Marcus Arrius Secundus. Denarius circa 41

Marcus Arrius Secundus. Denarius circa 41, AR 19mm., 3.89g. Denarius 41, AR 3.89 g. M·ARRIVS – SECVNDVS Bearded male head r. Rev. Wreath, hasta pura and phalerae. Babelon Arria 2. Sydenham 1347. Sear Imperators 319. Crawford 511/2b.

Extremely rare. Countermark and graffito on obverse, otherwise very fine.

Ex NAC sale 72, 2013, 1367.

The rare coinage of Marcus Arrius Secundus is of considerable interest and the types appear to throw some light on his lineage about which nothing is otherwise known. The youthful head on obverse is usually described as that of an ancestor, possibly Quintus Arrius who may have been the father of the moneyer. Quintus was involved in the costly and embarassing episode of the Servile War in which an army of gladiators and slaves led and inspired by the Thracian gladiator Spartacus, succeeded in defying the might of the republican generals over the period of several years. (73-71 BC). Spartacus' Celtic lietenant Crixus was defeated by the preator Quintus Arrius in 72 BC, one of the few Roman successes in the war until Spartacus was finally overcome by M. Licinius Crassus. The victory over Crixus may have provided the inspiration for the types of the coinage of Marcus Arrius Secundus.