Aureus Manlia: Lucius Manlius Torquatus, L•MANLI T PRO Q / L•SVLLA•IMP

This aureus was struck in 82 BC by Lucius Manlius Torquatus serving as proquaestor under Sulla during the latter's march on Rome and subsequent dictatorship. The coin is a product of a military mint traveling with Sulla's army — not a Rome establishment issue — placing it squarely within the chaos of the First Civil War between Sulla and the Marians. Torquatus would later become consul in 65 BC, but his career at this moment was entirely subordinate to Sulla's military machine.

Crawford's RRC 367/2 is notably rare in the auction record. The aureus denomination itself was still irregular at this period — Rome had no standing gold coinage — making each military issue a discrete political act by the commander who authorized it.