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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Carausius, post: 4054601, member: 76440&quot;]My second NYINC purchase came from the Stack&#039;s auction.&nbsp; I noticed this coin several weeks before the auction because of it&#039;s extreme rarity and slightly compromised condition, and I thought it might be a good budget example of the type.&nbsp; When a friend told me the morning after the auction that this coin went unsold, I rushed to Sack&#039;s lot pickup room to view it.&nbsp; I found the coin much nicer in hand than the auction photo (nicer than my photo also) and I quickly bought it for the opening bid price.&nbsp; Upon returning home, a bit of research in my library soon uncovered a string of important sales and a remarkable pedigree.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1062317[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Rome, The Imperators.</b></p><p><b>C. Cassius and M. Servilius, Summer 42 BCE.</b></p><p><b>AR Denarius (3.85g; 19mm).</b></p><p><b>Military mint travelling with Brutus and Cassius (likely Sardis).</b></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Obverse</b>:&nbsp; C·CASSI·IMP; laureate head of Libertas, facing right.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reverse</b>:&nbsp; M·SERVILIVS - LEG; aplustre with branches terminating in flowers.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>References</b>: Crawford 505/2; HCRI 225; Sydenham 1312 (R7); BMCRR (East) 83; Cassia 21; Servilia 42.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Provenance</b>:&nbsp; Stack&#039;s (17 Jan 2020) Lot 20084; Edward J. Waddell e-Sale (1990s) Lot 42; R. Ratto FPL IX (1933) Lot 1057; Valerio Traverso Collection [M. Baranowsky (25 Feb 1931), Lot 1270]; R. Ratto FPL (1927) Lot 625; Johann Horsky Collection [A. Hess (30 Apr 1917) Lot 2600]. </p><p><br /></p><p>This rare type comprised part of the final series of coins struck in the name of Cassius, lead conspirator against Julius Caesar, probably at Sardis in Summer, 42 BCE. It celebrates Cassius’ victory over the fleet of Rhodes in the waters off Kos. The aplustre, an ornamental stern of a Roman galley, is symbolic of Cassius’ naval victory, and the floriate branches (roses) may refer to Rhodes.&nbsp; Shortly after his victory over the Rhodians, Cassius met-up with his co-conspirator Brutus in Sardis, where this coin was likely struck. Within just a few months of producing this coin, Cassius’ troops were defeated by Antony at Philippi and he committed suicide on his own birthday, 3 October 42 BCE. Marcus Servilius struck this final coinage on behalf of Cassius.&nbsp; Servilius was tribune in 44 BCE and was respected by Cicero. After Caesar’s assassination, he served in the east as a Legate under both Cassius and Brutus, and he struck coins for both men. He was likely related to Brutus, whose mother’s name was Servilia. Legates were staff members of military commanders, on whose recommendation they were appointed by the Senate. Legates often served as deputies for their commanders, but practically exercised no independent authority. For example, a Legate had no independent authority to strike coinage, and did so based solely on the imperium of the commander for whom he served – thus we see the names of both the Legate and his commander on this coin.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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