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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Carausius, post: 3027987, member: 76440&quot;][ATTACH=full]754209[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]754210[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Rome, The Republic.</p><p>C. Cassius and M. Servilius, 42 BCE.</p><p>Mint travelling with Brutus and Cassius (likely Sardis).</p><p>AR Denarius (2.89g - chipped; 19mm).</p><p>Obv: C CA[SSEI IMP]; Laureate head of Libertas, facing right.</p><p>Rev: [M SER]VILIVS – LEG; Crab holding aplustre in claws; untied diadem headband and rose below.</p><p>References: Crawford 505/3; HCRI 226; Sydenham 1313 (R8); BMCRR (East) 84; Cassia 19.</p><p><br /></p><p>I don’t typically buy severely damaged coins, but recently I couldn’t resist this chipped example of an interesting, highly-symbolic and very rare coin!&nbsp; This 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.&nbsp; It celebrates Cassius’ victory over the fleet of Rhodes in the waters off Kos.&nbsp; The crab shown on the reverse is emblematic of Kos, as depicted on Kos coins from early times, and the crab holds an aplustre in its claws symbolic of Cassius’ naval victory.&nbsp; The untied, regal headband beneath the crab recalls an offer of kingship made by the defeated Rhodians to Cassius, who rejected the offer. That story is told in Plutarch’s biography of Brutus. The rose is emblematic of Rhodes, and frequently depicted on Rhodian coins.&nbsp; Shortly after his victory over the Rhodians, Cassius met-up with his co-conspirator Brutus in Sardis, where this coin was likely struck.</p><p><br /></p><p>The crab motif on this coin was well selected for more than just its Kos symbolism.&nbsp; Cassius was considered a competent general but a harsh, mean and self-interested man – basically a bit “crabby”. While Brutus’s renowned virtue afforded him some degree of respect from his Caesarian enemies, Cassius seemed universally disliked and was given no such break.&nbsp; Perhaps for that reason, we see Brutus&#039; image on the EID MAR coins as an inspiration to the conspirators&#039; troops, but we have no similar depictions of Cassius.&nbsp; 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, October 3, 42 BCE.</p><p><br /></p><p>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 Legatus under both Cassius and Brutus, and he struck coins for both men. He was likely related to Brutus, whose mother’s name was Servilia.&nbsp; Legati were staff members of military commanders, on whose recommendation they were appointed by the Senate.&nbsp; Legati often served as deputies for their commanders, but practically exercised no independent authority.&nbsp; For example, a Legatus 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 Legatus and his commander on this coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>Share your crab coins, Kos coins, Rhodian coins, or coins of &quot;crabby&quot; Romans.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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