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Denarius - 54 BC. - Mint of Rome
MARCVS IUNIVS BRVTVS - Gens Iunia
Obv.: Head of Libertas right. LIBERTAS behind
Rev.: Consul L. Junius Brutus, between two lictors, preceeded by accensus, all walking left, BRVTVS in ex.
Gs. 3,5 mm. 20,73x18,56
Crawf. 433/1, Sear RCV 397, Grueber 3861.

1 commentsMaxentius

00 - 01 - Marco Junio BrutoMarcus Junius Brutus, al ser adoptado por su Tío toma el nombre de Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus

AR Denario 18,00 mm de 3,60 gr.

Anv: "BRVTVS", Busto a cabeza desnuda de Lucio Junio Bruto a der.
1er.Consul y fundador de la República Romana en el 509 A.C., luego de participar activamente en la conspiración para derrocar a Tarquino "El Soberbio", último Rey de Roma
Rev: "AHALA", Busto a cabeza desnuda de Cayo Servilio Ahala a der.
Magister Equitum (Maestro de caballos) en el 439 D.C., autor del magnicidio del Dictador Espurio Melio en defensa de la República auque muchos autores atribuyen este asesinato a su deseo de convertirse en Rey de Roma

Acuñada por, quizás, el mas famosos de los asesinos de Julio Cesar, unos 10 años antes y a la edad de 31 años cuando desempeñaba uno de sus primeros cargos públicos como Magistrado Monetario. A travéz de esta moneda se atribuye la descendencia paterna de Lucio Junio Bruto y Materna de Cayo Servilio Ahala, dos defensores de la República y magnicidas; además muestra su fuerte defensa de la Res Pública, oposición a la tiranía y convencimiento que existía el homicidio justificable, valores que pondría mas tarde en práctica.
También se cree que esta moneda es una advertencia a Pompeyo "El Grande", quien tenía intensiones de convertirse en Dictador.

Acuñada durante los años 54 A.C. (s/RRC) ó 59 A.C. (s/BMCRR)
Ceca: Roma.

Referencias: Craw.RRC 433/2 - Syd. CRR #907 - BMCRR Roma #3864 - RSC vol.I #Junia 30, p.56 y #Servilia 17, p.89 - Sear RCTV Vol.I #398, p.149 - Albert #1362 - Mabbott #4079 - Catalli #617, p.2001 - Vagi #82 - Harlan RRM #3-4, pag.20mdelvalle

000c. Sextus PompeySextus Pompeius Magnus Pius, in English Sextus Pompey, was a Roman general from the late Republic (1st century BC). He was the last focus of opposition to the second triumvirate.

Sextus Pompeius was the youngest son of Pompey the Great (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus) by his third wife, Mucia Tertia. His older brother was Gnaeus Pompeius, from the same mother. Both boys grew up in the shadow of their father, one of Rome's best generals and originally non-conservative politician who drifted to the more traditional faction when Julius Caesar became a threat.

When Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC, thus starting a civil war, Sextus' older brother Gnaeus followed their father in his escape to the East, as did most of the conservative senators. Sextus stayed in Rome in the care of his stepmother, Cornelia Metella. Pompey's army lost the battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC and Pompey himself had to run for his life. Cornelia and Sextus met him in the island of Mytilene and together they fled to Egypt. On the arrival, Sextus watched his father being killed by treachery on September 29 of the same year. After the murder, Cornelia returned to Rome, but in the following years Sextus joined the resistance against Caesar in the African provinces. Together with Metellus Scipio, Cato the younger, his brother Gnaeus and other senators, they prepared to oppose Caesar and his army to the end.

Caesar won the first battle at Thapsus in 46 BC against Metellus Scipio and Cato, who committed suicide. In 45 BC, Caesar managed to defeat the Pompeius brothers in the battle of Munda. Gnaeus Pompeius was executed, but young Sextus escaped once more, this time to Sicily.

Back in Rome, Julius Caesar was murdered on the Ides of March (March 15) 44 BC by a group of senators led by Cassius and Brutus. This incident did not lead to a return to normality, but provoked yet another civil war between Caesar's political heirs and his assassins. The second triumvirate was formed by Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus, with the intention of avenging Caesar and subduing all opposition. Sextus Pompeius in Sicily was certainly a rebellious man, but the Cassius and Brutus faction was the second triumvirate's first priority. Thus, with the whole island as his base, Sextus had the time and resources to develop an army and, even more importantly, a strong navy operated by Sicilian marines.

Brutus and Cassius lost the twin battles of Philippi and committed suicide in 42 BC. After this, the triumvirs turned their attentions to Sicily and Sextus.

But by this time, Sextus was prepared for strong resistance. In the following years, military confrontations failed to return a conclusive victory for either side and in 39 BC, Sextus and the triumvirs signed for peace in the Pact of Misenum. The reason for this peace treaty was the anticipated campaign against the Parthian Empire. Antony, the leader, needed all the legions he could get so it was useful to secure an armistice in the Sicilian front. The peace did not last for long. Octavian and Antony's frequent quarrels were a strong political motivation for resuming the war against Sextus. Octavian tried again to conquer Sicily, but he was defeated in the naval battle of Messina (37 BC) and again in August 36 BC. But by then, Octavian had Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, a very talented general, on his side. Only a month afterwards, Agrippa destroyed Sextus' navy off Naulochus cape. Sextus escaped to the East and, by abandoning Sicily, lost all his base of support.

Sextus Pompeius was caught in Miletus in 35 BC and executed without trial (an illegal act since Sextus was a Roman citizen) by order of Marcus Titius, Antony's minion. His violent death would be one of the weapons used by Octavian against Antony several years later, when the situation between the two became unbearable.

Sicilian Mint
Magn above laureate Janiform head
PIVS above, IMP below, prow of galley right
Sear RCV 348, RPC 671, Sydenham 1044a, Cohen 16
43-36 BC

Check ecoli

001c. Decimus BrutusDecimus Junius Brutus Albinus (27 April 81 BC – September 43 BC) was a supporter of Caesar, and Caesar reportedly was very fond of him, naming him a secondary heir in his will. Brutus was a very successful military commander He later was one of Caesar's assassins. He should not be confused with his relative Marcus Brutus (of much greater fame). In the later civil war, he fought against Mark Antony, but Octavian gave him little support. He was killed by a Gallic chief loyal to Mark Antony.

Coin: Denarius. 48 BC. 17.7mm, 3.84 g. Rome mint. Obv: Bust of Pietas right, with earring and pearl necklace. PIETAS right. Rev: Clasped hands holding winged caduceus. ALBINVS BRVTI F below. Crawford 540/2. Sydenham 942. A FORUM coin.lawrence c

001h. BrutusMarcus Junius Brutus (also known as Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus). The most famed assassin of Caesar. Brutus joined the Pompeian forces fighting against Caesar; after their defeat Caesar pardoned Brutus. Brutus then joined the forces fighting Octavian and Mark Antony. He was defeated at the battles of Philippi in October 42 BC and committed suicide.

Coin: Denarius. Spring/Summer 42 AD. Obv: LEIBERTAS, bare head of Libertas right. Rev: CAEPIO BRVTVS PRO COS, Lyre between a quiver and a laurel branch. Junia 34, Cr501/1, Syd 1287.lawrence c

001h2. BrutusMarcus Junius Brutus. Denarius. 54 BC. Rome mint. Obv: LIBERTAS, bust of Libertas right. Rev: BRVTVS, L. Junius Brutus as consul, between two lictors, preceded by accensus, all walking left.
Crawford 433/1, Sydenham 906.

NOTE: Struck pre-civil war by Brutus as moneyer. The most famous assassin of Caesar.lawrence c

001q. Coinage of Other Relatives of Mark Antony During the Imperator PeriodMark Antony also issued a gold aureus for his elder son, also called Mark Antony. Gaius Anony, Mark Anony's younger brother, who was executed by Brutus, issued a denarius.lawrence c

001r. AhenobarbusCn. Domitius L. f. Ahenobarbus was an opponent of Julius Caesar, but was pardoned by him. Successful naval commander for Brutus, and then he continued naval operations akin to piracy after Brutus fell. He then reconciled with Marc Antony. He was named consul in 32 BC. He broke with Antony over Cleopatra and defected to Octavian shortly before the battle of Actium in 31 BC. He died about the same time as the battle in which he did not participate. He was the nephew of Cato and the grandfather of Nero.

Coin: AR Denarius. Uncertain mint along the Adriatic or Ionian Sea, 41-40 BC. Bare head right, wearing short beard; AHENOBAR before / Prow right surmounted by a military trophy; CN•DOMITIVS•IMP below. Crawford 519/2; CRI 339; BMCRR East 94-97; RSC Domitia 21. 3.64g, 19mm, 6h. Flan flaw on obverse. The bust on obverse likely is an ancestor of Ahenobarbus. Roma Numismatics Auction 75 Lot 566.lawrence c

001x1. Deiotaros, King of Galatia 59-40 B.C.AE25. 24.9mm, 10.539g. Obv: Bust of winged Nike right, hair in a bunch behind. Rev: Eagle standing right on a sheathed sword, wings open, head turned back left, flanked by pilei of the Dioscuri each with a star above, BAΣIΛEΩΣ above, ∆HIOTAPOV below. SNGvA 6103 (same countermark); Arslan K4; SNG BnF 2333; BMC Galatia p. 1, 1; HGC 7 774 (R2); see RPC I p. 536. A FORUM coin.

Note: [Courtesy of FORUM] Deiotarus was chief of the Celtic Tolistobogii tribe in western Galatia and became King of Galatia. He was a faithful ally of Rome against Mithridates VI of Pontus, for which he was rewarded by Pompey. Caesar pardoned him for siding with Pompey in the civil war but he was deprived of some of his dominions. After Caesar's death, Mark Antony, for a large payment, publicly announced that, in accordance with instructions left by Caesar, Deiotarus was to resume possession of all the territory of which he had been deprived. When civil war broke out again, Deiotarus supported the anti-Caesarian party of Brutus and Cassius, but after the Battle of Philippi in 42 B.C., he went over to the triumvirs. He retained his kingdom until his death at a very advanced age in 42 to 40 BC. He provided a legion to the Roman army, which lived on as the Legio XXII Deiotariana, founded ca. 48 BC and disbanded or destroyed during the Bar Kokhba revolt of 132–136.

A FORUM coinlawrence c

001x1a. Kings of Galatia, Amyntas, 37 - 25 B.C.Coin: Bronze AE 23, RPC I 3505; SNG Cop 99; SNGvA 6108; SNG BnF 2377; BMC Galatia p. 3, 12, weight 8.214g, maximum diameter 22.5mm, die axis 0o, obverse bust of Herakles right, club over left shoulder, E - C behind; reverse Nemean lion walking right, B above, AMYNTOY monogram in exergue. A FORUM coin.

Amyntas was a King of Galatia and of several adjacent countries between 36 and 25 BC. He first seemed to have controlled Lycaonia and then added Derbe. He commanded the Galatian auxiliaries sent to help Brutus and Cassius against the Triumvires but deserted to Mark Anthony just before the battle of Philippi in 42 BC. After the death of Deiotarus, Amyntas was made king of Cappadocia in 37 as a client ruler of Mark Antony. He deserted to Octavian shortly before the battle of Actium, and he was confirmed as king of Galatia. After he took over Homonada and killed its ruler, he was killed in an ambush in 25 AD. After his death, Galatia became a Roman province.

1 commentslawrence c

01 - Personalities of the EmpirePompey, Brutus, Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, Augustus, Livia, Caius & Lucius, Agrippa, Nero Claudius Drusus, Germanicus, Agrippina Sr., Tiberius, Drusus and Antonia1 commentsmdelvalle

013. M. Junius Brutus.Denarius, 54 BC, Rome mint.
Obverse: BRVTVS / Bust of L. Junius Brutus.
Reverse: AHALA / Bust of C. Servilius Ahala.
4.09 gm., 19 mm.
Syd. #907; RSC #Junia 30; Sear #398.

The moneyer of this coin is the same Brutus who killed Julius Caesar. However, this coin was minted about a decade earlier. It portrays two ancestors of Brutus:

1. L. Junius Brutus lead the Romans to expel their king L. Tarquinius Superbus. He was one of the founding fathers of the Roman Republic, and was elected one of the first consuls in 509 BC.

