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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;zumbly, post: 2375250, member: 57495&quot;]This is a well-worn but, to my eyes, still lovely coin from C. Calpurnius Piso Frugi&#039;s issue of denarii from 61 BC.&nbsp; It uses the same Apollo/horseman types of the massive &#039;Social War&#039; 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 - </p><p><br /></p><p>90 BC issues : Wider, more rounded head of Apollo. L PISO FRVGI on reverse. </p><p>61 BC issues : Longer and narrower head of Apollo, struck in high relief. C PISO LF FRVG on reverse. </p><p><br /></p><p>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&#039;t have one myself <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie10" alt=":oops:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.&nbsp; This later series issued by the son are less plentiful, but still common.&nbsp; There are some very rare varieties, however, of which this is one, where Apollo&#039;s bust is left-facing and draped (as opposed to plain) and has a caduceus over its shoulder.&nbsp; The minor symbol bonus here : arrow randomly pointing down at the horseman.&nbsp; I can&#039;t explain why, but I just find that amusing <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Please feel free to share your denarii of either Calpurnius Piso Frugi! </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]486184[/ATTACH]</p><p><b>ROMAN REPUBLIC</b></p><p><b>C. Calpurnius Piso L.f. Frugi</b></p><p>AR Denarius</p><p>3.72g, 17.6mm</p><p>Rome mint, 61 BC</p><p>RBW 1481 (same dies); Babelon Calpurnia 29; Sydenham 876; C. Hersh, NC 1976, 439; Crawford 408/1b.</p><p>O: Diademed and draped bust of Apollo left, caduceus over shoulder. </p><p>R: Horseman, holding reins, on horse galloping right; ↓ above; C PISO LF FRVG below.</p><p><br /></p><p>Historical note on the moneye<u>r</u> : the great orator Cicero thought well enough of young Caius Piso Frugi to marry his beloved daughter, Tullia, to him in 63 BC.&nbsp; Of him, Cicero wrote, &quot;<i>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</i>.&quot;&nbsp; Caius was appointed quaestor in 58 BC, but apparently had died by 57 BC.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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