. Obv. MAG. PIVS. IMP. ITER. Head of Pompey the Great right, between capis and lituus. Rev. Neptune left, foot on prow, between the brothers Anapias and Amphinomus, with their parents on their shoulders; above, PRAEF; in exergue, CLAS.ET.ORAE/MARIT. EX. S.C. Cr. 511/3 a. AR. 3.57g. 18.50mm. R. Rare. Good metal for issue. Well centred and lightly toned. VF.
12. https://www.deamoneta.com/auctions/view/464/509 Prezzo di partenza: 200€ Osservato da: 2. Numero di offerte: 2. Монеты 509 Pompey the Great. AR Denarius, 42-40 BC. Obv. MAG. PIVS. IMP. ITER. Head of Pompey the Great right, between capis and lituus. Rev. Neptune left, foot on prow, between the brothers Anapias and Amphinomus, with their parents on their shoulders; above, PRAEF; in exergue, CLAS.ET.ORAE/MARIT. EX. S.C. Cr. 511/3a. AR. 3.42g 20.00mm. R. Obverse slightly off centre. Toned. About VF/VF.
13. https://ha-europe.com/nl/bladeren?aid=29&cid=17495&lid=111677 AR Denarius (military mint in Sicily 37-36 BC, 3.21g) - MAG PIVS IMP ITER Bare head of Pompeius the Great right, behind, jug and before, lituus / PRAEF CLAS ET ORAE - MARIT EX SC in two lines, Neptune standing left, between the Catanaen brothers Anapias and Amphinomus (Cr. 511/3a / Syd. 1344 / RSC Pompeius the Great 17) - VF, some flat parts but still an important coin of this famous naval commander. Inzet (Stima): 150,00€.

Veniamo alle conclusioni: la superficie del tondello è costellata di punti e macchie di colore scuro che lasciano intendere che il nucleo della moneta possa non essere d'argento ma di bronzo; in altri termini la moneta potrebbe essere un falso antico.

Un saluto cordiale.
Giulio De Florio

----------------------------
Note:

(1) Denario (argento). Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche fisiche dei denari della tipologia di figura tratte dai link di cui sopra:

Riferimenti	Peso (g.)	Diametro (mm)	Asse di conio (h)
Link01	3,88	-	-
Link02	3,77	-	-
Link03	3,72	19	-
Link04	3,54	19	-
Link05	3,76	18	-
Link06	3,80	20	-
Link07	3,77	-	-
Link08	3,87	-	-
Link09	3,92	20	-
Link10	3,77	-	-
Link11	3,57	18,50	-
Link12	3,42	20	-
Link13	3,21	-	-

Dalla tabella si evince che le caratteristiche fisiche del denario di figura (c. 4g, 19mm) rientrano nei margini di variabilità dei denari d'epoca di pari tipologia reperiti nel web. Le macchie di colore scuro sulla superficie del tondello inducono a pensare che il nucleo del tondello sia di bronzo piuttosto che d'argento.
(2) MAG.PIVS.IMP.ITER (MAGnus PIVS IMPerator ITER - Magno Pio, acclamato due volte "Imperator"). Sesto Pompeo Magno Pio (n. nel 67 a.C. circa, morto a Mileto, nel 35 a.C.), militare e politico romano della fine della Repubblica, era il figlio più giovane di Gneo Pompeo Magno e della sua terza moglie, Mucia Terzia. Aveva una sorella, Pompeia, ed un fratello maggiore Gneo Pompeo, comandante di tredici legioni durante la battaglia di Munda (45 a.C.), nella quale perse la vita. I due fratelli seguirono le orme del padre nella guerra contro Cesare (v. link). La moneta in esame fu battuta, secondo Crawford,  nel periodo 43-40 a.C. quando, per decreto del Senato, Sesto Pompeo aveva il ruolo di "Praefectus Classis et orae maritimae" (Prefetto della flotta e del litorale), più precisamente forse nel periodo successivo alla battaglia navale al largo di Rhegium (42 a.C.) nella quale Q. Salvidienus Rufus era stato battuto e Sesto Pompeo era stato acclamato "Imperator" per la seconda volta. Sesto, orgoglioso del suo successo, aveva assunto l'appellativo Magnus, di discendenza paterna, e sostenuto che le sue origini leggendarie legate a Nettuno fossero il motivo del suo trionfo. L'appellativo di Pius e gli emblemi sacerdotali (la brocca e il lituo) sul dritto della moneta indicano che Sesto Pompeo era investito di un incarico sacerdotale.
(3) // . (Praefectus Classis et Orae Maritimae, Ex Senatus Consulto). Questa emissione di Sesto Pompeo, è un'aperta sfida ad Ottaviano che, figlio adottivo di Cesare, si era sempre vantato della propria pietas, l’ossequio alle regole divine, che lo aveva spinto a perseguire gli assassini del padre adottivo. Con la rappresentazione dei due fratelli catanesi che, rischiando la vita, avevano salvato i genitori durante l'eruzione del vulcano, Sesto Pompeo rivendica formalmente la pietas nei confronti dei suoi genitori. Egli si rappresenta, esattamente alla stregua di Ottaviano, come un figlio deciso a rivendicare l'eredità del proprio padre assassinato, Pompeo il Grande. Anche il titolo di cui si fregia sulla moneta, "praefectus classis et orae maritimae ex senatus consulto" è un insulto mirato ai triumviri che, per porre fine agli attacchi della flotta di pirati di Pompeo sulle navi che trasportavano grano a Roma, erano stati costretti nel 43 a.C. a riconciliarsi con lui e a dimostrargli la loro benevolenza chiedendo al Senato di riconoscergli il titolo ufficiale. La menzione del  titolo sulla moneta mostra a tutti che Sesto Pompeo aveva ricevuto un comando ufficiale dal Senato e che quindi non era semplicemente - come affermavano i triumviri - un comandante di pirati. Ma questa non era tutta la verità! In effetti, Pompeo ebbe per qualche tempo la supremazia sul Mediterraneo, come sosteneva rappresentando sul rovescio della moneta Nettuno, il re del mare. Ma non tutti i suoi capitani erano sotto il suo controllo e ottemperavano ai suoi ordini o mantenevano l'accordo di tregua con i triumviri. Noi sappiamo di attacchi condotti alle navi che trasportavano il grano essenziale per Roma, ragione per cui i triumviri nel 40 a.C. incaricarono Ottaviano di risolvere il problema. Ciò accadde il 3 settembre 36 a.C., quando Ottaviano, con l'aiuto del suo amico Agrippa, distrusse la flotta di Pompeo vicino a Nauloco in Grecia.
(4) Al centro del rovescio Nettuno, signore dei mari, schiaccia col piede la prua di una nave e ne esibisce l'aplustre a mo' di trofeo (l'aplustre era un ornamento che nelle navi antiche sovrastava la ruota di poppa, costituito da quattro o cinque assi ricurve, disposte a ventaglio, espanse in alto e riunite alla base. La forma speciale di questo ornamento, pare derivasse dalla concezione per cui l'imbarcazione doveva apparire come un mostro marino con la coda emergente dall'acqua).
(5) Il tipo del rovescio illustra un caso esemplare di Pietas, intesa come amore filiale: due fratelli di Catania, Amphinomous e Anapias, in occasione dell'eruzione dell'Etna del 122, avevano salvato i genitori portandoli in salvo sulle spalle. Per questa azione i due fratelli erano stati insigniti del titolo di "Pio". Riferisce il Crawford che Sesto Pompeo userà la stessa iconografia 70 anni più tardi, nel 42 a. C., per onorare la memoria del padre Pompeo Magno.