34
3048
C. Calpurnius Piso L.f. Frugi. Silver Denarius (3.83 g), 61 BC.
Rome. Laureate head
of Apollo right; behind,
F
.
Reverse:
C PISO L F FRVG, nude horseman wearing coni-
cal hat galloping right; above, sword. Crawford 408/1a (dies 33/1038); Hersh 89 (O33/
R1038); Sydenham 846; Calpurnia 24j. Boldly struck in high relief and lustrous. A
superb example.
Nearly Mint State.
A collector could spend a lifetime assembling the many varieties and vari-
ous symbol combinations of the coins of C. Calpurnius Piso L.f. Frugi, and
even then it is doubtful whether he would ever near completion. The types
of Apollo and racing horseman refer to the Apolline Games first instituted in
212 BC under the moneyer’s ancestor, P. Cornelius Sulla. The moneyer lat-
er became quaestor in 58 BC, but is perhaps most known as the husband
of Tullia, the beloved daughter of the famous orator and statesman, Cicero.
Estimated Value........................................................................................... $900 - 1,000
Ex LHS 100 (23-24 April 2007), 398; NAC 10 (9 April 1997), 515.
3049
C. Calpurnius Piso L.f. Frugi. Silver Denarius
(3.90 g), 61 BC.
Rome. Filleted head of Apollo right;
behind, human ear.
Reverse:
C PISO L F FRVGI,
nude winged horseman wearing conical hat gallop-
ing left, holding torch; above, EN. Crawford 408/1b
(dies 114/142); Hersh 375 (O281/R3004); Sydenham
874; Calpurnia 24c. Boldly struck in very high re-
lief, lustrous and lightly toned.
Nearly Mint State.
Estimated Value............................................ $600 - 700
Ex Hunter Collection (Goldberg 72, 5 February 2013),
4399.
3050
L. Cassius Longinus. Silver Denarius (3.89 g), 60 BC.
Rome.
Veiled and draped bust of Vesta left; below chin, S; behind, kylix.
Reverse:
LONGIN III V, male figure standing left, dropping tablet
inscribed V (
Uti rogas
) into cista. Crawford 413/1; Sydenham 935;
Cassia 10. Well struck on a nice broad flan, well centered and lus-
trous, all lightly toned.
Nearly Mint State.
This coin is interesting in that it appears to lack the personal and
family names of the moneyer. However, appearances can be de-
ceiving. On the obverse below the chin of Vesta is a control letter,
and the only letters employed on this issue are
C, A, S, I and L. If one collects enough coins of this moneyer,
he can then spell the moneyer’s name in full. But why might a
moneyer do this? In the case of L. Cassius Longinus it appears
to relate to the recent exposure and suppression of the Catiline
conspiracy. One of the most notorious members of the conspir-
acy whose task it was to burn down the city of Rome was one
L. Cassius Longinus, but not the same person as our moneyer!
Estimated Value........................................................... $1,000 - 1,200
Ex CNG 79 (17 September 2008), 939.