2. C. Cervilius Ahala. In 439 BC, during a food shortage in Rome, Spurius Maelius, the richest patrician, bought as much food as he could and sold it cheaply to the people. The Romans, always fearful of kings, thought he wanted to be king. So an emergency was declared and L. Cincinnatus was proclaimed Dictator. Maelius was ordered to appear before Cincinnatus, but refused. So Ahala, as Magister Equitam, killed him in the Forum. Ahala was tried for this act, but escaped condemnation by voluntary exile. 4 commentsCallimachus

0260 - Denarius Junia/Postumia 48 BCObv/ Head of Pietas r.; behind, PIETAS.
Rev/ Holding hands; behind, caduceus; below, ALBINVS BRVTI F.

Ag, 19.5 mm, 3.81 g
Moneyer: D. Iunius Brutus Albinus.
Mint: Rome.
RRC 450/2 [dies o/r: 171/190] - BMCRR I/3964
ex-Artemide Aste, auction 51E, lot 238dafnis

054 B.C., Marcus Junius Brutus, Republic AR-Denarius, Crawford 433/2, C. Servilius Ahala right, #1054 B.C., Marcus Junius Brutus, Republic AR-Denarius, Crawford 433/2, C. Servilius Ahala right, #1
avers: BRVTVS left, head of L. Junius Brutus right. Border of dots.
reverse: AHALA left, head of C. Servilius Ahala right. Border of dots.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 16,5-18,5mm, weight: 3,15g, axis: 7h,
mint: Rome, date: 54 B.C., ref: Crawford 433-2, Sydenham 907,
Q-001quadrans

1163 - D. Junius L.F. Silanus, AsAs minted in Rome, 91 BC
No legend, Head of Janus
D SILANVS L F, Prow of galley right
12.08 gr
Ref : RCV # 738

The following comment from : http://www.forumancientcoins.com/historia/historia.htm

"Decimus Junius Silanus was the son of M. Junius Silanus, who commanded the army that was defeated by the Germanic Cimbri in Transalpine Gaul.

Decimus was the stepfather of Marcus Brutus, the murderer of Caesar, having married his mother Servilia. He was elected consul in 63 for the following year ; and in consequence of his being consul designatus, he was first asked for his opinion by Cicero in the debate in the senate on the punishment of the Catilinarian conspirators. He was consul 62, with L. Licinius Morena, along with whom he proposed the Lex Licinia Julia".
Potator II

1633 - Mark Antony, DenariusStruck in a travelling mint, moving with Mark Antony in 41 BC
ANT AVG IMP III VI R P C, Head of Mark Antony right
Fortuna standing left, holding rudder in right hand and cornucopiae in left; at feet, stork; below, PIETAS COS
3,82 gr - 20 mm
Ref : Crawford # 516/2, Sydenham # 1174, HCRI # 241, C # 77
Ex. Auctiones.GmbH

The following comment is copied from NAC auction # 52/294 about the very rare corresponding aureus :
The year 41 B.C., when this aureus was struck at a mint travelling in the East with Marc Antony, was a period of unusual calm for the triumvir, who took a welcomed, if unexpected, rest after the great victory he and Octavian had won late in 42 B.C. against Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi. Antony’s original plan of organising an invasion of Parthia was put on hold after he sailed to Tarsus, where he had summoned Cleopatra VII, the Greek queen of Egypt. She was to defend herself against accusations that she had aided Brutus and Cassius before Philippi, but it is generally agreed that the summons was merely a pretext for Antony’s plan to secure aid for his Parthian campaign. Their meeting was anything but a source of conflict; indeed, they found much common ground, including their agreement that it was in their mutual interests to execute Cleopatra’s sister and rival Arsinoe IV, who had been ruling Cyprus. In addition to sharing political interests, the two agreed that Antony would winter in Egypt to share a luxurious vacation with Cleopatra that caused a further postponement of Antony’s designs on Parthia. Thus began another of the queen’s liaisons with noble Romans, a prior having been Julius Caesar (and, according to Plutarch, Pompey Jr. before him). During the course of his stay in Egypt Cleopatra was impregnated, which resulted in twins born to her in 40 B.C. But this care-free period was only a momentary calm in the storm, for trouble was brewing in both the East and the West. Early in 40 B.C. Syria was overrun by the Parthians, seemingly while Antony travelled to Italy to meet Octavian following the Perusine War, in which Octavian defeated the armies of Antony’s wife and brother. The conflict with Octavian was resolved when they signed a pact at Brundisium in October, and Syria was eventually recovered through the efforts of Antony’s commanders from 40 to 38 B.C.{/i]

5 commentsPotator II

1809 - 1810 "BRUTUS" Undated AE Halfpenny, Walthamstow, Essex.Obverse: BRUTUS. Bare head of Lucius Junius Brutus facing left.
Reverse: Britannia seated left holding olive branch and trident, a shield at her side, BCC (British Copper Company) on the ground below; all within an oak-wreath.
Edge: Grained.
Diameter: 28mm
Bowman: 24 | Withers: 621

The principal die engraver for this token was Thomas Wyon the elder (1767–1830).

This token was issued by the British Copper Company, a Welsh based company who, in 1808, bought the Walthamstow site beside the River Lea. Walthamstow is now a suburb of north east London. The copper was smelted in "Landore" near Swansea in South Wales and brought by barge around the south coast up the Thames and the Lea to the mill. The copper ingots were then rolled into thin sheets which were sent all over the country to be stamped into coins. The main purpose of the BCC would have been to sell its copper, whether in the form of tokens, or sheets of metal. These penny and half penny tokens were not issued exclusively for use in Walthamstow, the halfpennies in particular do not bear the name of a place where they could have been redeemed except the very tiny BCC found on the ground by Britannia's shield. The copper rolling mill buildings at Walthamstow were converted into a pumping station in the 1860s and were later incorporated, by Thames Water, into a large water treatment works.

Lucius Junius Brutus, one of the first two consuls of Rome, was said to have killed two of his sons who were plotting to restore the monarchy of the Tarquins, he thus became a hero for patriotism and freedom.*Alex

1811 "VINCIT AMOR" AE Halfpenny, Walthamstow, Essex.Obverse: VINCIT AMOR PATRIÆ 1811. Large laureate bust of Lucius Junius Brutus facing right.
Reverse: Britannia seated facing left holding olive branch and trident, a shield at her side, BCC bottom right of shield, all within an oak-wreath.
Edge: Grained.
Die damage, a common feature of these tokens, is visible at 10 o'clock on the obverse.
Diameter: 28mm.
Davis 17

The principal die engraver for this token was Thomas Wyon the elder (1767–1830). It was issued by the British Copper Company, a Welsh based company who, in 1808, erected copper rolling mill buildings at Walthamstow beside the River Lea. Walthamstow is now a suburb of north east London.

'Vincit amor patriæ' is a quotation from Virgil, though what Virgil wrote was vincet, in the future tense (Aeneid 6.823). The context is the visit of Aeneas to the underworld, where he sees a vision of the future of Rome, and the lines describe one of the first pair of consuls, Lucius Junius Brutus, who was said to have killed two of his sons who were plotting to restore the monarchy of the Tarquins. So it appears that Lucius Junius Brutus was chosen for this token as a hero for patriotism and freedom.*Alex

1811 "VINCIT AMOR" AE Halfpenny, Walthamstow, Essex.Obverse: VINCIT AMOR PATRIÆ 1811. Small laureate bust of Lucius Junius Brutus facing right.
Reverse: Britannia seated facing left holding olive branch and trident, a shield at her side, BCC bottom right of shield, all within an oak-wreath.
Edge: Grained.
Diameter: 28mm.
Davis 17, Coxall type 10

The principal die engraver for this token was Thomas Wyon the elder (1767–1830). It was issued by the British Copper Company, a Welsh based company who, in 1808, erected copper rolling mill buildings at Walthamstow beside the River Lea. Walthamstow is now a suburb of north east London.

'Vincit amor patriæ' is a quotation from Virgil, though what Virgil wrote was vincet, in the future tense (Aeneid 6.823). The context is the visit of Aeneas to the underworld, where he sees a vision of the future of Rome, and the lines describe one of the first pair of consuls, Lucius Junius Brutus, who was said to have killed two of his sons who were plotting to restore the monarchy of the Tarquins. So it appears that Lucius Junius Brutus was chosen for this token as a hero for patriotism and freedom.*Alex

1ae2 FulviaFirst wife of Marc Antony

ca 83-40 BC

AR Quinarius
Bust of Victory right with the likeness of Fulvia, III VIR R P C
Lion right between A and XLI; ANTONI above, IMP in ex

RSC 3, Syd 1163, Cr489/6

Fulvia was the first Roman non-mythological woman to appear on Roman coins. She gained access to power through her marriage to three of the most promising men of her generation, Publius Clodius Pulcher, Gaius Scribonius Curio, and Marcus Antonius. All three husbands were politically active populares, tribunes, and supporters of Julius Caesar. Fulvia married Mark Antony in 47 or 46 BC, a few years after Curio's death, although Cicero suggested that Fulvia and Antony had had a relationship since 58 BC. According to him, while Fulvia and Antony were married, Antony once left a military post to sneak back into Rome during the night and personally deliver a love letter to Fulvia describing his love for her and how he had stopped seeing the famous actress Cytheris. Cicero also suggested that Antony married Fulvia for her money. At the time of their marriage, Antony was an established politician. He had already been tribune in 49 BC, commanded armies under Caesar and was Master of the Horse in 47 BC. As a couple, they were a formidable political force in Rome, and had two sons together, Marcus Antonius Antyllus and Iullus Antonius.

Suetonius wrote, "[Antony] took a wife, Fulvia, the widow of Clodius the demagogue, a woman not born for spinning or housewifery, nor one that could be content with ruling a private husband, but prepared to govern a first magistrate, or give orders to a commander-in-chief. So that Cleopatra had great obligations to her for having taught Antony to be so good a servant, he coming to her hands tame and broken into entire obedience to the commands of a mistress. He used to play all sorts of sportive, boyish tricks, to keep Fulvia in good-humour. As, for example, when Caesar, after his victory in Spain, was on his return, Antony, among the rest, went out to meet him; and, a rumour being spread that Caesar was killed and the enemy marching into Italy, he returned to Rome, and, disguising himself, came to her by night muffled up as a servant that brought letters from Antony. She, with great impatience, before received the letter, asks if Antony were well, and instead of an answer he gives her the letter; and, as she was opening it, took her about the neck and kissed her."

After Julius Caesar was assassinated, Antony became the most powerful man in Rome. Fulvia was heavily involved in the political aftermath. After Caesar's death, the senate realized his popularity and declared that they would pass all of Caesar's planned laws. Antony had attained possession of Caesar's papers, and with the ability to produce papers in support of any law, Fulvia and Antony made a fortune and gained immense power. She allegedly accompanied Antony to his military camp at Brundisium in 44 BC. Appian wrote that in December 44 and again in 41 BC, while Antony was abroad and Cicero campaigned for Antony to be declared an enemy of the state, Fulvia attempted to block such declarations by soliciting support on Antony's behalf.

Antony formed the second triumvirate with Octavian (the future emperor Augustus) and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus on 43 BC and began to conduct proscriptions. To solidify the political alliance, Fulvia's daughter Clodia was married to the young Octavian. Appian and Cassius Dio describe Fulvia as being involved in the violent proscriptions, which were used to destroy enemies and gain badly needed funds to secure control of Rome. Antony pursued his political enemies, chief among them being Cicero, who had openly criticized him for abusing his powers as consul after Caesar's assassination. Though many ancient sources wrote that Fulvia was happy to take revenge against Cicero for Antony's and Clodius' sake, Cassius Dio is the only ancient source that describes the joy with which she pierced the tongue of the dead Cicero with her golden hairpins, as a final revenge against Cicero's power of speech.

In 42 BC, Antony and Octavian left Rome to pursue Julius Caesar's assassins, Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Fulvia was left behind as the most powerful woman in Rome. According to Cassius Dio, Fulvia controlled the politics of Rome. Dio wrote that "the following year Publius Servilius and Lucius Antonius nominally became consuls, but in reality it was Antonius and Fulvia. She, the mother-in‑law of Octavian and wife of Antony, had no respect for Lepidus because of his slothfulness, and managed affairs herself, so that neither the senate nor the people transacted any business contrary to her pleasure."

