Maison Palombo
Auction 19 12 Dec 2020
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République romaine - C. Cassius Longinus
Denier - Smyrne ? (43-42).
Exemplaire d'une qualité exceptionnelle, parfaitement centré.
Merveilleuse patine médaillier.
Probablement le plus bel exemplaire connu.
Exemplaire de la vente Tkalec du 8 septembre 2008, N°186.
3.80g - Cr. 500/1 - Sear Imperator 219
FDC Exceptionnel - Choice MS*
The sacrificial tripod depicted on the obverse of this denarius issued by Gaius Cassius Longinus is also found on the aurei which he issued at the same time with the moneyer M. Aquinus, also in Asia Minor (ref. Crawford 498/1). Cassius, an assassin of Julius Caesar immortalized by Shakespeare and Dante, had joined the triumvir Crassus in the Parthian expedition of 53 BC and had managed to escape alive - remaining two years in Roman Syria. After his return as a hero he served as tribune and commandeered the fleet of Pompey the Great until his death in 48 BC. He was pardoned by Caesar, and served him for some years, but grew jealous of his power and led a group of senators into killing him in March 44.
Fleeing Rome afterwards, he attacked Rhodes to raise funds for the Civil War, and planned to invade Egypt. But instead, with Brutus, he marched into Thrace to face the legions of Marc Antony and Octavian: defeated at the Battle of Philippi, Cassius committed suicide on his birthday – 3 October 42 BC. Such tripods evoke both the cult of Apollo, both also the prizes for athletic games which are mentioned by Homer, and therefore could doubly be seen as good omen for soldiers in time of war. On the reverse, the capis and the lituus are symbols of the pontificate, and refer to the election of Publius Cornelius Lentulus to the college of augurs in 57 BC (Lentulus' nickname Spinther was in reference to his resemblance to an actor of that name).
Denier - Smyrne ? (43-42).
Exemplaire d'une qualité exceptionnelle, parfaitement centré.
Merveilleuse patine médaillier.
Probablement le plus bel exemplaire connu.
Exemplaire de la vente Tkalec du 8 septembre 2008, N°186.
3.80g - Cr. 500/1 - Sear Imperator 219
FDC Exceptionnel - Choice MS*
The sacrificial tripod depicted on the obverse of this denarius issued by Gaius Cassius Longinus is also found on the aurei which he issued at the same time with the moneyer M. Aquinus, also in Asia Minor (ref. Crawford 498/1). Cassius, an assassin of Julius Caesar immortalized by Shakespeare and Dante, had joined the triumvir Crassus in the Parthian expedition of 53 BC and had managed to escape alive - remaining two years in Roman Syria. After his return as a hero he served as tribune and commandeered the fleet of Pompey the Great until his death in 48 BC. He was pardoned by Caesar, and served him for some years, but grew jealous of his power and led a group of senators into killing him in March 44.
Fleeing Rome afterwards, he attacked Rhodes to raise funds for the Civil War, and planned to invade Egypt. But instead, with Brutus, he marched into Thrace to face the legions of Marc Antony and Octavian: defeated at the Battle of Philippi, Cassius committed suicide on his birthday – 3 October 42 BC. Such tripods evoke both the cult of Apollo, both also the prizes for athletic games which are mentioned by Homer, and therefore could doubly be seen as good omen for soldiers in time of war. On the reverse, the capis and the lituus are symbols of the pontificate, and refer to the election of Publius Cornelius Lentulus to the college of augurs in 57 BC (Lentulus' nickname Spinther was in reference to his resemblance to an actor of that name).