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AR Denarius (Rome, 122 BC)
O/ Helmeted head of Roma right; branch behind; X before.
R/ Jupiter in quadriga right, holding reins and sceptre in left hand and hurling thunderbolt with right hand; M CARB below; ROMA in exergue.
3.90g; 18.5mm
Crawford 276/1 (175 obverse dies/219 reverse dies)
- Naville Numismatics Live Auction 55 (09/02/2020), lot 406.
Marcus Papirius Carbo:
Carbo belonged to the gens Papiria, which was originally patrician, but the Carbones were plebeian. His father Gaius Papirius Carbo was the first member of the Carbones to reach a senior magistrature by becoming Praetor in 168 BC. He had three sons: Gaius, who became Consul in 120 BC, Gnaeus, Consul in 113 BC, and Marcus, our moneyer.
The life of Marcus Papirius Carbo is not really known apart from his praetorship placed in c.114 BC. Cicero mentions in a letter that he was sued for malversation in Sicily (ad Familiares, ix. 21). He adds that the Carbones brothers were "scoundrels", because Gaius was accused by Lucius Licinius Crassus of having murdered Scipio Aemilianus in 129 BC (Cicero, De Oratore, ii. 40), and Gnaeus was prosecuted by Marcus Antonius (grandfather of the Triumvir) -- but Cicero does not detail the reason. Both brothers committed suicide as a result.
Therefore, Carbo was doubtlessly a firm Popularis like his brothers, who were friends with the Gracchi, and his nephew Gnaeus Papirius Carbo (Consul in 85, 84 and 82 BC), supporter of Marius and put to death by Pompey.
Collection : Roman Republic