Shortly afterwards, the triumvirs then distributed the provinces among them. Lepidus took the west and Antony went to Egypt, where he met Cleopatra VII. When Octavian returned to Rome in 41 BC to disperse land to Caesar's veterans, he divorced Fulvia's daughter and accused Fulvia of aiming at supreme power. Fulvia allied with her brother-in-law Lucius Antonius and publicly endorsed Mark Antony in opposition to Octavian.

In 41 BC, tensions between Octavian and Fulvia escalated to war in Italy. Together with Lucius Antonius, she raised eight legions in Italy to fight for Antony's rights against Octavian, an event known as the Perusine War. Fulvia fled to Greece with her children. Appian writes that she met Antony in Athens, and he was upset with her involvement in the war. Antony then sailed back to Rome to deal with Octavian, and Fulvia died of an unknown illness in exile in Sicyon, near Corinth, Achaea.Blindado

1af Lepidus_2Quinarius

M LEP IMP, simpulum, aspergillum, axe (surmounted by wolf's head) & ape

M ANT IMP, lituus, capis (jug) and raven

Military mint with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus & Antony in Transalpine Gaul, 44-42 BC

Cr489/3, Syd 1158a

Lepidus was a member of the Second Triumvirate.

According to Plutarch's Life of Pompey: Sulla, however, was annoyed at seeing to what a height of reputation and power Pompey was advancing, but being ashamed to obstruct his career, he kept quiet. Only, when in spite of him and against his wishes Pompey made Lepidus consul, by canvassing for him and making the people zealously support him through their goodwill towards himself, seeing Pompey going off through the forum with a throng, Sulla said: "I see, young man, that you rejoice in your victory; and surely it was a generous and noble thing for Lepidus, the worst of men, to be proclaimed consul by a larger vote than Catulus, the best of men, because you influenced the people to take this course. Now, however, it is time for you to be wide awake and watchful of your interests; you have made your adversary stronger than yourself." But Sulla showed most clearly that he was not well-disposed to Pompey by the will which he wrote. For whereas he bequeathed gifts to other friends, and made some of them guardians of his son, he omitted all mention of Pompey. And yet Pompey bore this with great composure, and loyally, insomuch that when Lepidus and sundry others tried to prevent the body of Sulla from being buried in the Campus Martius, or even from receiving public burial honours, he came to the rescue, and gave to the interment alike honour and security.

Soon after the death of Sulla, his prophecies were fulfilled, and Lepidus tried to assume Sulla's powers. He took no circuitous route and used no pretence, but appeared at once in arms, stirring up anew and gathering about himself the remnants of faction, long enfeebled, which had escaped the hand of Sulla. His colleague, Catulus, to whom the incorrupt and sounder element in the senate and people attached themselves, was the great Roman of the time in the estimate set upon his wisdom and justice, but was thought better adapted for political than military leadership. The situation itself, therefore, demanded Pompey, who was not long in deciding what course to take. He took the side of the nobility, and was appointed commander of an army against Lepidus, who had already stirred up a large part of Italy and was employing Brutus to hold Cisalpine Gaul with an army.

Other opponents against whom Pompey came were easily mastered by him, but at Mutina, in Gaul, he lay a long while besieging Brutus. Meanwhile, Lepidus had made a hasty rush upon Rome, and sitting down before it, was demanding a second consulship, and terrifying the citizens with a vast throng of followers. But their fear was dissipated by a letter brought from Pompey, announcing that he had brought the war to a close without a battle. For Brutus, whether he himself betrayed his army, or whether his army changed sides and betrayed him, put himself in the hands of Pompey, and receiving an escort of horsemen, retired to a little town upon the Po. Here, after a single day had passed, he was slain by Geminius, who was sent by Pompey to do the deed. And Pompey was much blamed for this. For as soon as the army of Brutus changed sides, he wrote to the senate that Brutus had surrendered to him of his own accord; then he sent another letter denouncing the man after he had been put to death. The Brutus who, with Cassius, killed Caesar, was a son of this Brutus, a man who was like his father neither in his wars nor in his death, as is written in his Life. As for Lepidus, moreover, as soon as he was expelled from Italy, he made his way over to Sardinia. There he fell sick and died of despondency, which was due, as we are told, not to the loss of his cause, but to his coming accidentally upon a writing from which he discovered that his wife was an adulteress.Blindado

1ag Marcus Junius BrutusTook his own life in 42 BC after being defeated at Philippi by Antony and Octavian

Denarius, issued as moneyer, 54 BC
Head of Liberty, right, LIBERTAS
Consul L. Junius Brutus between lictors, preceded by accensus, BRVTVS

Seaby, Junia 31

Plutarch wrote: Marcus Brutus was descended from that Junius Brutus to whom the ancient Romans erected a statue of brass in the capitol among the images of their kings with a drawn sword in his hand, in remembrance of his courage and resolution in expelling the Tarquins and destroying the monarchy. . . . But this Brutus, whose life we now write, having to the goodness of his disposition added the improvements of learning and the study of philosophy, and having stirred up his natural parts, of themselves grave and gentle, by applying himself to business and public affairs, seems to have been of a temper exactly framed for virtue; insomuch that they who were most his enemies upon account of his conspiracy against Caesar, if in that whole affair there was any honourable or generous part, referred it wholly to Brutus, and laid whatever was barbarous and cruel to the charge of Cassius, Brutus's connection and familiar friend, but not his equal in honesty and pureness of purpose. . . . In Latin, he had by exercise attained a sufficient skill to be able to make public addresses and to plead a cause; but in Greek, he must be noted for affecting the sententious and short Laconic way of speaking in sundry passages of his epistles. . . . And in all other things Brutus was partaker of Caesar's power as much as he desired: for he might, if he had pleased, have been the chief of all his friends, and had authority and command beyond them all, but Cassius and the company he met with him drew him off from Caesar. . . . Caesar snatching hold of the handle of the dagger, and crying out aloud in Latin, "Villain Casca, what do you?" he, calling in Greek to his brother, bade him come and help. And by this time, finding himself struck by a great many hands, and looking around about him to see if he could force his way out, when he saw Brutus with his dagger drawn against him, he let go Casca's hand, that he had hold of and covering his head with his robe, gave up his body to their blows. 2 commentsBlindado

1ba Caesar's Siege of MassiliaL Hostilivs Saserna, moneyer
49-44 BC

Denarius, 48 BC

Head of Gallia, right, Gaulish trumpet behind
HOSTILIVS SASTERNA, Diana of Ephesus with stag

Seaby, Hostilia 4

This piece appears to refer to Julius Caesar's siege of Massilia (Marseille) during the civil war in 49 BC.

In The Civil Wars, Julius Caesar recorded: While this treaty was going forward, Domitius arrived at Massilia with his fleet, and was received into the city, and made governor of it. The chief management of the war was intrusted to him. At his command they send the fleet to all parts; they seize all the merchantmen they could meet with, and carry them into the harbor; they apply the nails, timber, and rigging, with which they were furnished to rig and refit their other vessels. They lay up in the public stores, all the corn that was found in the ships, and reserve the rest of their lading and convoy for the siege of the town, should such an event take place. Provoked at such ill treatment, Caesar led three legions against Massilia, and resolved to provide turrets, and vineae to assault the town, and to build twelve ships at Arelas, which being completed and rigged in thirty days (from the time the timber was cut down), and being brought to Massilia, he put under the command of Decimus Brutus; and left Caius Trebonius his lieutenant, to invest the city. Blindado

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3) The Tyrannicides: BrutusMarcus Junius Brutus
AR denarius, 42 BC
Military mint traveling with Brutus in Lycia.

LEIBERTAS, bare head of Libertas right, Deep banker's mark / CAEPIO BRVTVS PRO COS, Lyre between a quiver and a laurel branch.

Junia 34, Cr501/1, Syd 1287, RSC 5
RM0018Sosius

3) The Tyrannicides: BrutusMARCUS JUNIUS BRUTUS
Moneyer
AR Denarius. (3.5g), 54 BC.

BRVTVS, bare head of L Junius Brutus right / AHALA, bare head of C Servilius Ahala right.

Syd 907, Cr433/2, Junia30; aF

Marcus Junius Brutus (early June, 85 BC – 23 October, 42 BC), often referred to as Brutus, was a politician of the late Roman Republic. He is best known in modern times for taking a leading role in the assassination of Julius Caesar ten years after this coin was minted.
RM0032Sosius

3) The Tyrannicides: BrutusGold stater, BMCRR II p. 474, 48; RPC I 1701A (Thracian Kings); BMC Thrace p. 208, 1 (same); SNG Cop 123 (Scythian Dynasts), military mint, weight 8.39g, 44 - 42 B.C.; obverse Roman consul L. Junius Brutus (traditional founder of the Republic) in center, accompanied by two lictors, KOΣΩN in ex, BR (Brutus) monogram left; reverse eagle standing left on scepter, wings open, raising wreath in right talon; ex CNG Store

From the Elwood Rafn Collection.

2 commentsSosius

3) The Tyrannicides: BrutusBrutus 42 BC, Fourree Denarius
Roman Imperatorial, Brutus 42 BC, Fourree Denarius, 2.47g: Obv: Veiled and draped bust of Libertas right. "L.SESTI PRO Q" Rev: Tripod flanked by an axe and simpulum. "Q CAEPIO BRVTVS PRO CO". RSC 11. L Sestius Pro-Quaestor
Ex Aegean Numismatics Auction, 5/11/171 commentsSosius

3) The Tyrannicides: D. Junius Brutus AlbinusD Junius Brutus Albinus
AR Denarius, 48 BC.

Head of young Mars right, wearing a crested helmet / BRVTI F ALBINVS, two gallic trumpets in saltire, oval shield above, round shield below.

Cr450/1a; Syd 941, Postumia 11, Sear5 #426

Ex CNG

Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (born April 27,[1] ca. 85–81 BC,[2] died 43 BC) was a Roman politician and general of the 1st century BC and one of the leading instigators of Julius Caesar's assassination. Decimus Brutus is not to be confused with the more famous Brutus among the conspirators, Marcus Brutus.
RM0038Sosius

394/1b. Postumia - denarius (74 BC)AR Denarius (Rome, 74 BC)
O/ Bust of Diana right, draped, with bow and quiver over shoulder.
R/ Hound running right; spear below; C POSTVMI in exergue.
3.96g; 17mm
Crawford 394/1b (192 obverse dies/213 reverse dies, both varieties)
- ex Lockdales 145, lot 1414.

* Gaius Postumius At. or Ta. (Albinus Atilianus?):

This variant without the monogram in exergue is very rare; only three reverse dies seem to exist.

The moneyer belonged to the great patrician gens Postumia, but his family is much more difficult to ascertain. The patrician Postumii had few different branches and only one had survived by the 1st century: the Albini. There were also plebeian Postumii.

His obverse with Diana reproduces those of Aulus Postumius S.f. S.n. Albinus (RRC 335/9), and his probable son Postumius A.f. S.n. Albinus (RRC 372/1), thus implying that he was a member of the patrician family. However, the Albini never used the praenomen Gaius. It is nonetheless possible that our moneyer was adopted into the gens, as it occurred with Decimus Junius Brutus (RRC 450), adopted by an Aulus Albinus. The Postumii seem to have had difficulties producing male heirs; they indeed had 9 consulships between 186 and 99 BC, but very few magistrates bore that name in the 1st century. The disaster of the campaign against Jugurtha by the brothers Spurius and Aulus Postumius Albinus might have hit the gens hard; Aulus was also murdered during the Social War (Livy, Periochae, 75).

The monogram in exergue could therefore be deciphered as AT for the plebeian gens Atilia -- the possible family of Gaius Albinus before his adoption. Another moneyer, Lucius Atilius Nomentanus, likewise ligatured the first two letters of his name on his denarii in 141 (RRC 225/1). This theory would explain both the unusual praenomen for the gens and the monogram. His adoptive father could also be one of the two moneyer mentioned above.

