My first "Liberator": Cassius

My most recent CNG win from the McCabe duplicates section of e-sale 408 arrived today and I'm thrilled to be able to share it with everyone here. I had originally planned bids on a handful of different bronzes in this sale but they performed much stronger and attracted far more attention than I expected and I was trounced on every single one of them. I decided to turn my attention to the "Imperatorial" end of the auction and won this denarius which got far less attention than I had expected based on the strong performance of the earlier lots.

This denarius comes from a joint issue of denarii and aurei of the Liberators Brutus and Cassius struck at a mint in the East(probably Smyrna), late 43 or early 42 B.C.. At this point in the civil war between the Liberators and the Second Triumvirate, Brutus and Cassius had met up in Smyrna(Modern day Ismir, Turkey) for the first time since the two parted ways at Piraeus(a port near Athens), Brutus for his Provincial assignment of Macedonia and Cassius for his assignment in Syria. When they left Italy, neither man had much of an army or much money, but while abroad both had raised considerable forces on land and sea for the cause of the Liberators and Cassius had managed to amass a considerable war-chest of gold and silver as well. A conference was called between the two men in Smyrna to plan their next moves in this war and prepare for the arrival of the Triumviral armies. It was decided that Cassius would bring his forces to neutralize Rhodes and Brutus, Lycia before meeting back up and moving towards Greece and eventually, Philippi. Most of you know how the story ends at Philippi, but for those who don't I highly recommend reading Plutarch's "Life of Brutus" here, which chronicles the story of Brutus and also Cassius.


The Liberators, AR denarius(19mm, 3.71 g, 6h). Gaius Cassius Longinus, Imperator with Publius Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, Legate, late 43-early 42 B.C., military mint with Cassius and Brutus, possibly Smyrna. Head of Libertas right, wearing veil and diadem; before, LEIBERTAS upwards; behind, C•CASSI•IMP updwards. Border of dots / Jug and lituus; below, LENTVLVS SPINT in two lines. Border of dots. Crawford 500/5; Sear HCRI 223.

Ex Andrew McCabe Collection, CNG e-Auction 408, October 25 2017, lot 440, ex JD Collection, Numismatica Ars Classica 78 part II, May 27 2014, lot 1892, ex Jacques Schulman 265, September 28 1976, lot 454, ex Monnaies et Médailles Basel Auctiones 3, December 4 1973, lot 328

As always, please post anything relevant. I'd love to see your coins of Brutus and Cassius in particular, and if anyone has a copy of M&M Basel Auctiones 3 or Jacques Schulman 265 and can provide a scan of the plate and/or text related to this coin, I would be most grateful.

 

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Awesome coin!

 

Wow, stellar coin with blasting details. And great write-up!

Thanks,
Jacob

 

Very nice @red_spork

 

Great coin @red_spork I almost threw a bid or 2 at that coin. I really like that coin. Here is my only coin of Brutus, I am still looking for a Cassius.

 

A very nice example of an historical Must Have... congrats!!! (But is that Libertas actually Cassius in drag?)

I'm Liberatorless, unfortunately.

 

Super Nice!

 

Congrats on your ex McCabe, et al Cassius! I can't help you with Schulman, but here is Auctiones.

 

There it is! Thanks so much.

 

And here is each of mine:

 

I was gonna bid on it also...glad it went to a good home

 

Sweet addition!

 

Congrats on the Cassius @red_spork

I have a beat up version of Cassius:


Roman Republic
Gaius Cassius Longinus & P Corn Lentulus Spinther
AR Denarius 18mm 3.3g
42 BCE military mint Brutus Cassius Smyrna
Libertas r
jug & lituus

Brutus:

Roman Republic 54 BCE
AR Denarius, 18.3mm, 3.7g
Moneyer: Marcus Iunius Brutus (aka Quintus Servillius Caepio Brutus)
Obv: Bare hd of L. Iunius Brutus (Consul 509 BCE), Bearded r, BRVTVS behind
Rev: Bare hd of C. Servilius Ahala (Master of the Horse 439 BCE), bearded r, AHALA behind
Ref: Sear 398, Crawford 433/2, from collection W. Esty CKXSUB 613

 

Nice looking coin @red_spork!

 

Lovely coins, folks!

I have two Cassius/Lentulus Spinther:





And one Brutus, here as Liberator:

 

Great coins @Multatuli

 

Thank you, @Orfew!

 

Great pick-up @red_spork ! I have the Schulman catalogue and will get a snap to you after these pesky neighborhood kids stop ringing my doorbell. Meanwhile, two of my denarii and one quinarius of Brutus (he did push that Leibertas motif beyond the limits of good taste):

 

The two Cassius varieties:

 

Schulman 265 snaps below, as promised: