Cnaeus Pompeius Magnus AR denarius 49 BC

Denarius of Pompey the Great (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus), struck in 49 BC. Obverse: Head of Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, with the inscription NVMA on the headband. Reverse: Prow of a galley.

Pompey the Great (106–48 BC) was one of the most renowned generals and statesmen of the Roman Republic. Victorious in the East and Africa, he played a key role in Rome’s expansion. Initially an ally and later a rival of Julius Caesar, their conflict led to civil war. Defeated at Pharsalus in 48 BC, he was assassinated shortly after in Egypt.

This denarius was issued by Pompey the Great at the outset of the civil war against Julius Caesar in 49 BC, as he raised troops and funds in the eastern Mediterranean. The obverse features the head of Numa Pompilius, the legendary second king of Rome, highlighting Pompey’s association with tradition, religion, and the Republican order. The reverse, depicting the prow of a galley, symbolizes Pompey’s naval power, particularly his famous campaign against the pirates, and reflects his maritime control during the conflict. This coin served both to finance the war and to assert Pompey’s legitimacy and Republican heritage in opposition to Caesar.