Crawford links the moneyer with a Gnaeus Postumius who accused Lucius Licinius Murena, the consul elect for 62, of bribery in the famous Pro Murena by Cicero (56-58), who also says that Postumius was a (unsuccessful) candidate to the praetorship that year. The case was won by Cicero and no doubt that accusing a Consul of bribery did not help his career and the fate of the Albini, as they disappeared from history after this. 1 commentsJoss

4) Antony: SosiusGAIUS SOSIUS
General to Antony
Æ 26mm (14.5 g). ~ 38 BC.
Cilicia, Uncertain Mint.

Bare head right / Fiscus, sella, quaestoria and hasta; Q below.

Coin has been attributed to multiple rulers, including Julius Caesar, Augustus and Brutus. Now believed to be Sosius, General to Antony and Governor of Syria.

RPC I 5409; Laffaille 324; Grant, FITA, pg. 13. aFine, brown patina, scratches. Rare.
0001SOS

Sosius was wily and accomplished man. A talented general, he received a triumph. However, he consistently picked the wrong side in Rome's Civil Wars (Senate vs. Caesar, then Antony vs. Octavian) yet somehow managed to keep his head.

According to Wikipedia:

Gaius Sosius was a Roman general and politician.

Gaius Sosius was elected quaestor in 66 BC and praetor in 49 BC. Upon the start of the civil war, he joined the party of the Senate and Pompey. Upon the flight of Pompey to Greece, Sosius returned to Rome and submitted to Julius Caesar.

After the assassination of Caesar, Sosius joined the party of Mark Antony, by whom in 38 BC he was appointed governor of Syria and Cilicia in the place of Publius Ventidius. As governor, Sosius was commanded by Antony to support Herod against Antigonus the Hasmonean, when the latter was in possession of Jerusalem. In 37 BC, he advanced against Jerusalem and after he became master of the city, Sosius placed Herod upon the throne. In return for this services, he was awarded a triumph in 34 BC, and he became consul along with Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus as his colleague in 32 BC.

When civil war broke out between Antony and Octavian, Sosius espoused the cause of Antony and violently attacked Octavian in the senate, for which he was forced to flee to the east. In 31 BC, Sosius commanded a squadron in Mark Antony's fleet with which he managed to defeat the squadron of Taurius Rufus – according to Dio 50.14 – and put it to flight, but when the latter was reinforced by Marcus Agrippa, Sosius's ally Tarcondimotus – the king of Cilicia – was killed and Sosius himself was forced to flee. At Actium, Sosius commanded the left wing of Antony's fleet. After the battle, from which he managed to escape, his hiding place was detected and Sosius was captured and brought before Octavian but, at the intercession of Lucius Arruntius, Octavian pardoned him. He returned to Rome and completed his building project on the temple of Apollo Medicus (begun in 34 BC), dedicating it in Octavian's name.

Unknown sons, but two daughters : Sosia and Sosia Galla, possibly by an Asinia,[1] a Nonia or an Aelia. However the name reappears with Q. Sosius Senecio, (consul in 99 and 107).[2] and Saint Sosius (275-305 AD).

Sosius attended the Ludi Saeculares in 17 according to an inscription CIL 6.32323 = ILS 5050 as a quindecimvir.
RM00024 commentsSosius

42 BC L. Mussidius LongusCONCORDIA
Veiled and diad. head of Concordia right star below chin

L. MVSSIDIVS LONGVS
Shrine of Venus Cloacina consisting of circular platform, inscribed CLOACIN, surmounted by two statues of the goddess

Rome
42 BC

3.42g
Sear 494, RRC 494/42

Plated Fouree

ex-Canadian Coin

In Roman mythology, Cloacina (Latin, cloaca: "sewer" or "drain") was the goddess who presided over the Cloaca Maxima the main sewer drain in Rome. The Cloaca Maxima is traditionally said to have beeen started by one of Rome's Etruscan kings, Tarquinius Priscus. Despite her Etruscan origins, she later became identified with Venus.

Titus Tatius, who reigned with Romulus, erected a statue to Cloacina as the spirit of the "Great Drain". As well as controlling sewers, she was also a protector of sexual intercourse in marriage. The Romans believed that a good sewage system was important for the success of Rome, as a good sewer system was necessary for the physical health of Roman citizens. Additionally, Romans worshipped Cloacina as the goddess of purity. Cloacina was worshipped as an aspect of Venus at the small Shrine of Venus Cloacina, located in front of the Basilica Aemilia in the Roman Forum and directly above the Cloaca Maxima. The depiction on the reverse of this coin is that shrine.

The image of Concordia could be interpreted to convey the thought of Unity between the triumvirs to defeat Brutus and Cassius. Venus Cloacina on the reverse conveys the thought of purification for the treacherous murder of the dictator Julius Caesar by men who claimed to be his friends.4 commentsJay GT4

433/1 Marcus Junius Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus. AR Denarius. Rome Mint, 54 B.C. (4.01g, 19.1m, 4h). Obv: LIBERTAS, head of Libertas r., hair in bun. Rev: BRVTVS in ex., consul Lucius Junius Brutus walking l., between two lictors, preceded by an accensus. Craw. 433/1, RCV 397.

Brutus, perhaps Caesar’s most famous assassin, shows his political leanings on this coin 10 years before the assassination. Lucius Junius Brutus, the first consul and founder of the Republic reportedly expelled the last Tarquin king from Rome in 509 B.C. This is referred to as “The coin that should have warned Caesar.”1 commentsLucas H

450/ 2 Decimus Junius BrutusDecimus Junius Brutus. AR Denarius. Rome Mint, 48 B.C. (3.76g, 18.7m, 3h). Obv: Head of Pietas right, PIETAS behind. Rev: Two joined hands holding a caduceus, ALBINVS BRVTI F below. Craw. 450/2, Syd 942, Postumia 10.

Decimus Brutus Albinus was a cousin of Caesar’s who became instrumental in his assassination in 44 B.C. Decimus Junius Brutus was adopted by Consul Aulus Postumius Albinus, added the cognomen Albinus thereafter. Decimus was the third to strike Caesar on the Ides of March, and the first of the assasins to be killed, albiet by a Gaul chieftan loyal to Antony while escaping from Gaul to join Brutus and Cassius. Lucas H

54 BC M. Junius Brutus AR Denarius.LIBERTAS
bust of Libertas right

BRVTVS in ex
Consul L Junius Brutus, between two lictors, preceeded by accensus, all walking left, .

Rome, 54 BC.

3.61g

Syd 906, Cr433/1, Junia 31.

Ex-Incitatus17 commentsJay GT4

Anonymous (GAR, OGVL, VER series), DenariusAnonymous (GAR, OGVL, VER series), Denarius

RRC 350A/2
86 bc

Av: Head of Apollo r., wearing oak-wreath; below, thunderbolt,
Rv: Jupiter in quadriga r., holding reins and thunderbolt.

A number of dies from this issue are inscriben GAR, OVGL, VER on reverse. Crawforod identifies GAR as the orator C. Gargonius, from Ciceros Brutus

Ex Bertolami Fine arts, Auction 24, Numismatics, London, 23.06.2016, #442Norbert

ANTIOCH - SyriaANTIOCH - Syria, Bronze AE 27, RPC I 4223; BMC Galatia pg. 154, 25, 41 - 40 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Zeus right; reverse ANTIOCEWN MHTROPO THS IERAS KAI ASULOU, Zeus seated left holding Nike and scepter; pileus surmounted by star before, date BOG below (= Seleukid year 272).

Data from FORVM catalogue: About the time this coin was minted, the Parthians led by Quintus Labienus and Pacorus I attacked Syria, which was under Marc Antony's authority. Quintus Labienus was the son of Caesar's general Titus Labienus. He served under Brutus and Cassius, and after the battle at Phillipi fled to Parthia, which he had visited before as an ambassador. After several battles against Antony's governor, Saxa, they occupied the entire province and later Asia Minor and Palestine. In Judea, Pacorus deposed king John Hyrcanus II and appointed his nephew Antigonus king in his place. Labienus was killed during a Roman counter attack in 39 B.C. The territory they captured was recovered for Rome. Pacorus retreated to Parthia but died one year later in an attack on a Roman camp. 1 commentsdpaul7

Antony and Octavian Antony and Octavian

Α Γ Ω N Ο Θ Ε Σ Ι Α
Bust of Agonotheseia right

ANT KAI within wreath

Æ 22 mm.
11.07g
RPC I, 1552. SNG ANS 819. SNG Copenhagen 375. BMC 64.

Ex-Aegean

Refers to the establishment of Games to commemorate Antony & Octavian's victory over Cassius & Brutus at Philipi in 42 B.C. The cheif organizers of these games were known as Agonothetes; Agonotheseia, who appears on the obverse, was the personification of the Games.

Rare, historical 1 commentsJay GT4

Augustus Victory over BrutusAugustus, Philippi, (Macedon Northern Greece) 27 BC - 10 BC, 20mm, 5.64g, BMC 23, Sear 32
OBV: VIC AVG, Victory standing on globe left.
REV: COHOR PRAEPHIL, 3 legionary standards

Commemorates the battle of Philippi, 42 B.C., in which Octavian and Antony defeated the Republican tyrannicides Brutus and Cassius, who subsequently committed suicide. Augustus later settled the veterans of a Praetorian Cohort at Philippi, and he conferred upon them the right to mint coins, of which this is an example. The images on this coin presumably refer to the Emperor's above described victory in 42 BC.
The winged victory standing on a globe representing the cosmos.
Such a coin is delivering, without words but in clear images that everyone would have understood, the message that Augustus now rules the world.
All the old political institutions were reestablished and the "dignity" of the Senate was restored, but actual power was now in the hands of one man alone.
SRukke

Battle of Philippi commemerative coinPhilippi, Macedonia, 41 B.C. - 68 A.D.
Obverse: VIC - AVG, Victory standing left on base holding wreath and palm
Reverse: COHOR PRAE PHIL, three military standards

The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Wars of the Second Triumvirate between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian (the Second Triumvirate) against the forces of Julius Caesar's assassins Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus in 42 BC, at Philippi in Macedonia.Dk0311USMC

Bruto, denario (54 a.C.)Roma, M. Iunius Brutus, denario (54 a.C.)
Ag, 3.70 gr, 18 mm, qBB
D/ LIBERTAS; testa della Libertas.
R/ BRVTVS; il console L. Iunius Brutus tra due littori con fascio; davanti a loro l'accensus.
Crawford 433/1; Varesi 702.
Provenienza: collezione Berardengo (Roma, Italia, dal 7 aprile 2018, numero catalogo 390); ex asta "Cesare" di Varesi-Tinia del 7 aprile 2018, lotto 472.paolo

BRUTUSAR denarius. 42 BC,military mint. 3.69 gm. Veiled and draped bust of Libertas right. L. SESTI PRO Q. / Tripod between axe to left and simpulum to right. Q. CAEPIO BRVTVS PRO COS. Crawford 502/2. RSC 11. Smyth XIV/39.
CNG 194892.benito

BRUTUS AR denarius. 42 BC,military mint. 3.69 gm. Veiled and draped bust of Libertas right. L. SESTI PRO Q. / Tripod between axe to left and simpulum to right. Q. CAEPIO BRVTVS PRO COS. Crawford 502/2. RSC 11. Smyth XIV/39.
CNG 194892.
benito

BRUTUSAR denarius. 42 BC,military mint . 3.77 g, 12h. Laureate head of Apollo right . COSTA down right, LEG up left. / Trophy consisting of helmet, cuirass, figure eight shield, and two spears. BRVTVS IMP. Crawford 506/2. RSC 4. Smyth IX/6.
CNG 757131.
1 commentsbenito

Brutus - denarius - Sear 1431Marcus Junius Brutus. Lentulus Spinther, moneyer.
Denarius, struck 42 BC. Military mint traveling with Brutus and Cassius, perhaps in Smyrna. 18 mm, 3,46 gr
Simpulum between sacrificial axe and knife, Jug and lituus, BRVTVS below /
Jug and lituus, LENTVLVS SPINT below
Sear 1431, Sear Imperators 198, Crawford 500/7.

