C. Cassius Longinus AR Denarius. M. Servilius, legate. Military mint moving with Brutus and Cassius, 43-42 BC. Laureate head of Libertas to right; C•CASSI•IMP behind / Aplustre, the branches ending in flowers; M•SERVILIVS to left, LEG to right. Crawford 505/2; CRI 225; RSC 9. 3.79g, 19mm, 6h.

Near Extremely Fine; unobtrusive banker's mark and Roman numerals graffitied in obv. field. Very Rare; unusually, this denarius is rarer than the corresponding aureus (Crawford 505/1).

From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector's ticket included;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 114, 6 May 2019, lot 530;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 92 Part 2, 24 May 2016, lot 1930 (hammer: CHF 4,000).

Cassius, along with Brutus, was one of the main conspirators in the tyrannicide of Julius Caesar. The two formed an allegiance against the combined forces of Marc Antony and Octavian; however Plutarch suggests that there was a great deal of tension between them. He also presents Cassius as an unpopular man, who used fear to keep his soldiers in check. He is described as "a man of violent temper" whose character was "not so sincere" as his allies's.

Despite shortcomings in his personality, Cassius did prove to be a successful general, subduing the Rhodians after they had refused to support himself and Brutus against the Triumvirs. It is to this that the reverse imagery of the type refers - the aplustre to his naval command, and the floral decorations likely allude to the rose associated with Rhodes.

This military prowess, however, was to be short-lived; soon after this type was issued, Cassius, along with Brutus, met with Antony and Octavian at Philippi, and seeing that their cause was lost, committed suicide.