Denarius of P. Licinius Crassus

Minted by Publius Licinius Crassus, son of the Triumvir Marcus, in his role as moneyer for 55 BCE, the year his father and Pompey were consuls together. The obverse shows diademed Venus with S.C (Senatus Consulto) behind. The reverse provides the moneyer’s name but the imagery is disputed. Crawford only states it is a “female figure,” ruling out older readings of a male horseman, but Liv Yarrow suggests that the “female figure” is one of the Amazons said to have fought against Pompey in his eastern campaign (Plutarch, Pompey 35). She also identifies the obverse as Venus Victrix.

Shortly after this coin was minted, Crassus and his son would mount an ill-fated campaign in the east against Parthia. Their legions were led astray by local guides and then eventually surrounded by Parthian cavalry at Carrhae in 53 BCE. Publius was killed first, leading a cavalry charge, and the Parthians paraded his head on a spear in front of his father’s army. It was reported that Crassus was killed soon after at a parley, and that the Parthians poured molten gold down his throat to mock his famous greed.