Roman Denarius Coin

Inv. No.: c045
Provenance: Q. Cassius
Date: c. 57 B.C.
Weight: 3.66g
 
Obv.: Libertas, wearing cruciform earring and necklace of pendants; hair in knot; jewels in hair.
[L]IBERT.Q.CASSIVS

Rev.: Domed temple of Vesta, surmounted by standing figure holding sceptre and patera; curule chair within temple; on left, voting urn; on right, tabella inscribed AC

The moneyer is usually taken to be Q. Cassius Longinus, quaestor to Pompey in 54 B.C. and tribune of the plebs in 49 B.C. in association with M. Antony.

The letters A and C stand for absoluo and condemno. The reference is to a prosecution in 137 B.C. by the moneyer forebear Quintus Cassius against two Vestals on charges of misconduct. The urn was to receive the tablets on which one of the two letters was written.

Comparanda:
S 918.