The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. 42 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.55 g, 9h). Rome mint; L. Mussidius Longus, moneyer. Near EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 617. Estimated: $ 2 000

Roman Republican, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 5 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. 42 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.55 g, 9h). Rome mint; L. Mussidius Longus, moneyer. Laureate head right / Rudder, cornucopia on globe, winged caduceus, and apex; L • MVSSIDIVS • LONGVS in semicircle above. Crawford 494/39a; CRI 116; Sydenham 1096a; RSC 29; BMCRR Rome 4238-9; Kestner 3750; RBW 1742; CNR I 108/4 (this coin). Toned, light marks. Near EF. An attractive portrait of Julius Caesar. Fine style.

Ex G. Hirsch (16 April 1958), lot 252; Cahn 71 (14 October 1931) lot 1372.

Lucius Mussidius Longus is a moneyer with an otherwise unknown cursus honorum. His nomen Mussidius indicates that he was a novus homo, or up-and-coming man with no long family pedigree. As such, he would have allied himself to any potential long-term power base. In 42 BC, as the Second Triumvirate was defeating Caesar’s assassins, Mussidius oversaw the striking of this denarius of the now-deceased and soon to be deified dictator, a clear nod to the Caesarian cause. Apparently, such a move benefitted the gens Mussidia. A distant relation, T. Mussidius Pollianus, was a senator under the new regime in the first century AD.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Two – Lot 338–647 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 9 January 2024 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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