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Roman Rep., Octavian with L.M. T.F. Longus. Aureus

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:24,000.00 CHF Estimated At:30,000.00 - 37,500.00 CHF
Roman Rep., Octavian with L.M. T.F. Longus. Aureus
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The Roman Republic, Octavian with L. Mussidius T.F. Longus. Aureus 42, AV 8.01 g. C·CAESAR·III·VIR·R·P·C Bare head r. Rev. L·MVSSIDIVS·T·F·LONGVS·IIII·VIR·A·P·F· Mars, wearing Corinthian helmet, standing r., holding sword in l. hand and spear in r. and resting l. foot on shield. Bahrfeldt 52a. Babelon Mussidia 15 and Julia 85. C 468. Sydenham1098. Buttrey 52.13 (this coin). Sear Imperators 152a. Crawford 494/9a. Calicó 141 (this coin). Biaggi 72 (this coin). Extremely rare, only very few specimens known of which only two are in private hands, about extremely fine Ex Bourgey 1913, Vidal Quadras y Ramon, 767; M&M 19, 1959, 174 and NAC 31, 2005, 7 sales. From the Biaggi collection The year 42 B.C. was extraordinarily rich in coinage. The obvious explanation is that the Caesareans were confiscating vast amounts of property in their proscriptions, which they in turn were using to prepare for the upcoming war against Brutus and Cassius. Crawford attributes more than ninety different coinages to 42 B.C., struck by four moneyers and eight commanders operating in Africa, the East, Greece, Italy and Sicily. This aureus was struck by Lucius Mussidius Longus, one of the four moneyers of 42 B.C. Its reverse depicts Mars, nude except for his Corinthian helmet, holding a spear and sword, and placing his foot on a fallen shield, which must refer to the preparations being made by the triumvirs’ desire to wage war on Brutus and Cassius. This reverse is known from only three dies, which Mussidius used interchangeably with portrait dies of Octavian, Antony and Lepidus.