The Republicans. Brutus. Late summer-autumn 42 BC. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.75 g, 12h). Military mint traveling with Brutus and Cassius in western Asia Minor or northern Greece; Pedanius Costa, legatus. Near EF.

CNG Feature Auction 126
Lot: 627.
Closing Date: May 29 2024 11:00 ET

Roman Republican, Silver

Estimate: $ 1 500

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The Republicans. Brutus. Late summer-autumn 42 BC. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.75 g, 12h). Military mint traveling with Brutus and Cassius in western Asia Minor or northern Greece; Pedanius Costa, legatus. Laureate head of Apollo right / Trophy composed of cuirass, crested helmet, oval shield with incurved sides, and two crossed spears. Crawford 506/2; CRI 209; Sydenham 1296; RSC 4; RBW 1778. Lightly toned with underlying luster. Near EF.

From the Wild Rose Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 114 (6 May 2019), lot 531; Numismatica Ars Classica 51 (5 March 2009), lot 112; Numismatica Ars Classica 40 (16 May 2007), lot 612.

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 their assassination of Julius Caesar, Brutus and Cassius occupied Rome but had to flee when a funeral oration delivered by Caesar’s protégé, Mark 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 CNG Feature Auction 126 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 28-29 May 2024. This lot is in Session Two, which will begin 28 May at 2 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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