![ROMAN REPUBLIC. L. Cassius Caecianus, Denarius, 102 BC [ARR-95] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ARR-95-1.jpg)
Description
Roman Republic, Lūcius Cassius Caecianus of gens Cassia, as triumvir monētālis, Silver Denarius (3.95g, 18mm), Rome mint 102 BC. Obverse: Head of Ceres facing to the left, wreathed with corn ears and wearing slight drapery, mint magistrate’s cognomen “CAEICIAN” (‘AE’ and ‘AN’ ligate) upward to right. Reverse: Two yoked oxen pulling plough left, control mark “T.” above, mint magistrate’s praenomen and nomen “L· CASSI” in exergue. Crawford-321/1; Sydenham-594. An interesting issue inscribed with the full name – the addition of the cognomen Caeicianus is likely a result that the mint magistrate was adopted into gens Cassia from gens Caecilia, supremely toned, particularly the reverse, the obverse with slight roughness, good Very Fine.
Gens Cassia was one of the older great Roman families and saw prominent members as early as the late 6th century BC – the first member in recorded history was Spurius Cassius Vecellinus who served as Consul in 502 BC. Although producing many noteworthy statesmen throughout the entirety of Rome’s history, it would be towards the end of the Republic, the Imperatorial Period, where it would see its most famous member – Gāius Cassius Longinus of family branch of Cassī Longinī. Gāius Cassius Longinus became a prominent statesman, serving as Tribune of the Plebs in 49 BC and Praetor in 44 BC, but would be most known for his plot of ‘tyrannicide’ with his brother-in-law Quīntus Servīlius Caepiō Brūtus (Brutus). On the Ides of March, 15th of March, of 44 BC both men would lead the assassination of the Dictātor Perpetuō, Gāius Iūlius C.f. C.n. Caesar.
Very little information is known of Lūcius Cassius Caecianus, the triumvir monētālis that struck this coin, although as mentioned it is likely that he was an adopted member of gens Cassia and was originally a member of gens Caecilia and keeps the cognomen Caecianus as a result.
