The Republicans. Brutus. Late summer-autumn 42 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.96 g, 12h). Military mint traveling with Brutus and Cassius in western Asia Minor or northern Greece; Pedanius Costa, legatus. EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 622. Estimated: $ 1 000

Roman Republican, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 1 600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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The Republicans. Brutus. Late summer-autumn 42 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.96 g, 12h). Military mint traveling with Brutus and Cassius in western Asia Minor or northern Greece; Pedanius Costa, legatus. Laureate head of Apollo to right; LEG upwards to left, COSTA downwards to right / Trophy composed of cuirass, crested helmet, oval shield with incurved sides, and two crossed spears; IMP upwards to left, BRVTVS downwards to right. Crawford 506/2; CRI 209; Sydenham 1296; RSC 4; BMCRR East 59-61; Kestner 3775-6; RBW 1778. Toned with a hint of iridescence, minor marks, slightly off center on reverse. EF.

Ex Lampasas Collection (Triton XXIV, 19 January 2021), lot 977; Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 453 (2 October 2019), lot 485.

Brutus is best known for his role in the assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BC. This action, while often thought as an attempt to save liberty and justice, was actually meant to try to preserve aristocracy and privilege. Brutus and the other conspirators wanted to restore power to the Senate, comprised of the wealthiest and most powerful of Roman citizens. This brought him in conflict with Julius Caesar, who wanted to break the old power holds in the Senate, populating it with men of lower rank and birth. In a way, Julius Caesar could be seen as promoting a dictatorship with some flavor of a democracy, whereas Brutus and the other conspirators were attempting to save the aristocracy.

After his assassination of Julius Caesar, Brutus and Cassius occupied Rome, but had to flee when a funeral oration delivered by Caesar’s protégé, Marc Antony, turned public opinion against them. Brutus and Cassius went their separate ways, but met again in early 42 BC in Smyrna, Ionia, where they began preparations for the inevitable conflict that would ensue between them and Marc Antony and Octavian, Caesar’s grandnephew. They began using their armies to conquer cities, for which this series of coins was undoubtedly issued. The title IMP on the reverse shows that Brutus still styled himself the savior of the Republic, as that was a title only the Senate could award.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Two – Lot 338–647 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 9 January 2024 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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