New coin - Quintus Labienus "Parthian horse" denarius

Good day to all of my fellow CT members! I hope that your weekend is going well.

Today I have a very special coin to show. Though a fourrée, and a rather grotty one at that, it is nevertheless one of the rarest and historically most fascinating coins of the entire Roman Imperatorial era. With only about 40 examples recorded (according to Harlan J. Berk), and with fine specimens routinely hitting 6-figure auction prices, it’s not too far behind even the legendary EID MAR denarius in rarity, desirability, and historical interest. Ladies and gentlemen, I speak of the famous Quintus Labienus “Parthian horse” denarius.

No, it’s not much to look at – but do you think this blue-collar collector is complaining??

QUINTUS LABIENUS PARTHICUS, executed 39 BC​

AR Plated “fourrée” Denarius (16.8mm, 2.32g, 12h)
Struck circa 40 BC. Uncertain mint in south-eastern Asia Minor
Obverse: Q LABIENVS PARTHICVS IMP, bare head of Labienus right
Reverse: Parthian light cavalry horse standing right with bridle and saddle, to which bow-case and quiver are attached
References: RRC 524/2; RCV 1458
Light toning, surface plating worn through in several areas, countermarks. An extremely rare contemporary imitation of a historic type.​

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Who was Quintus Labienus?

Quintus Labienus was the son of Titus Labienus, one of Julius Caesar’s most skilled officers and a veteran of Caesar’s campaigns in Gaul, yet who turned against Caesar and joined Pompey when the Civil War broke out in 49 BC. He perished in the battle of Munda in 45 BC.

In 43 BC, after Caesar’s assassination, Titus's son Quintus Labienus followed in his father’s footsteps in opposing the Caesarian faction and joined with Brutus and Cassius, the assassins of Caesar. As both sides prepared for battle, Brutus and Cassius took the bold step of sending Labienus to the neighboring kingdom of Parthia to request assistance from the Parthian king Orodes II.

Orodes II - https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4673673​

Parthia was traditionally a bitter enemy of Rome, and the Parthians must have initially been surprised at this Roman request for aid. But, like any good politician, Orodes II neither granted nor refused the request, but instead detained Labienus at the Parthian court and waited, assessing the situation and seeing how it would play out before declaring any alliances.

It turned out he didn’t have too long to wait. Brutus and Cassius were soundly defeated at the Battle of Phillipi in 42 BC and both leaders committed suicide. Labienus, still in Parthia, was probably happy to remain there for the time being, safe from the victorious Octavian and Antony. With Brutus and Cassius dead, Labienus now chose to throw in his lot with the Parthians and encouraged Orodes II to aid him in an attack on the Roman's lightly defended eastern frontier. Orodes II agreed to help.

The now-renegade Labienus, along with the Parthian king’s son Pacorus, left Parthia and began to devastate Roman Syria with a large army of Parthian cavalry, along with those Roman legionnaires loyal to Labienus. After subduing Syria, Labienus and Pacorus moved into Cilicia before dividing forces, with Labienus going on to invade Asia Minor while Pacorus moved south into Palestine.

Pacorus - https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=157143
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Meanwhile Antony, who, we are told, was enjoying the luxuries of Egypt, was finally compelled to rouse himself enough to send his general Publius Ventidius to deal with the rebellion. Ventidius met with Labienus near the Taurus Mountains in Cilicia and delivered a decisive defeat to the rebels. Labienus himself survived the defeat and fled; but he was eventually tracked down, captured, and beheaded – thus ending the strange career of one of Rome’s more unusual figures.



The Coins

Labienus left his mark on history in his coinage, which consisted of a single issue struck in both gold and silver. Both types are exceedingly rare; according to Harlan J. Berk in his book 100 Greatest Ancient Coins, only about 40 denarii are recorded, and just 4 aureii. Berk states that the reason for the coins’ rarity is that most were melted down after Labienus’ defeat, and so very few have survived.

Labienus aureus - https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=758507​

The obverse of the coin bears the actual portrait of Labienus, which was a newish convention introduced by Julius Caesar. To his name on the obverse, Labienus added the title of “Parthicus” – Friend of the Parthians. Styling himself as a friend of Rome’s most hated foreign enemy was daring indeed and perhaps tells us something about Labienus’ recklessness and opportunism.

The reverse is anepigraphic and depicts a Parthian cavalry horse, saddled and bridled, with bow-case and quiver attached. The Parthians were famous for their cavalry archers, which they used to great effect against the Romans. This image further drives home Labienus’ Parthian connections and is unique among Roman coin types.


Thanks for taking a look! Please feel free to comment and/or post your own coins from this time period (and I’d love to see any other Labienus coins too!)