This type shows BRTVTS, his cognomen. Sear concludes that perhaps this type is the earliest type struck in honour of the tyrannicide. Obverse and reverse show the symbols of the respective priestly colleges Brutus and Cornelius Lentulus Spinther belonged to respectively.
Limes

Brutus - Sear 1436 - Sear Imperators 209 - RRC 506/2Updated photo'sLimes

Brutus Gold Stater Roman Consul Brutus in center accompanied by two lictors
KOΣΩN in ex. BR monogram on left.

Eagle standing left on scepter, wings open raising wreath in left claw.

Eastern mint, Dacia? 43-42 B.C.

8.38g

Choice aUNC

RPC I 1701; BMC Thrace p. 208, 1; BMCRR II 48; Crawford 433/1

Ex-ANE, Ex CNG

Clickable for larger image

For an excellent write up/ theory on these coins including a fascinating metalurgy report:
http://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/articles/koson/koson.htm

And of course the numiswiki article:
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Koson
17 commentsJay GT4

Brutus, Proconsul and Imperator, committed suicide 42 BC or Thrace, Koson, dynast 50-40 BCAV stater, 18.7mm, 8.51g, 0deg, EF
KOΣΩN in ex, BR monogram left, Roman consul, Brutus, in center accompanied by two lictors, dot circle / Eagle standing left on sceptre, wings open, raising wreath in left foot, dot circle
RPC I 1701; BMC Thrace p. 208, 1; BMCRR II 48; Crawford 433/1
Consigned to Forvm1 commentsLawrence W

Brutus, Proconsul and Imperator, committed suicide 42 BC or Thrace, Koson, dynast 50-40 BCAV stater, 18mm, 8.39g, 0deg, Choice EF
KOΣΩN in ex, BR monogram left, Roman consul, Brutus, in center accompanied by two lictors, dot circle / Eagle standing left on sceptre, wings open, raising wreath in left foot, dot circle
RPC I, 1701; BMC Thrace p. 208, 2; BMCRR II 48
Consigned to Forvm2 commentsLawrence W

BRUTUS.AR denarius. 42 BC,military mint . 3.77 g, 12h. Laureate head of Apollo right . COSTA down right, LEG up left. / Trophy consisting of helmet, cuirass, figure eight shield, and two spears. BRVTVS IMP. Crawford 506/2. RSC 4. Smyth IX/6.
CNG 757131.benito

BRVTVS/ AHALAMarcus Junius Brutus, as moneyer, AR Denarius. 54 BC. BRVTVS, bare head of L Junius Brutus right / AHALA, bare head of C Servilius Ahala right. Syd 907, Cr433/2, Sear RCV I: 398, RSC Junia 30. Depicts Lucius Junius Brutus and C. Servilius Ahala, two tyrannicides, related to Marcus Junius Brutus from father's and mother's side.1 commentsPodiceps

C. Cassius Longinus as Imperator (42 BC)AR Denarius
19.72 mm 3.60 gr.
Obv: LEIBERTAS C CASSI IMP, Libertas diademed head right
Rev: LENTVLVS SPINT, jug and lituus
Mint: Military mint, probably Smyrna (42 BC)
Crawford 500/3; RSC I 4; Sear HCRI 221; Sydenham 1307

2 obverse and reverse die matches in Schaefer’s die study, 13/75, 13/87

[Together with the veiled Libertas type, likely struck in early 42 BC just after the conference with his co-conspirator and assassin, M. Junius Brutus, at Smyrna. These issues bear the essentially self-declared title of Imperator, as the tyrannicides had no official State status, other than that of assassin co-conspirators. At the first battle of Philippi in October 42 BC Cassius’ forces suffered a temporary rout by Antony’s forces upon which Cassius committed suicide mistakenly thinking Brutus had also suffered defeat.]1 commentsKen W2

C. Domitius Calvinus as ImperatorAR Denarius
18.69 mm 3.69 gr.
Obv: OSCA, Hercules head right wearing neck-chain
Rev: DOM COS ITER IMP, emblems of the pontificate— simpulum, aspergillum, axe, and apex
Mint: Osca, Spain (39 BC)
Sear HCRI 342; Sydenham 1358
2 reverse die matches in Schaefer’s die study, 13/184

[Twice elected consul, in 53 BC and 40 BC, the former having been achieved through scandalous bribery. Also a member of the pontificate. Calvinus supported Caesar in the civil war against Pompey and commanded the center of Caesar’s forces at Pharsalus. Not surprisingly, he
was allied with Octavian and Antony in the civil war with Brutus and Cassius. In 39 BC Octavian appointed him proconsul of Spain where he successfully quelled the Cerretani revolt and was proclaimed imperator. Given his appointment by Octavian and service in the west it seems likely Calvinus remained loyal to Octavian in the later struggle between the triumvirs, although an active role in those hostilities apparently is not documented.]Ken W2

C. Vibius Pansa - D. Iunius Brutus AlbinusC. Vibius Pansa und D. Iunius Brutus Albinus.
Denarius, 48. AR 3.83 g.
Obv: C. PANSA Mask of bearded Pan r.
Rev: ALBINVS. BRVTI. F Two hands clasped around caduceus.

Cr. 451/1. Syd. 944. Seaby Vibia 22.Tanit

C. Vibius Varus. Rome, 42 BC. AR Denarius. C. Vibius Varus. Rome, 42 BC. AR Denarius, . Laureate head of Hercules r. / C·VIBIVS – VARVS Minerva standing r., holding Victory and spear

There is very little known of the Roman moneyer C. Vibius Varus, however the year in which he had money struck was a time of extreme turmoil in Rome. Caesar had been assassinated on the Ides of March and his adopted son Octavian (later Augustus) was determined to hunt down his killers who had fled, Brutus and Cassius. The second triumvirate had been formed, composed of Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus. Money was necessary to build and stabilize the troops not to mention show the strength of the new leadership.

This coin of Hercules struck under Varus is suggested to be an allusion to the then recently deceased Julius Caesar according to Crawford (p. 511 in his book RRC). The crown Hercules wears is suggested to be the crown of Alexander the Great. No small message during this tumultuous year.
This coin holds historical interest but equally is special for its metaphors back to the man Julius Caesar was believed to be, or at least was suggested by his admirers.2 commentsBritanikus

CLAUDIO Denario Claudio 50 - 51 AC

Ceca : Roma
Peso: 3,68 gr
Diam: 18,5 mm
Mat: Plata

RIC 52 - R3

Ex Auctiones - 2021 - Good very fine / EF ( trazas de limado en el canto)

Anv: TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P X IMP P P
Rev: PACI AUGUSTAE

Este tipo de reverso de Pax-Nemesis fue usado primeramente por C. Vibius Varus en 42 a.c y por los lideres partidarios de Julio Cesar antes de emprender a guerra contra sus asesinos (Brutus y Cassius). Claudio , enigmáticamente revivió este reverso que parece simbolizar mas que la revancha , sus deseos de paz ,victoria, salud y moderación para el Imperio.
Jose Vicente A

Cr 433/2 AR Denarius M. Junius BrutusAR Denarius 54 bce Rome 4.09 gm 17.5 mm
o: BRVTVS, downwards behind head of L. Iunius Brutus r, border of dots
r: AHALA, downwards behind head of C. Servilius Ahala r, border of dots
Junia 30; Servilia 17; Sydenham 932

This type has always puzzled me. It clearly depicts the two anti-tyrants in the Junia family tree, L. Junius Brutus and C. Servilius Ahala. (Crawford uses the phrase "tyrannicides", but Brutus did not kill Tarquin and Ahala seems to have sucker-stabbed Maelius in anger.) Young Brutus, or whatever his name was when he was a moneyer, clearly chose to put them on his coins at the time when Pompey's prominence in the state was at its peak; Caesar was in Gaul or Britain, and could not help him. This decision as to coinage, therefore, seems to me extremely unhealthy. Roughly the same number of dies have been identified for both of Brutus's moneyer issues, so it is unlikely that this type is an indiscretion that was quickly withdrawn. So, was Brutus being played or deployed by Pompey against Caesar? Pompey was ostentatiously NOT claiming the dictatorship, so why "warn" him, especially when a "warning" from a 30-ish year old aspiring politician who maybe had held a staff officer's post would not likely impress Pompey, "the teenage butcher"? Worth, I think, exploring a bit.2 commentsPMah

Cr 519/2 Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus AR Denariusc. 41 b.c.e. Greek coastal mint or possibly a Shipboard mint

o: Bearded head of Lucius (?) Ahenobarbus r., AHENOBAR before
r: CN.DOMITIVS.IMP Ship's prow r., w/ military trophy

HCRI 339 Domitia 21

3.79 gm.

A flip-flopper of exquisitely flexible principles, Gnaeus salvaged his family’s future by deserting to Octavian days before the battle of Actium, paving his posthumous way to becoming Emperor Nero’s great-grandfather. Suetonius says that Gnaeus “omnibus gentis suae procul dubio praeferendum” -- was “undoubtedly the best of his entire extended family, ever”. Considering that the entire extended family was considered remarkably depraved, Nero’s father most of all, that is faint praise indeed.

Lucky he was also to have previously commanded the "Liberators' " fleet and at sea instead of standing in the mud at Philippi, as the trophy presumably represents his irrelevant victory over Domitius Calvinus in October 42. To my eye, the trophy is not distinctly nautical standing alone and perhaps the entire design reflects a naval trophy that he erected on a friendly shore point.

His allies Brutus and Cassius having committed suicide, Gnaeus took his 72 ships and two legions a-pirating rather successfully for nearly a decade. Thinking he had made a good pile of stolen booty but that the tide was turning (indeed, he also struck an aureus), he then struck a deal with Antonius (an add-on to the Sextus Pompeius work-out) and became consul for 32. Dry land politics being more fickle than piracy, he soon had to choose between Octavian and Antonius and headed east. There, he suddenly became a Model Virtuous Roman in antagonism to Cleopatra, persuading no one, and finally rowed over to Octavian, who accepted him rather than having Agrippa treat him to a game of "walk the plank". Yet he died a few days later of “fever”, which tended to happen to temporarily incapacitated power brokers recuperating near Octavian (see my Cr. 449/2 Pansa) or Livia Drusilla (see, "I, Claudius"). His defection and various marriage connections (and I would like to think a map to his buried pirate treasure, but wrong movie ...) kept his descendants comfortably depraved for almost 100 years.

This denarius is scarce, and particularly scarce with anything other than a horrible obverse. It perhaps depicts pater Lucius, who also ran afoul of Caesar and Antonius (see my post of Cr. 448/3 L. Hostilius Saserna). This specimen shares the weak obverse strike seen on most, yet is a slight bit less worn and less marked than many. On the better-struck coins, whichever Ahenobarbus this is can be seen to sport a scraggly beard, presumably to cue the "red beard" cognomen, but the portraits on almost all dies are quite distinctively coarse. The reverse, which is the main appeal of this specimen, is much more carefully engraved, with distinct waves, "eye", oar box and trophy. The keel and "beak"/rostrum are clear, and the prow-stem is outlined and shows internal beam-structure.
1 commentsPMah

Cr. 433/1, Republic, 42 BC, M. Junius BrutusM. Junius Brutus
AR Denarius, 42BC, Rome
Obv.: LIBERTAS, Head of Libertas right.
Rev.: BRVTVS, Consul L. Junius Brutus walking left between two lictors, carrying fasces over shoulder; accensus to left.
Ag, 19mm, 3.87g
Ref.: Crawford 433/1
Ex Münzkabinett Heinrich
Ex Gitbud & Naumann, auction 39, lot 8262 commentsshanxi

Crawford 337/2, ROMAN REPUBLIC, D. Junius Silanus, AR DenariusRome, The Republic.
D. Junius Silanus, 91 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.94g; 18mm).
Rome Mint.

Obverse: Diademed head of Salus, wearing necklace, facing right; SALVS below neck truncation; M control mark before; all within torque border.

Reverse: Victory driving fast biga to right, holding reins, whip and palm branch; ROMA below; [D]· SILANVS· L· F in exergue.

References: Crawford 337/2c; Sydenham 645a; BMCRR 1846; Junia 18.

Provenance: Ex Hessian Vordertaunus Collection [Peus 419 (27 Apr 2017), Lot 231]; purchased privately from Spink, London (13 Nov 1972).

