Cicero's Coin

[@Numischannel]

Hi Leo, perhaps l would read the second Greek name as a patronymic, since it is in the genitive case, thus "Theopropos, (son) of Apollonios"

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

You are right! Sorry about that and thanks for clarifying! I'll pin this comment so people see it :)

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

As a History geek, I cannot overstate how fascinating your channel is. Numismatic has reached a similar status as anthropology as far as I'm concerned.

[@sdrancher742]

I just want you to know that these videos are very good and have been keeping a guy (me) occupied and excited to learn for some time now. Keep up the good work and keep on keeping on!

[@mattl3729]

Fascinating, as always. I had no idea Cicero had his own coinage. That example is very interesting too- I've never seen so many splits in silver.

[@barrymoore4470]

What an interesting introduction to an historical coin of which I knew nothing, and coming on the anniversary of Cicero's murder in 43 B.C. Cicero's younger brother Quintus had been governor of the province of Asia about a decade earlier than the more famous Cicero's stint in Cilicia, and Asia's capital was Pergamon, so there might be a connection there with the iconography seen on the coin here. Cicero's letters to family and friends (primarily the wealthy knight Atticus) constitute a treasure trove of history of that era, and really bring one man and his times to life to a degree seldom met elsewhere in classical literature.

[@sandiepaul9421]

What a wonderful video! You get history, biography, and nuesmatic info. Thank you.❤

[@nazarnovitsky9868]

Thank You very much for this new video !!! 😊👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@amauldin71]

The Robert Harris novels that focus on Cicero's life are great reads. The series starts with "Imperium," and will quickly suck in anyone into Roman history.

[@christopherevans2445]

Another interesting video. As a collector I feel very ignorant not to have known this or put 2 n 2 together. I guess when you think of Cicero you think of his writing's and the civil wars. Nice job

[@andrewmurray2243]

RIP the homie Cicero, read the Catalinarians for class, as well as how to be a friend. He was truly a lovable asshole with a silver tongue

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

History's most likeable a-hole, for sure!

[@GordonGrant-o1h]

Thanks for videos this year and happy X mas Leo👍😀

[@theeccentrictripper3863]

Wowie, I had no idea he had minted anything as governor, what a spectacular little coin! I know you did a video on Republican coinage but a more specific one on coins minted by proconsuls less well known would be really interesting.

[@RandomlyGeneratedUsername]

Unfortunately for the collectors all of his coins are extremely rare. The coin shown on the video is the only one of Cicero's known in private hands. Two others of this specific type are known to exist, one in Berlin and one in Paris. Aside from those there a few other types, a number of them amusingly with spelling errors on Cicero's name. You can also find a variant which refers to him as an imperator. He was hailed as such after some relatively minor victories during his term. All known specimens of these other types only exist in public collections. Coincidentally today is the anniversary of Cicero's death in the hands of Marc Anthony's men.

[@theeccentrictripper3863]

@@RandomlyGeneratedUsername Quite an auspicious day to make the video then, he left us quite the patrimony and we should be mindful of his contributions. It's a real pity that there aren't more of them circulating out there but it makes sense, inevitably there will always be coins out of our reach, regardless of how much money one may have.

[@isabelcrb]

Fascinating video! Thank you

[@NAPNYC4938]

Short yet full of info. I love cistophori. Thank you.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it :)

[@Thebois753]

You should do a video on Vandal or some type of barbarian Coinage

[@ceruleancenturion]

I had to read Cicero's 1st Catilinarian for my Latin minor, as well as a biography (in English) about the man. Very interesting person.

[@sheilbwright7649]

I actually wrote a paper on one of Cirero's contemporaries,, a lawyer Q. Hortensius Hortalus. They were on opposing sides in a number of famous cases. Carefully reading Cicero's accounts altered my view on his honesty.

[@leonard8023]

If you are interested in learning more about Cicero, i can highly recommend the Cicero Trilogy by Robert Harris, fact based but told in a interesting way

[@sheilbwright7649]

@@leonard8023 One of the results of analysing Cicero carefully is that you come to the realisation that he was thoroughly dishonest. I appreciate the anachronism of applying your personal standards to someone stretching so far back in time but someone with ethics of a Trump lawyer is still someone with the ethics of a Trump lawyer.

