Crawford 413/1

Moneyer: L. Cassius Longinus, 60 BC (proconsul in 48 BC).

Denomination: Denarius

Obverse: Veiled and diademed head of Vesta to left; below chin, A [control letter], in field to right, two-handled cup. 

Reverse:  LONGIN•III•V; Voter standing front, head to left, dropping tablet marked V into cista. 

Mint: Rome

Reference: Crawford 413/1

Weight: 

Notes: Rare and desirable type with voting scene; almost extremely fine with wonderful old cabinet tone! 

The moneyer's grandfather, L. Cassius Longinus Ravilla, was a respected judge who presided over the re-trial of three Vestal Virgins who, in 113 BC, were accused of being unchaste. Having first been acquitted by the pontifices, Ravilla found them guilty, and condemned and put to death two of them. This obverse type marks 50 years since those events had unfolded, while the reverse type notes how, as a tribune of the plebs in 137 BC, Ravilla had successfully proposed in the Concilium Plebis the lex Cassia tabellaria, which as a measure to change the voting system to one of secret ballot.

This coin is interesting in that it appears to lack the personal and family names of the moneyer. However, appearances can be deceiving. 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 conspiracy whose task it was to burn down the city of Rome was one L. Cassius Longinus, but not the same person as our moneyer!

The tablet marked V[TI ROGAS] (as you ask”, signifying a positive vote) - unfortunately not visible on this specimen due to strike weakness - was used in Rome to cast a favorable vote on legislation. The opposite vote was initialed with an A for "Antiquo", meaning “I reject any change". 

Vesta, the goddess of hearth, home, and family and the keeper of the sacred fire. The correct execution of her cult was a precondition for the well-being of the entire Roman state. Six virgin priestesses, the Vestals, were entrusted with Vesta's cult.

Collection : 16 Roman Republic