This obverse of the coin celebrates several ancestors of the moneyer. Silanus may have descended from D. Junius Silanus, praetor in 141 BCE, who was born Manlius Torquatus – the obverse torque border being a punning allusion to this descent. C. Junius Babulcus Brutus received a triumph for his victory over the Samnites and built a temple of Salus, dedicated circa 302 BCE, which may be related to the head of Salus on this coin.
Carausius

Crawford 397/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC, Spinther AR DenariusRome, The Republic.
Pub. Lentulus P.f.L.n. Spinther, 71 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.85g; 18mm).
Rome Mint

Obv: Q●S●C; Hercules head right.

Rev: P●LENT●P●F / [L]●N; Genius Romani seated facing on chair, holding coruncopia and scepter, being crowned by Victory.

References: Crawford 397/1; Sydenham 791(R6); BMCRR 3329.

Provenance: ex Collection of a Director [Triton XX (10 Jan 2017) Lot 525; ex Eton College Collection [Sotheby's (1 Dec 1976) Lot 219).

In my humble opinion, this is one of the more artistic reverse types of the Roman Republic denarius series – almost Greek in execution. It depicts Genius of the Roman People exerting dominance over the world with one foot on the globe while being crowned victorious. The message may be related to the ongoing wars with Sertorius in Spain, Mithridates in the East and possibly the servile revolt led by Spartacus in Italy (if the 71BC date proposed by Hersh and Walker is accepted, see below). Other members of the Cornelia gens also depicted Genius of the Roman People on their coinages, so the cult of Genius may have been important to the family, or it may be coincidental that the Corneliae happened to strike these coins during strife when the message of the Genius of the Roman People would have been appropriate. Crawford agrees with the latter explanation. SC [Senatus consulto] in the obverse legend suggests it was struck by special decree of the Roman Senate.

The coin is scarce and missing from many major hoards, making it difficult to precisely date. In fact, it’s listed in only four hoards on Table XIII in Crawford’s Roman Republican Coin Hoards. Of those four hoards: in two hoards (Cosa and Palestrina), it’s deemed the final issue (terminus ante quem), lacking the context of later coins; in the third hoard (Tolfa), it’s the next to last issue with the last being a serrate denarius of Q. Creperei Rocus, which Crawford dates to 72BC; and in the fourth hoard (San Gregorio), it appears in the middle context in which Rocus is again the next latest coin. Crawford’s Roman Republican Coinage dates the coin 74BC, concurring with Grueber’s dating in the British Museum Catalogue. David Sear stuck with Crawford’s dating of 74BC in the Millennium Edition of Roman Coins and Their Values. However, in their 1984 analysis of the Mesagne Hoard (which contained no examples of this coin), Hersh and Walker revised the dating to 71BC, which lumps the Spinther issue with several other, non-serrate, “SC” issues of the late 70s. Hersh and Walker re-date the serrate Rocus issue to 69BC, where it is lumped with other serrate issues. In my collection catalogue, I’ve chosen to use the 71BC date proposed by Hersh and Walker, because it fits neatly with the fabric and special circumstances of the coinage and is consistent with the cursus honorum dates discussed in the following paragraph.

The moneyer was the Quaestor, P. Cornelius Lentulus, whose nickname was Spinther (reportedly because he resembled an actor by that name). It was a nickname that he clearly liked as both he and his son later used it on coins. Spinther, an aristocrat of the Cornelia gens, was liked by Julius Caesar and rose through the cursus honorum, beginning with his Quaestorship when this coin was struck. He was elected Aedile in 63BC and worked with Cicero in suppressing the Cataline conspiracy. The date of his Aedileship is important in that 6-8 years was the required waiting period between Quaestor and Aedile in the cursus honorum, the career path for a Roman politician, which is consistent with Hersh and Walker’s proposed dating of this coin issue to 71BC; Crawford’s dating of 74BC implied that Spinther failed to reach the Aedileship for several years after he qualified for the position (being elected in the first qualification year was an important distinction to the Romans, though certainly an accomplishment that many Roman aristocrats failed to attain). He was later governor of part of Spain. With Caesar’s help, he was elected consul in 57BC, when he recalled Cicero from exile. Thereafter he governed Cilicia, at which time Cicero wrote him a still-surviving letter. As relations deteriorated between Caesar and Pompey, Spinther sided with Pompey. Despite initial offers of amnesty by Caesar, Spinther would not remain neutral and was eventually killed or committed suicide during the civil wars. His son later allied with Caesar’s assassins and struck the well-known LENTVLVS SPINT coins for both Brutus and Cassius.

This example comes from the Eton College Collection, which was auctioned by Sotheby’s in 1976. Eton College initiated its ancient coin collection by acquiring a large group of British Museum duplicates in the 1870s, and Eton added to this collection in the ensuing years. By the mid-1970s, the ancient coin market was white-hot, and Eton decided to cash-out the lion’s share of its collection, keeping a representative core for study purposes. I’ve contacted the British Museum’s Department of Coins and Medals to link this coin to the original tranche of BM duplicates purchased by Eton. Unfortunately, before adoption of modern curatorial standards, the BM did not accession duplicates into the BM collection; rather, they simply put duplicates into the “duplicates cabinet” without cataloging them. These uncatalogued duplicates would be sold or traded from time to time to acquire needed specimens for the BM collection. There might be record of the transaction somewhere at the BM, but there would be no description of the duplicates sold. By 1980 or so, the BM began cataloguing all coins, even duplicates. There is an 1880s book published about Eton's Roman coin collection, but it describes only a representative sample of the collection and this coin is not included.

6 commentsCarausius

Crawford 433/1, ROMAN REPUBLIC, M. Junius Brutus, AR DenariusRome, The Republic.
M. Junius Brutus, 54 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.79g; 20mm).
Rome Mint.

Obverse: Head of Libertas, facing right, her hair up, wearing necklace of pendants and cruciform earing; LIBERTAS behind.

Reverse: L. Junius Brutus walking left with two lictors and an accensus; BRVTVS in exergue.

References: Crawford 433/1; Sydenham 906; BMCRR 3862; Junia 31.

Provenance: Ex Dr. Michael Phillip Collection [Stack's Bowers 2016 NYINC Auction (12 Jan 2016) Lot 31131]; Stack's Auction, 7-8 Dec 1989, Lot 3233; Frederick S. Knobloch Collection [Stack's (3-4 May 1978), Lot 511].

Struck by chief assassin of Caesar during his early political career. At this time, Brutus was in opposition to Pompey, and it's likely that this coin type is intended to remind the general public of Brutus' pedigree against tyranny. Brutus’ ancestor, Lucius Junius Brutus, overthrew the Etruscan kings of Rome and helped form the Republic, becoming one of the first Consuls in 509 BCE. The reverse of this coin shows Lucius Junius Brutus, as Consul, walking with his attendant lictors and accensus. Liberty on the obverse alludes to the overthrow of the monarchy – a role that the moneyer himself would play 10 years after this coin was struck.

A few words on those men accompanying Brutus on the reverse:

The lictors were attendants who carried fasces and accompanied the consuls at all times. They proceeded before the senior consul and cleared his path and they walked behind the junior consul. They also made arrests, summonses and executions. A consul had twelve lictors.

The accensi were civil servants that also accompanied the magistrates in addition to lictors and acted as heralds. They typically walked behind the magistrate, but an early custom had them precede the consul in the months when the lictors did not walk before him. This appears to be the scene depicted on this coin – the accensus precedes Brutus and one of the lictors is behind him.
5 commentsCarausius

Crawford 433/2, ROMAN REPUBLIC - M. Junius Brutus - AR DenariusRome, The Republic.
Rome Mint.
M. Junius Brutus, 54 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.84g; 19mm).

Obverse: BRVTVS; head of L. Junius Brutus facing right.

Reverse: AHALA; head of C. Servillius Ahala facing right.

References: Crawford 433/2; Sydenham 907; BMCRR 3864; Junia 30.

Provenance: Ex Barry Feirstein Collection [NAC 45 (2008) Lot 14]; ex NAC 11 (1998), Lot 279.

Struck by chief assassin of Caesar during his early political career. The coin depicts Brutus' illustrious ancestors on both sides of his family. The Brutus side is Lucius Junius Brutus, who expelled the Tarquin kings from Rome and became consul in 509 BCE. The Ahala side is C. Servilius Ahala who was celebrated by Cicero for having slain a traitor. At this point in his political career, Brutus was in opposition to Pompey, and it's likely that this coin type is intended to remind the general public of Brutus' pedigree against tyranny. 3 commentsCarausius

Crawford 450/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, D. Junius Brutus Albinus, AR DenariusRome, Moneyer Issues of the Imperatorial Period.
D. Junius Brutus Albinus, 48 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.94g; 20mm).
Rome Mint.

Obverse: Head of Pietas facing right, her hair tied-up in a knot, wearing necklace and cruciform earing; PIETAS behind.

Reverse: Two hands clasping caduceus; ALBINVS·BRVTI·F, below.

References: Crawford 450/2; HCRI 26; Sydenham 942; BMCRR 3964; Postumia 10.

Provenance: Ex Goldberg 80 (3 Jun 2014), Lot 3067; Jacob K. Stein Collection [Gemini V (6 Jan 2009) Lot 246]; displayed at Cincinnati Art Museum, 1994-2008, no. 138.

Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, not to be confused with his cousin, Marcus Brutus, lived on a similar trajectory to his cousin. He was first close with Julius Caesar, having served in the Gallic Wars and on Caesar’s side in the civil war against Pompey. Eventually, Albinus joined the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar. After the assassination, the Senate gave him control of Cisalpine Gaul where he came under assault by Antony who wanted control of the province. Albinus was killed by Gauls while trying to escape to Macedonia to join the other Liberators. This coin type was struck during the civil war between Caesar and Pompey when Albinus sided with Caesar. The reverse type, with its symbols of concord, alludes to Caesar’s policy of reconciliation during the war.

This particular example was part of a 182-coin exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum from 1994-2008. The intense, rainbow toning on the reverse can perhaps be attributed to the reverse being the “display” side during that 14-year museum run.

1 commentsCarausius

Crawford 450/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, D. Junius Brutus Albinus, AR DenariusRome, Moneyer Issues of the Imperatorial Period.
D. Junius Brutus Albinus, 48 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.74g; 20mm; 5h).
Rome Mint.

Obverse: Head of Pietas facing right, her hair tied-up in a knot, wearing necklace and cruciform earing; PIETAS behind.

Reverse: Two hands clasping caduceus; ALBINVS·BRVTI·F, below.

References: Crawford 450/2; HCRI 26; Sydenham 942; BMCRR 3964; Postumia 10.

Provenance: Ex Leu Numismatik 11 (14 May 2022) Lot 222; Alde (19 Oct 2016) Lot 183; Andre J. Collection [E. Bourgey (20 Dec 1929) Lot 78].

Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, not to be confused with his cousin, Marcus Brutus, lived on a similar trajectory to his cousin. He was first close with Julius Caesar, having served in the Gallic Wars and on Caesar’s side in the civil war against Pompey. Eventually, Albinus joined the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar. After the assassination, the Senate gave him control of Cisalpine Gaul where he came under assault by Antony who wanted control of the province. Albinus was killed by Gauls while trying to escape to Macedonia to join the other Liberators. This coin type was struck during the civil war between Caesar and Pompey when Albinus sided with Caesar. The reverse, with its symbols of concord, alludes to Caesar’s policy of reconciliation during the war.

This coin is an upgrade of my prior example, and with an exceptional provenance.

Carausius

Crawford 496/1, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Marc Antony, AR DenariusRome. The Imperators.
Marc Antony, 44-31 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.95g; 18mm).
Military mint travelling with Antony, 42BCE.

Obverse: Antony's bearded head right; M ANTONI - IMP (ligate).

Reverse: Facing bust of Sol within distyle temple; III - VIR - R·P·C, around.

References: Crawford 496/1; HCRI 128; Sydenham 1168; BMCRR (Gaul) 62; Antonia 34.

Provenance: Italian export permit No. 13168 of 2018; ex Nomisma 32 (2006), Lot 129.

