Remembering the Roman historian C. Licinius L.f. Macer

Gaius Licinius Macer was a Roman Praetor, historian, a poet, known for his outspoken advocacy for the rights of the plebeians. In the post-3rd Punic War Roman world, restraint, morality, duty, and honor had given way to gluttony, violence, and personal glorification. To speak against the oligarchs and their abuses of power was dangerous. But that never stopped Macer.

Unfortunately, his history of Rome does not survive, but Livy and other Roman historians relied heavily on it for their accounts of the earlier periods of Roman history. However, Macer did leave us this coin.


C. Licinius L.f. Macer
Rome, 84 BCE.
AR Denarius (19mm, 3.58g, 6h). Diademed bust of Vejovis l., seen from behind, hurling a thunderbolt. R/ Minerva in quadriga r., brandishing javelin and holding a shield. Crawford 354/1; RBW 1355; RSC Licinia 16. Bankers' marks on obv.

Vejovis was a god associated with health, while Minerva is often associated with wisdom. So the message of this coin couldn't possibly get more awesome: Health and Wisdom. Vejovis is also featuring a crescent-shaped banker's mark. This is my second crescent-shaped banker's mark. My first being on my Julius Caesar portrait denarius.

Here are two excerpts from a speech given by Macer in 73 BCE. Although he is referring here to the Optimates (ie. those who supported the oligarchy of the Patricians over the Plebs), I can't help but think his words are as relevant today as they were 2,100 years ago:

Obviously, such a "dangerous" man could not be allowed to live, and whom better to wield the knife on behalf of the establishment than the Oligarchy's favorite status quo mouthpiece, Marcus Tullio Cicero.


Marcus Tullius Cicero

Cicero prosecuted Macer on charges of extorsion and arranged for the verdict to be anything but a foregone conclusion. Macer, seeing no path out of his predicament and knowing he was already convicted before the kangaroo trial had even started, committed suicide to preserve the honor of his family.

However, the Licenian family did not fade into obscurity. Throughout more than 700 years of Roman history this family produced consuls, generals, famous politicians, some of the wealthiest Romans whom ever lived, historians, poets, and ultimately four emperors: Valerian, Gallienus, Licinius and Licinius II. You won't find such glory and honor coming from Cicero's family, nor most other Roman families for that matter.


Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licinius_Macer
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0104:entry=calvus-c-licinius-macer-bio-1
https://qcurtius.com/2017/04/09/c-licinius-macers-advice-to-his-people/

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Great write up thanks!

 

Nice one @Sallent

 

Great coin and write up @Sallent. The obverse on this type is one of my favourites from the Republic.

 

Nice coin and history!

 

Interesting history lesson @Sallent. I enjoy your articles. Nice coin, too.

 

Wonderful coin!

 

Excellent writeup and very nice coin.

 

Don't be shy folks, share any coins you believe relevant to mine. That's how we learn about other cool coins. Anyone have any coins from another person of the gens Licinii they wish to share? Marcus Licinius Crassus or any other Licinii that struck coins during the RR? Or how about one of the imperial descendants discussed above?


Ill take a stab at it. Here are my other Minerva reverses.


C. Vibius CF Pansa


Domitian


Geta

 

Yours is a great Denarius @Sallent ! Banker's marks are always good for me.

How about another Moneyer's issue from the same year 84 BCE (or Ad Urbe Conditia 670):


RR P Furius Crassipes 84 BC AR Denarius 19mm 3.84g Rome Turreted head Cybele right foot upward Curule chair Cr 356-1a Syd 735 Furia 20

 

MINERVA in the REPUBLIC:


RR Anon AE Triens 157-156 BC Minerva Prow Craw 198B-3 Sear 989 RARE


RR Anon AE Litra 260 BC Minerva star ROMANO Horse Hd BLACK Craw 17-1g Sear 593


RR Anon AE Litra Minerva ROMANO Horse Head 270-269 BCE Sear 592 Craw 17-1g


RR Servius Rullus 100 BCE AR Den Minerva Victory Biga Sear 207 Craw 328-1


RR Vibius Pansa 90 BCE AR Den Apollo Minerva Quadriga Sear 242 Craw 345-5

 

LICINIUS GENS:


RR AR Denarius A Licinius Nerva 47 BCE 3.58g Rome Fides One-armed horseman gllpng drggng naked warrior hair Cr 454-1 Syd 954


RR L Licinius Crassus Cn Domitius Ahenobarbus 118 BCE NARBO Serrated Attic Helmet Gallic Biga Sear 158 Craw 282-3

 

My example of the OP coin; once upon a time, the only slabbed coin I've ever purchased (liberated within 15 minutes):

 

A coin bought from Augustuscoins. Yet another one that I saw and quickly bought as a "snap" decision. I liked it, and acted on it. The write up is mostly from the seller's website, and the pic is lifted from his website as well.

Licinius II (317-324)
campgate, PROVIDENTISE CAESS
small bust left
MNTΔ (?). I can not find this mintmark in RIC. Nicomedia (for the "N")? Ticinum (for the "T")?

 

Ask @Valentinian ... he is an excellent source of info (expert), and you bought that coin from his site. I have purchased several from him and never had an issue. Always got help if needed.

 

Maybe the N isn't an N. Look at other coins of Licinius II like those on Wildwinds and see what you can find with mintmark M[something]TΔ and you'll find your answer

 

Good timing for a thread with the name "Macer", @Sallent , as I just received the below coin yesterday!

This is an AR Denarius of Mark Antony by P. Sepullius Macer as moneyer. He's a different gens than your Macer (Sepullia vs. Licinia), but still an interesting "Macer" coin. Minted in 44 B.C., shortly after the assassination of Julius Caesar, it depicts Antony in mourning - veiled and unshaven - likely as he appeared in the Forum when he gave his famous funeral oration. It is probably the first depiction of Antony on a coin. The reverse shows a desultor (a jockey who raced with more than one horse) with two horses, and likely refers to games held in 44B.C. which were largely dedicated to Caesar's memory.

Crawford 480/22; BMCRR 4164; Sydenham 1077. Can be found in better condition, but rarely this complete.

 

That is just plain GORGEOUS! I REALLY like that Denarius!

 

Super posts everyone!! Love the coin(s) and write-up @Sallent!!

Here's another of 'Vejovis'---different 'moneyer' although struck at nearly the same time:


Silver anonymous denarius, 3.38 grams, 18.4 mm; struck 85 BC;
Crawford 353/2, Sydenham 726, Fonteia 12 BMCRR I Rome, SRCV I 273.

Laureate head of Vejovis right, thunderbolt below, EX A P downward behind.
Cupid seated on goat, flanked by caps of the Dioscuri, thyrsus of Bacchus in ex. all within laurel wreath.

 

Here are a couple - P. Licinius Crassus - Cr. 430/1 - would be very nice if better-centred:


A. Licinius Nerva - Cr. 454/1 - a bit ragged:


ATB,
Aidan.