[@jeronimodufour8906]

Oh, no se si sera facil de conseguir o si sera extremadamente raro, pero ya me dio una gana irresistible de conseguir uno de Cicero. Fascinante video !

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Si, son rarisimos! Hay como 2 o 3 que se conocen! Una alternativa interesante es un denario republicano del año del consulado de Ciceron. Yo estoy buscando uno!

[@brandonhughes2056]

Another very interesting video, thank you! I’ve been enjoying your videos for a while now and noticed you often have a sketch of the coin on the screen. Where do these sketches come from?

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

I draw them myself :)

[@brandonhughes2056]

Wow, that’s awesome! Very talented, they look great.

[@AsherHamilton-m6z]

Interesting I don't collect Republic but these are really cool

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Give republican coins a try, they are fascinating. I particularly like very late republican pieces.

[@antonio4782]

Excelente video,un fuerte abrazo.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Muchas gracias Antonio!! :)

[@Chaika1974]

Hoping you bring Brutus' Ides of March coins for the next episode 😂

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

I have already made a video on the EID MAR denarius! Look up my Roman Coins playlist :)

[@caracallaavg]

Neat coin. Don't show it to Mark Antony

[@drcolinwall1486]

Leo, when you post details of a coin within any of your videos I wonder whether you would consider adding the size (and possibly the weight)?

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Sometimes I state it verbally, I'll consider saying it more often in the future, thanks for the tip!

[@drcolinwall1486]

@@ClassicalNumismatics Thank you for taking the trouble to reply. Often you post one of your black and white labels saying what is was, who the emperor was , where minted, but for the plebs who don't often have silver dinarii etc in their hands it would be really useful. Here is a nummus of AD 324 you say. We'll did they relly weigh 5g?

[@dantetiglio7201]

Is it worth getting an Abafil velvet coin case?

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Yes. Its pricey, but Its a VERY good brand.

[@Numischannel]

Quite difficult to read Cicero's Latin... Caesar is more palatable for beginners, no wonder why he was in the "Popular" Party 😅

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

The only odd thing about Caesar's writings is his habit of writing about himself on the third person. 😂

[@Numischannel]

@@ClassicalNumismatics Which was mocked in one of Asterix stories 🤣🤣

[@drachmasanddenariipodcast]

Trigger warning for Adrian please 😌

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

Stumpfed to oblivion

[@janiskar7892]

📽️👍👍👍👍👍

[@rjmcshane6258]

Oh I want a cistophoric one badly! Have to stick to bullion I've bought too many ancients.

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

This particular one is very rare, but common civic cistophorii are amongst some of the cheapest Hellenistic Tetradrachme you can buy!

[@miguelderijckke5907]

Dear Leo Can you give us theweight of Cistophorus you are holding? The reverse seems to be an overstruck I can see a second snake on the right side The other coin you are showing is this the Berlin or Paris one? Why should use Marcus Tullius his lauphable cognomen Cicero? I have never seen a coin struck with the nickname Caligula Was Crassus not executed by drinking melted gold?due to his avidity dit this metal?

[@RandomlyGeneratedUsername]

The weight is 12.55 grams. The signs point to a double-strike. The other coin being shown is the one in Berlin. Cicero's name sees many forms on these coins, possibly due to the Greek mint workers being unsure about the correct form. We can find legends from M TVLLIVS M F CICIIRON to just TVLLIVS to the more recognizable M CICERO M F.

[@anonymousAJ]

'C' in Latin is hard like 'K' so it's pronounced something like keekayro edit: oh you kinda got there

[@ClassicalNumismatics]

I might anglicize the pronunciation here and there to make it more recognizable for english speakers, but I try also to use the classical pronunciation here and there :)

[@konstantinoschronopoulos5470]

Great video! The M in the M.F. should be read M(ARCI), i.e. genitive case ("the son of Marcus"). Cicero's father was another Marcus.

[@solaurelian7638]

are we sure this wasnt minted under Cicero Minor?

[@RandomlyGeneratedUsername]

This can be reliably timed to having been minted between Appius Claudius Pulcher's and Gaius Fannius' terms. Some of Cicero's and Pulcher's coins even share the same magistrate. That is actually the one small correction I have to the video. There is just a single magistrate featured on this coin, Theopropos Apolloniou.

[@anonymousAJ]

I recommend "On Friendship"