This coin was likely struck shortly after Brutus’s and Cassius’s defeat at Philippi in 42 BCE. Antony is still shown with his beard of mourning (he and Octavian would not shave until Caesar’s assassination was avenged), and it’s likely that the die engravers had not yet been instructed to remove the beard following Philippi. This is the last bearded image of Antony to appear on his coinage. There were two versions of this coin type: one with IMP spelled the standard way; the other with IMP ligate, as on this example. The ligate version is the scarcer version of the two. The reverse type emphasizing Sol was a common theme on Antony’s eastern coinage, perhaps reflecting his growing enchantment with eastern Hellenistic culture.
2 commentsCarausius

Crawford 496/1, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Marc Antony, AR DenariusRome. The Imperators.
Marc Antony, 44-31 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.95g; 18mm; 5h).
Military mint travelling with Antony, 42BCE.

Obverse: Antony's bearded head right; M ANTONI - IMP.

Reverse: Facing bust of Sol within distyle temple; III - VIR - R·P·C, around.

References: Crawford 496/1; HCRI 128; Sydenham 1168; BMCRR (Gaul) 62; Antonia 34.

Provenance: Hess Divo 329 (17 Nov 2015) lot 138; J.D. Collection [NAC 72 (16 May 2013) lot 1272]; Gilbert Steinberg Collection [NAC-Spink Taisei (16 Nov 1994) lot 1994]; Numismatic Fine Arts FPL 15 (Jul-Aug 1979) lot 33.

This coin was likely struck shortly after Brutus’s and Cassius’s defeat at Philippi in 42 BCE. Antony is still shown with his beard of mourning (he and Octavian would not shave until Caesar’s assassination was avenged), and it’s likely that the die engravers had not yet been instructed to remove the beard following Philippi. This is the last bearded image of Antony to appear on his coinage. There were two versions of this coin type: one with IMP spelled the standard way, as on this example; the other with IMP ligate. The reverse type emphasizing Sol was a common theme on Antony’s eastern coinage, perhaps reflecting his growing enchantment with eastern Hellenistic culture.
2 commentsCarausius

Crawford 497/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Octavian, AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Octavian, 44-27 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.96g; 21mm).
Military Mint, 42 BCE.

Obverse: CAESAR·III-VIR·R·P·C; Bare head of Octavian with slight beard, facing right.

Reverse: Curule chair with legs decorated by eagles and wreath on empty seat; inscribed C[ÆS](AR) [•DIC •PE]R.

References: Crawford 497/2a; HCRI 137; Sydenham 1322; BMCRR Gaul 76; Banti-Simonetti 386 (this coin illustrated).

Provenance: Ex John L. Cowan Collection [CNG eSale 469 (Jun 2020) Lot 351]; acquired from Pegasi (6/8/2013); CNG Triton XVI (2013) Lot 968; Goldman Roman Imperatorial Collection [Rauch 83 (2008), Lot 170]; Kunker 124 (2007) Lot 8562; L. Simonetti Collection [Banti-Simonetti (1974) 386]; Hess-Leu Auction 41 (24-5 Apr 1969), Lot 68.

Octavian is depicted with a beard of mourning for Julius Caesar, which he would not shave until Brutus and Cassius were defeated at Philippi later in the year. While the obverse visually reflects Octavian’s personal status as the mourning, adopted son and heir of the recently deified Julius, the obverse inscription highlights his new political status as a member of the triumvirate with Antony and Lepidus. The reverse honors Julius Caesar by referencing his Senatorial appointment as dictator for life and showing a memorial wreath on the curule chair representing Caesar’s imperium. Curule chairs were symbols of political and/or military power in the Roman Republic, perhaps originating from the folding campaign stool of a general, and also derived from the Etruscan kings who dispensed justice from a seat in the royal chariot (“currus”). In the Republic, only high-level magistrates would use curule chairs, including consuls, praetors and certain aediles (so-called “curule aediles”).
1 commentsCarausius

Crawford 500/1, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Cassius, AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
C. Cassius Longinus. 44-42 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.38g; 20mm).
Military Mint in Smyrna.

Obverse: C. CASSI – IMP; tripod with cauldron and laurel fillets.

Reverse: LENTVLVS SPINT; jug and lituus.

References: Crawford 500/1; HCRI 219; Sydenham 1308; BMCRR (East) 79; Cassia 14.

Provenance: Nomisma 59 (14 May 2019) Lot 121; P&P Santamaria (4 May 1961) Lot 168.

This coin was struck for Cassius, one of the chief assassins of Julius Caesar, when Brutus and Cassius met in Smyrna, circa early 42 BCE. The tripod obverse type was borrowed from a slightly earlier Aureus produced for Cassius by his legate, M. Aquinus. The tripod may reference Cassius’ membership in one of the sacred colleges. Cassius was elected to the augurate in 57 BCE, to which the implements on the reverse of this coin certainly allude. The coin was produced on Cassius’ behalf by P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, who also produced coins for Brutus at the same time. For more information on Spinther, see my example of his Brutus denarius at: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-145289

Until the discovery of a large, mint-state, hoard in the early 2000’s, this was one of the rarest types in the Roman Republican series. While recent hoard examples of the type are scarce, old provenanced examples, like this, remain extremely rare.
2 commentsCarausius

Crawford 500/7, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Brutus and Lentulus Spinther, AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Brutus and Lentulus Spinther, 42 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.91g; 20mm).
Military Mint (Smyrna?).

Obv: BRVTVS; axe, simpulum and knife.

Rev: LENTVLVS SPINT; jug and lituus.

References: Crawford 500/7; HCRI 198; Sydenham 1310; BMCRR East 80-1; Junia 41.

Provenance: Ex Stoeklin Collection [Nomos14 (17 May 2017) Lot 301]; ex Munzhandlung Basel 6 (18 Mar 1936), Lot 1483; ex Trau Collection [Gilhoffer & Ranschburg & Hess (22 May 1935), Lot 37].

The sacrificial implements on the obverse refer to Brutus' membership in the college of Pontifs. The implements on the reverse refer to Spinther's membership in the augurate since 57 BCE.

Spinther was the son of P. Cornelius Lentulus, whose nickname was Spinther (reportedly because he resembled an actor by that name). It was a nickname that his father clearly liked as both he and his son later used it on coins. His father was an aristocrat of the Cornelia gens, who was liked by Julius Caesar and worked with Cicero in suppressing the Cataline conspiracy. He was later governor of part of Spain. With Caesar’s help, his father was elected consul in 57BC, when he recalled Cicero from exile. Thereafter he governed Cilicia, at which time Cicero wrote him a still-surviving letter. As relations deteriorated between Caesar and Pompey, both Spinthers sided with Pompey. Despite initial offers of amnesty by Caesar, Spinther senior would not remain neutral and was eventually killed or committed suicide during the civil wars. His son later allied with Caesar’s assassins and struck coins for both Brutus and Cassius.
4 commentsCarausius

Crawford 501/1, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Brutus, AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Brutus, 43-2 BC
AR Denarius (3.76 g; 21 mm)
Mint traveling with Brutus

Obv: LEIBERTAS. Liberty head facing right.

Rev: CAEPIO BRVTVS PRO COS. Lyre with quiver and filleted olive branch.

References: Crawford 501/1; HCRI 199; Smyth (1856) IX/11(this coin described).

Provenance: Ex NAC 84 (2015), Lot 859; NAC 9 (16 Apr 1996), Lot 758; NAC 4 (27 Feb 1991), Lot 289; NAC 2 (21 Feb 1990), Lot 481; Duke of Northumberland Collection [Sotheby's, 4 Nov 1982, Lot 475], acquired before 1856.

Liberty is a common theme on coins of the tyranicides who claimed to have liberated The Republic from the regal aspirations of Julius Caesar; so it's no surprise to find Libertas prominent on this coin of Brutus. Sear points out that the reverese is likely derived from the frequent depiction of lyres, quivers and fillteted branches on Lycian Leage coins. This issue was iikely struck in Lycia.

This coin holds the oldest, verifiable provenance in my collection. It is from the Duke of Northumberland Collection, catalogued by Admiral William Smyth in his 1856 book, "Descriptive Catalogue of A Cabinet of Roman Family Coins Belonging to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland," and subsequently sold by Sotheby’s in 1982. The Smyth book has no plates (line drawn or otherwise), but it does contain detailed descriptions of the collection coins with weights in grains. This coin is among those described in Smyth’s book, therefore it must have been acquired by the Duke’s family before 1856. Smyth described the collection as being in the Duke’s family for many years, so the ownership history conceivably dates to the 18th century.
1 commentsCarausius

Crawford 502/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Brutus, AR DenariusRome. The Imperators.
Brutus, 44-42 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.76g; 17mm).
Military Mint, Spring-Summer 42 BCE.

Obverse: L·SESTI - PRO·Q; Veiled and draped bust of Libertas, facing right.

Reverse: Q·CAEPIO·BRVTVS·PRO·COS; Tripod with axe on left and simpulum on right.

References: Crawford 502/2; HCRI 201; Syd 1290; BMCRR East 41; Junia 37; Sestia 2.

Provenance: Ex Alan J. Harlan Collection [Triton XXII (9 Jan 2019), Lot 951]; Kunker 288 (13 Mar 2017) Lot 314; Theodor Prowe Collection [Hess (20 May 1912) Lot 933].

Marcus Junius Brutus was posthumously adopted by his maternal uncle, Quintus Servilius Caepio. Afterward, Brutus sometimes used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, which both honored his uncle and advertised his maternal descent from Gaius Servilius Structus Ahala. Ahala was a Roman Republican hero who had killed someone with regal aspirations. In his early political career, Brutus issued coins with the portrait of Ahala on one side (see Crawford 433/2; http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-144687). Following the assassination of Caesar, Brutus resurrected his use of the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, as on this coin, again alluding to this Servilian connection in his family tree. Combined with the bust of Liberty on the obverse of this coin, the message is clear: that the assassins were liberators from monarchy in the old Republican tradition of their ancestors. The reverse shows the symbols of Brutus’ membership in the college of priests.

This example comes from the collection of Theodor Prowe of Moscow, one of the great collections of the early 20th century, which was auctioned in three separate 1912 sales by Bruder Egger (Greek) and Hess (Roman).
2 commentsCarausius

Crawford 502/3, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Brutus and L. Sestius, AR QuinariusRome, The Imperators.
Q. Caepio Brutus and L. Sestius, Spring-Early Summer 42 BCE.
AR Quinarius (1.86g; 12mm).
Military Mint travelling with Brutus.

Obverse: L· SESTI – PRO Q; veiled and draped bust of Libertas facing right.

Reverse: Q CAEPIO [BRVTVS] PRO COS; Victory advancing right, holding palm and wreath.

References: Crawford 502/3; HCRI 202; Sydenham 1291 (R7); BMCRR (East) 46; Junia 38; Sestia 3.

Provenance: Ex Classical Numismatic Group Esale 463 (11 March 2020) Lot 316; Jonathan Kern Collection [Heritage 3035 (2014) Lot 29180]; UBS 78 (9 Sep 2008), Lot 1151; Münzen und Medaillen Auction XVII (2-4 December 1957), Lot 321.

Brutus’ birth name was Marcus Junius Brutus, but he was later adopted by his uncle, Q. Servilus Caepio, and he took the name of Q. Caepio Brutus. Thus, we see many versions of his name on his coins. This quinarius was produced by L. Sestius, proquaestor to Brutus who later gained Augustus’ trust.

Depictions of liberty and victory were common on the coinage of the tyrannicides, who projected the image of liberators. Contrary to this image, much of the silver used to produce their coinage was acquired by extorting the cities of the East.
Carausius

Crawford 504/1, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Brutus and C. Flavius Hemicillus, AR DenariusRome. The Imperators.
Q. Caepio Brutus & C. Flavius Hemicillus, 44-42 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.83g; 19mm; 12h).
Military Mint, Early Summer 42 BCE.

Obverse: C·FLAV·HEMIC·LEG·PRO·PR; Draped bust of Apollo, facing right with lyre before.

Reverse: Q·CAEP·BRVT·IMP; Victory holding palm branch and crowning trophy.

References: Crawford 504/1; HCRI 205; Syd 1294 (R7); BMCRR East 55; Junia 49; Servilia 31.

Provenance: Ex Barry Feirstein Collection [NAC 45 (2 Apr 2008) Lot 38]; privately purchased from Harlan J. Berk Ltd.

