The RBW collection of Roman Republican coins part II

C. Cassius and M. Servilius.529529 Denarius, mint moving with Brutus and Cassius 43-42, AR 3.85 g. C·CASSI·IMP Laureate head of Libertasr. Rev. M·SERVILIVS – LEG Aplustre, the branches ending in flowers. Babelon Cassia 21 and Servilia 42.Sydenham 1312. Sear Imperators 225. Crawford 505/2.Extremely rare. Toned and about very fine 3’000Ex NAC sale 9, 1996, 762.Interestingly, this denarius is rarer than the corresponding aureus, Cr. 505/1 (RBW).Plutarch held Cassius in low regard, describing him as a man who was not well liked and who ruled his soldiers throughfear. He says: “...Cassius was known to be a man of violent and uncontrolled passions, whose craving for money had oftentempted him to stray from the path of justice, and it therefore seemed natural that his motive for fighting, wandering aboutthe empire and risking his life was not to win liberty for his fellow-countrymen, but to secure some great place forhimself.” Plutarch has precisely the opposite to say of Cassius’ co-conspirator: “Brutus’ virtues, on the other hand, madehim popular with the rank and file, beloved by his friends, and admired by the nobility, while even his enemies found itimpossible to hate him.”With this in mind one can imagine the simmering conflict between the two leaders, with Cassius being increasinglyresentful of Brutus’ popularity while he himself suffered from doing the lion’s share of the hard work, regardless of how ittarnished his reputation. In point of truth, their rivalry no less significant than the one being experienced by theiropponents, Marc Antony and Octavian. By the time they met at Sardis and were hailed imperator by their troops, thestrains of partnership reached an intolerable pitch. Plurarch states: “...as often happens in great enterprises in which a largenumber of friends and commanders are engaged, there had been some sharp differences and mutual accusations had beenexchanged. So...their first action was to meet in a room face to face. The doors were shut, and with no one else present thetwo men first began blaming one another and then fell to recriminations and counter-charges. These soon led to indignantreproaches and tears, and their friends, who were amazed at the vehemence and bitterness of their anger, were afraid thatthe quarrel might end in violence.” This confrontation occurred just before Brutus departed to campaign disastrously inLycia and Cassius set out to capture Rhodes, which he did successfully, but with extreme severity.We may be sure this denarius was struck after Cassius’ defeat of the Rhodians, for the reverse depicts an aplustre, a shipornament that symbolized naval victory. The flowers at the extremities of the ornament suggest Rhodes since the rose hadbeen the symbol of that island for many centuries. Its symbolism is sealed when the other issue of this legate is considered:it shows a crab holding an aplustre in its claws, above a loose diadem and a rose. This rose is a certain reference toRhodes, and it appears below the crab, the badge of the island of Cos, near where decisive battle took place. The looseneddiadem might symbolize the kingship Cassius claimed to have undone at Rhodes (Plutarch, Brutus, 30) or it could be areference to the undoing of Julius Caesar’s tyranny some two years before.530530 Denarius, mint moving with Brutus and Cassius 43-42, AR 3.90 g. C·CASSEI·IMP Laureate head ofLibertas r. Rev. M·SERVILIVS – LEG Crab, holding aplustre in its claws; below, rose and untied diadem.Babelon Cassia 19 and Servilia 40. C 10. Sydenham 1313. Sear Imperators 226. Crawford 505/3.Extremely rare and among the finest specimens known. Lightly toned and extremely fine 10’000Ex SKA Bern 1, 1983, 254 and NAC 9, 1996, 763 sales.120