Coin (reverse), Denarius, of Quintus Cassius Longinus

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This silver coin was minted in Rome by Quintus Cassius Longinus in 55 BC. It is a type called a denarius, the most common Roman silver coin. This picture shows the reverse of the coin.

The reverse depicts the temple of Vesta with symbols of legal actions. The curule chair in the temple is where the judge sat, and the urn is where votes were placed. The tablet has an A for 'absolvo' (to acquit) and a C for 'condemno' (to find guilty).

The temple of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth, was tended by virgin priestesses called Vestals. The design of the coin refers to a famous trial supervised by an ancestor of the moneyer in 113 BC where three Vestals were accused of improper conduct.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-042-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1915.141
• Date: 55 BC
  
• Material: Silver. Inscription: Obv. Head of Libertas r.; on l., LIBERT upwards; on r., Q.CASSIVS downwards / Rev. Temple of Vesta; within, curule chair; on l., urn; on r., tablet inscribed A C
  Coin, denarius
  
• Dimensions: 20.00 mm D / Die Axis: 4.5
  
• What: Coin, denarius
  
• Subject: Ancient Coin Collection
  
• Who: Cassius
  Libertas
  Vesta
  Vesta
  
• Where: Italy, Rome
  
• Event:
• Description: Silver denarius of the Roman Republic, Rome, 55 BC
  
• References:
  • Crawford, M.H. Roman Republican Coinage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976. 
• Translations:
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