C. Calpurnius Piso Frugi - Cicero's son-in-law

This is a well-worn but, to my eyes, still lovely coin from C. Calpurnius Piso Frugi's issue of denarii from 61 BC. It uses the same Apollo/horseman types of the massive 'Social War' issue of his father, L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, from 90 BC, but there are some differences which can usually be used to tell the two series apart -

90 BC issues : Wider, more rounded head of Apollo. L PISO FRVGI on reverse.
61 BC issues : Longer and narrower head of Apollo, struck in high relief. C PISO LF FRVG on reverse.

Coins of the earlier series were struck in the millions to fund the ongoing Social War, and are some of the most common of Roman Republican coins, and while I think everyone should own one of those, I still don't have one myself . This later series issued by the son are less plentiful, but still common. There are some very rare varieties, however, of which this is one, where Apollo's bust is left-facing and draped (as opposed to plain) and has a caduceus over its shoulder. The minor symbol bonus here : arrow randomly pointing down at the horseman. I can't explain why, but I just find that amusing .

Please feel free to share your denarii of either Calpurnius Piso Frugi!


ROMAN REPUBLIC
C. Calpurnius Piso L.f. Frugi
AR Denarius
3.72g, 17.6mm
Rome mint, 61 BC
RBW 1481 (same dies); Babelon Calpurnia 29; Sydenham 876; C. Hersh, NC 1976, 439; Crawford 408/1b.
O: Diademed and draped bust of Apollo left, caduceus over shoulder.
R: Horseman, holding reins, on horse galloping right; ↓ above; C PISO LF FRVG below.

Historical note on the moneyer : the great orator Cicero thought well enough of young Caius Piso Frugi to marry his beloved daughter, Tullia, to him in 63 BC. Of him, Cicero wrote, "it is scarcely possible to mention any one who was blessed with a finer capacity. He was constantly employed either in public speaking, and private declamatory exercises, or, at least, in writing and thinking: and, consequently, he made such a rapid progress, that he rather seemed to fly than to run." Caius was appointed quaestor in 58 BC, but apparently had died by 57 BC.

 

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Neat example, Zum!

Here's mine. One earlier, one later. The later one is ex Haeberlin and cited in Crawford.

 

Nice coin Z!

L CALPURNIUS PISO FRUGI ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Laureate head of Apollo r., behind, point control, front, check letter
REVERSE: Horseman galloping towards r., holding a palm branch, above, symbol, and below Piso Frvgi / check letter
Struck at Rome 90 BC
4.0g, 18mm
Cr340/1, Sydenham 670d. bb/Calpurnia 11


L CALPURNIUS PISO FRUGI ROMAN REPUBLIC
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: Laureate head of Apollo right, number LV behind
REVERSE: Horseman galloping right, holding palm L PISO FRVGI below, ROMA monogram, number LXXII above
Struck at Rome 90 BC
3.75g, 18.4mm
Cr340/1, Calpurnia 12

 

Those are lovely, and Haeberlin/Crawford... nice .

 

Lovely coin, like the wear too it.

 

When I saw the obverse of Carthago's I was excited, "hey, I've seen that control-mark before". Then I was disappointed when I finally found a picture of mine, VIII instead of Carthago's XVIII. Nonetheless, here's my(much less awesome) example of the elder Calpurnius Piso Frugi:


AR Denarius(19.62mm, 3.9g), L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, 90 BC, Rome Mint. Laureate head of Apollo right; "VIII" behind / L PISO FRVGI, Horseman, holding palm frond and reins, on horse galloping right; VI above, ROMA monogram below. Crawford 340/1, Sydenham 661, Calpurnia 12
Ex. Joel Malter, March 29 1970

 

Very sweet OP-addition, Z-Bro ... sure, it may be a bit worn, but it has a very cool and simple style (congrats)

=> I have one of those puppies as well ... my dude has a whip!! (whip it good!!)

C. Piso L.f. Frugi AR Denarius
61 BC
Rome mint
Diameter: 17 mm
Weight: 3.73 grams
Obverse: Head of Apollo right, hair bound with fillet; wreath behind
Reverse: Horseman galloping right, holding whip
Reference: Crawford 408/1b (O40/R56); Hersh, Piso 238 (O235/R2056); Sydenham 866; Calpurnia 24d
Other: 6h, toned, porous surfaces, cleaning marks under tone
From the Bruce R. Brace Collection



... it may be a tad off flan, but it has super high relief!!

 

Oh, and your OP-dude is facing "left" (another very cool style-point, my coin-friend)

 

Yup, I really like the high relief on this issue. Pucker up, Apollo!...

 

Nice one, Z! As @chrsmat71 might say, that's a fondler

@Carthago, you never disappoint!

Nice coins, everyone. I have neither early nor late Frugii

 

WONDERFUL POSTS!!!

I agree 'Z', I think your OP denarius is lovely as well and for some reason I find that arrow amusing too LOL

I'm still missing any example of the type, but not for lack of trying...

Congrats ALL !!!

 

http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=463760

The arrow is Roman numeral L=50. The link above shows 62 with similar form for the L. Many L's look like upside down T's but this series has the arrow form. Between father and son, numbers, letters and minor type symbols there are hundreds of variations on this type. I agree the OP coin is a real beauty.
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/acmfrugi.html
My three examples are nothing special and the page I wrote on them has been moved to the back pages of my site where I put things of lesser interest.

 

Thanks, Doug... Arrow mystery = solved. I see now that Bing's second coin shows the L as an arrow too.

 

cool lefty frugi Z!



i fondle this coin frequently.

 

These Calpurnius Piso Frugi with caduceus (as here) or quiver over Apollo's shoulder are genuinely rare and desirable. As it happens, I have one also. Apologies for the photos; they were supplied by the vendor and I don't have better ones.

 

A few others:

 

Of the coins shown in this thread, who among us noticed that only the two with caduceus and L had an obverse draped bust rather than head? I believe there is only one other with this bust.

 

And, not to spill the beans, but the coin Doug is asking about is related to the OP type in another way as well-- surely both are products of the same engraver.

 

Just WOW Volodya!

 

I still don't have any of those, but they are high on the list : someday soon !
Very attractive posts

Q