A true symbol of a violent split between the conspirators of the assassination of Julius Caesar on one side and his allies on the other, this piece carries a heavy legacy.
A choice piece at the auction
On December 9 and 10, an auction like no other will take place. One of the objects offered to buyers will be a coin struck by Marcus Junius Brutus Cæpio, better known as “Brutus”, the son of Caesar's mistress, who subsequently became his protégé and then one of his assassins.
This coin is an aureus, or a gold coin. It therefore features the profile of Brutus on the front, and the acronym BRVTVS IMP(erator) on the front and back of his portrait. On the other side of the coin, we can see two conjoined bows of ships, representing the naval victories of Brutus and Cassius (42 BC) as explained to Live Science by Lucia Carbone, associate curator of Roman coins at the American Numismatic Society.
A piece that belonged to a famous collector
The inscription “Casca Longus” can also be identified on the reverse of the coin. According to the curator, this directly refers to Publius Servilius Casca Longus, who also conspired against Caesar and was allegedly the first to stab him on the day of his assassination.
The reason this coin is so rare is that it belonged to early 20th century Italian coin collector and politician Giuseppe Mazzini, as explained by Lucia Carbone. According to an emailed statement from Liv Yarrow, a Roman historian at the City University of New York to Live Science, legal and ethical concerns are growing around coin collections.
Commemorate his assassination
This type of coin was used by Brutus to pay his soldiers. A gold aureus like this was worth a month's pay, or 25 silver denarii. Thus, Brutus also commemorates the assassination he committed against Julius Caesar, an act which earned him particular fame, but also caused his downfall.
Because this assassination, carried out as part of a plot to save the Roman Republic which would be put in danger because of Caesar's power, will create a split between the instigators of the plot and those close to the Emperor. Ultimately, these “allies” won this civil war during the Battle of Philippi, in 42 BC.
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