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 Auctiones AG Basel 3, December 4 1973, lot 328
his 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"(which you can find online here, which chronicles the story of Brutus and also Cassius.
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- Wednesday 25 October 2017
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- cassius, denarius, diadem, ex.jd, ex.mccabe, gens.cassia, gens.cornelia, imperatorial, jug, Liberators, libertas, lituus, military.mint, republicans, silver, smyrna, veil
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