ROMAN IMPERATORIAL COINS, Roman Imperatorial Coins, Denarius, c. 41, bust right, rev. balbvs pro pr, club, 3.92g/5h (Crawford 518/1; RSC 417). Extremely fine, scarce (600-800)

Lucius Cornelius Balbus, a native of the Spanish city of Gades, was a friend of both Pompey and Caesar. Following the assassination of Caesar he supported Octavian and as a result was rewarded with the consulship in 40 BC, the first foreign-born citizen to hold this position. This coin was struck while Balbus was proprætor in 41, and the club of on the reverse refers to the celebrated temple in Hercules Gaditanus