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Imperatorial Rome

Moneyer: L. Mussidius Longus
Held Office: Moneyer 42 BC
Denomination: AR Denarius
Mint: Rome
Obverse: Veiled head of Concordia right; crescent below chin; "CONCORDIA" behind. (bankers mark in front)
Reverse: Shrine of Venus Cloacina, consisting of circular platform inscribed "CLOACIN" surmounted by two statues of the goddess. "L•MVSSIDIVS•LONGVS" above.
Reference: RRC 494/42c; RSC Mussidia 6a RCVM 494; see also No. 188b in "The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators 49-27 BC" by David R. Sear
Weight: 3.8 gms
Diameter: 19.0 mm

L. Mussidius Longus

L. Mussidius Longus was perhaps the father of an Augustan senator.

The monetary quattuorvirate for 42 BC (L. Livineius Regulus, P. Clodius, L. Mussidius Longus, and C. Vibius Varus) was appointed by the newly constituted triumviral government of Antony, Octavian and Lepidus. Its activities were extensive and remarkable. For the first time in the history of the republican coinage the moneyers were called upon to oversee the regular production of gold coins. Although many of these aurei were issued in the names of the three Triumvirs, with their portraits, a few bore the personal types of the moneyers and the Caesarian regime. Denarii were also struck with personal types, and these greatly outnumbered the triumviral varieties which were issued in honour of Antony, Octavian, and the late dictator. Lepidus was pointedly ignored in the silver series and, as in the preceding year, no fractional silver coins (quinarii and sestertii) were struck at all. The half denarius was destined to be revived in certain military issues of the triumviral period, but the silver sestertius ceased as a denomination of the Roman coinage with Caesar's assassination in 44 BC.

The Shrine of Venus Cloacina (Sacellum Cloacinae or Sacrum Cloacina) - the "Shrine of Venus of the Sewer" - was a small sanctuary on the Roman Forum, honouring the divinity of the Cloaca Maxima, the spirit of the "Great Drain" or Sewer of Rome. Cloacina, the Etruscan goddess associated with the entrance to the sewer system, was later identified with the Roman goddess Venus for unknown reasons, according to Pliny the Elder.

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R06291