L. Servius Rufus (ca. 43 BC). AR/AE fourree plated denarius (19mm, 2.88 gm, 2h). AU, corrosion. Ancient counterfeit of Rome. L•SERVIVS-RVFVS, bare head of Brutus (?) right / The Dioscuri standing facing, turned outward, transverse spear in inner hand, swords hanging from outer hip. Crawford 515/2. Sydenham 1082. Sulpicia 10 for prototype issues. Evidence of bronze disease on base metal core, thus ineligible for encapsulation. From the Rockport Collection. Privately purchased from Heritage Auctions in the 1980s. Sold with original custom holder listing older catalog references. Apart from this rare issue, the moneyer L. Servius Rufus is otherwise unknown. The obverse had traditionally been assigned to Ser. Sulpicius Rufus, responsible in part for raising the siege of Tusculum, which would link to the reverse of the aureus of this issue, showing a view of the city (Crawford 515/1a). However, since this moneyer is Servius and not Sulpicius, Crawford notes there is not solid ground for this identification, as well as the portrait is remarkably similar to that of Brutus on coinage minted the previous year. There is no reason for a moneyer not to choose a portrait of someone who was not a relative, and the practice is well attested to gain political sympathy for a cause. Crawford concludes the portrait is Brutus, and the moneyer was linking his cause to the anti-Triumviral sentiments of Sallust in the bellum Catilinae, written ca. 42 BC. SOLD AS IS NO RETURNS

HID09801242017

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