This rare type was issued by Brutus and his legate during the lead-up to the decisive battle of Phillipi. There is debate as to whether this legate is named in the historical texts, because there are multiple, conflicting references to Flaviuses serving with Brutus.
1 commentsCarausius

Crawford 505/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, C. Cassius and M. Servilius, AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
C. Cassius and M. Servilius, Summer 42 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.85g; 19mm).
Military mint travelling with Brutus and Cassius (likely Sardis).

Obverse: C·CASSI·IMP; laureate head of Libertas, facing right.

Reverse: M·SERVILIVS - LEG; aplustre with branches terminating in flowers.

References: Crawford 505/2; HCRI 225; Sydenham 1312 (R7); BMCRR (East) 83; Cassia 21; Servilia 42.

Provenance: Stack's (17 Jan 2020) Lot 20084; Edward J. Waddell e-Sale (1990s) Lot 42; R. Ratto FPL IX (1933) Lot 1057; Valerio Traverso Collection [M. Baranowsky (25 Feb 1931), Lot 1270]; R. Ratto FPL (1927) Lot 625; Leo Hamburger Auction (27 Nov 1922), Lot 61; Johann Horsky Collection [A. Hess (30 Apr 1917) Lot 2600].

This rare type comprised part of the final series of coins struck in the name of Cassius, lead conspirator against Julius Caesar, probably at Sardis in Summer, 42 BCE. It celebrates Cassius’ victory over the fleet of Rhodes in the waters off Kos. The aplustre, an ornamental stern of a Roman galley, is symbolic of Cassius’ naval victory, and the floriate branches (roses) may refer to Rhodes. Shortly after his victory over the Rhodians, Cassius met-up with his co-conspirator Brutus in Sardis, where this coin was likely struck. Within just a few months of producing this coin, Cassius’ troops were defeated by Antony at Philippi and he committed suicide on his own birthday, 3 October 42 BCE. Marcus Servilius struck this final coinage on behalf of Cassius. Servilius was tribune in 44 BCE and was respected by Cicero. After Caesar’s assassination, he served in the east as a Legate under both Cassius and Brutus, and he struck coins for both men. He was likely related to Brutus, whose mother’s name was Servilia. Legates were staff members of military commanders, on whose recommendation they were appointed by the Senate. Legates often served as deputies for their commanders, but practically exercised no independent authority. For example, a Legate had no independent authority to strike coinage, and did so based solely on the imperium of the commander for whom he served – thus we see the names of both the Legate and his commander on this coin.
2 commentsCarausius

Crawford 507/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Brutus with Casca Longus, AR DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Brutus with Casca Longus. 42 BCE.
AR Denarius (3.88g; 21mm).
Military mint, 42 BCE.

Obverse: CASCA LONGVS; Neptune's head facing right; trident below.

Reverse: BRVTVS IMP; Victory advancing right on broken scepter, holding filleted diadem and palm.

References: Crawford 507/2; HCRI 212; Sydenham1298 (R6); BMCRR (East) 63; Junia 44; Servilia 35.

Provenance: Ex V.L. Nummus Auction 12 (15 Sep 2019) Lot 68; Brüder Egger Auction 45 (12 Nov 1913) Lot 871.

Publius Servilius Casca Longus was one of the leading conspirators against Julius Caesar, and he was Tribune of the Plebs at the time of the assassination. Plutarch reports that a nervous Casca was the first to stab Caesar on the Ides of March with a glancing blow: “Casca gave him the first cut, in the neck, which was not mortal nor dangerous, as coming from one who at the beginning of such a bold action was probably very much disturbed. Caesar immediately turned about and laid his hand upon the dagger and kept hold of it. And both of them at the same time cried out, he that received the blow, in Latin, ‘Vile Casca, what does this mean?’ and he that gave it, in Greek, to his brother [Gaius] ‘Brother, help!’” [Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans, Arthur Clough (Ed.)] After Caesar’s assassination, Casca was given command of Brutus’ fleet. Nothing is known of Casca following the Battle of Philippi in October 42 BCE, where he likely perished or committed suicide in the aftermath.

The Neptune obverse refers to Casca’s naval command and the naval superiority of the conspirators before Philippi. Coins of the conspirators are replete with depictions of liberty and victory, and this coin is no exception. The reverse, with its broken scepter, clearly alludes to the assassins’ hope to eliminate monarchy in the Roman state and restore the Republic. Some authors have speculated that Victory is breaking the regal diadem on this type, although I don’t think that is abundantly clear.
9 commentsCarausius

Crawford 507/2, ROMAN IMPERATORIAL, Brutus with Casca Longus, Plated (Fourree) DenariusRome, The Imperators.
Brutus with Casca Longus. 42 BCE.
Plated (fourree) Denarius (2.53g; 20mm).
Military mint, 42 BCE.

Obverse: CASCA LONGVS; Neptune's head facing right; trident below.

Reverse: BRVTVS IMP; Victory advancing right on broken scepter, holding filleted diadem and palm.

References: Crawford 507/2; HCRI 212; Sydenham1298 (R6); BMCRR (East) 63; Junia 44; Servilia 35; Smyth XIV/28 (this coin described).

Provenance: Naville Auction 62 (13 Dec 2020) Lot 393; Duke of Northumberland Collection [Sotheby's (1982) Lot 482]; acquired before 1856.

While it is generally accepted that there were no “official” plated denarii issued by the Roman Republic, there were very-rare exceptions during the Imperatorial Period. Cornuficius’ coinage struck in North Africa circa 42 BC (Crawford 509) are more often found plated than solid and may have been an “official” plated issue. Whether the tyrannicides may have run into occasional silver shortages during the lead-up to Phillipi which required issuance of plated coins on an emergency basis can only be guessed; however, plated coins of the tyrannicides are certainly not common enough to support such a theory. I have seen a few very high-quality plated examples of the above type, but not huge numbers. Also, ancient forgeries would have been produced from impressions of genuine coins and should be of good style. For a solid silver example of the type, see my gallery coin at: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-158193

Publius Servilius Casca Longus was one of the leading conspirators against Julius Caesar, and he was Tribune of the Plebs at the time of the assassination. Plutarch reports that a nervous Casca was the first to stab Caesar on the Ides of March with a glancing blow: “Casca gave him the first cut, in the neck, which was not mortal nor dangerous, as coming from one who at the beginning of such a bold action was probably very much disturbed. Caesar immediately turned about and laid his hand upon the dagger and kept hold of it. And both of them at the same time cried out, he that received the blow, in Latin, ‘Vile Casca, what does this mean?’ and he that gave it, in Greek, to his brother [Gaius] ‘Brother, help!’” [Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans, Arthur Clough (Ed.)] After Caesar’s assassination, Casca was given command of Brutus’ fleet. Nothing is known of Casca following the Battle of Philippi in October 42 BCE, where he likely perished or committed suicide in the aftermath.

The Neptune obverse refers to Casca’s naval command and the naval superiority of the conspirators before Philippi. Coins of the conspirators are replete with depictions of liberty and victory, and this coin is no exception. The reverse, with its broken scepter, clearly alludes to the assassins’ hope to eliminate monarchy in the Roman state and restore the Republic. Some authors have speculated that Victory is breaking a regal diadem on this type, although I don’t think that is abundantly clear.

The coin comes from the Duke of Northumberland Collection, catalogued by Admiral William Smyth in his 1856 book, "Descriptive Catalogue of A Cabinet of Roman Family Coins Belonging to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland," and sold by Sotheby’s in 1982. The Smyth book has no plates (line drawn or otherwise), but it does contain detailed descriptions of the collection coins with weights in grains. This coin is described in Smyth’s book, therefore it must have been acquired by the Duke’s family before 1856. Smyth described the collection as being in the Duke’s family for many years, so the ownership history conceivably dates to the 18th century. In describing this coin, Smyth said: “[t]his remarkably well-plated denarius, in very high preservation, and though fully spread, weighs only 39.5 grains…” Indeed, the coin is remarkably well-plated, with only one spot of the core visible on Neptune’s cheek, and the flan quite full at 20mm. Except for the one spot of visible core, the surfaces are exceptional, with deep iridescent tone, reflecting over a century spent in the Duke’s cabinet.
2 commentsCarausius

D Junius Brutus Albinus Denarius 48 B.C.Silver denarius, SRCV I 427, Sydenham 942, Crawford 450/2, RSC I Postumia 10, VF, Rome mint, 48 B.C.; obverse head of Pietas right, hair in a bun, cruciform earring and pearl necklace, PIETAS behind; reverse clasped hands holding winged caduceus, ALBINVS·BRVTI·F below; Lovely dark toning with iridescent blue highlights.

Ex Hess / Divo 314
Ex Moneta Nova
Not the famous Brutus but still one of the assasins of Caesar.1 commentsPhiloromaos

D. IUNIUS BRUTUS ALBINUSD. IUNIUS BRUTUS ALBINUS
Denarius.
Roma, 48.
Obverse: PIETAS; Pietas.
Reverse: ALBINVS BRVTI F; Two hands, caduceus.

Cr. 450/2. Syd. 942Tanit

D. Iunius Brutus Albinus - denarius - Sear 426, Sear Imperators 25, Cr 450/1a1 commentsLimes

D. Junius Albinus BrutiD. Junius Albinus Bruti, 48 BC AR Denarius,
Obverse: Head of Pietas right, PIETAS behind
Reverse: Two clasped hands in front of winged caduceus, ALBINVS.BRVTI.F below
jimbomar

D. JUNIUS ALBINUS Denarius, Syd 942, Clasped handsOBV: Hd of pietas r; PIETAS
REV: Clasped hands on caduceus; ALBINVS BRVTI.F.
3.91g. 19mm
Legatus

D. Junius Brutus Albinus, DenariusD. Junius Brutus Albinus, Denarius

RRC 450/3b
48 bc

Av: Head of A. Postumius r.; around, A POSTVMIVS COS
Rv: Wreath of corn-ears, within which ALBINV / BRVTI F.

From the close assosiate of Caesar, designated Consul of 42, and later co conspirator (Et tu, Brute?).
According to Crawford "There is no convincing candidate to whom to assign the portait"

Ex Bertolami Fine arts, Auction 24, Numismatics, London, 23.06.2016, #545
Norbert

Decimus Junius Brutus – Postumia-10ROMAN REPUBLIC. Decimus Junius Brutus Denarius 48 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.38 g, 7h). Rome mint. Bare head of Pietas right PIETAS behind / Clasped hands holding winged caduceus ALBINVS BRVTI F below. Crawford 450/2; CRI 26; Sydenham 942; Postumia 10; SRVC 427Bud Stewart

Decimus Junius Brutus – Postumia-13ROMAN REPUBLIC AR denarius (18mm, 3.89g) Rome mint. Decimus Junius Brutus, adapted by A Postumius Albinus. 48 BC. A.POSTVMIVS.COS, bare head of the Consul Aulus Postumius Albinus / ALBINVS BRVTI F. in wreath. Syd 943, Cr450/3b, Postumia 13, SPCV 428, HCRI 271 commentsBud Stewart

Decimus Postumius Albinus Bruti f. (48 BC)AR Denarius
17.96 mm 4.02 gr.
Obv: No legend, helmeted head of Mars right, slightly bearded
Rev: ALBINVS BRVTI F, two Gallic carnyces in saltire, oval shield above, round shield below
Mint: Rome (48 BC)
RSC I Postumia 11; Sear HCRI 25; Sydenham 941
2 reverse die matches in Schaefer’s die study, 9/137.2

[Issued as moneyer by Decimus Junius Brutus who had been adopted by A. Postumius Albinus. This coin celebrates Caesar’s victories in the Gallic wars. Decimus was beloved by Caesar and very ably served as a fleet commander in the Gallic wars, as well as the civil war against Pompey. However, he later became a leading conspirator with his distant cousin, M. Junius Brutus, and Cassius in the assassination of Caesar.]Ken W2

EB0365 Decimus Junius Brutus, Pietas / Hands clasping caduceusDecimus Junius Brutus Albinus, AR Denarius, 49-48 BC.
Obv: Head of Pietas right, PIETAS behind.
Rev: Two right hands clasping caduceus, ALBINVS BRVTI F below.
References: Syd. 942.
Diameter: 18 mm, Weight: 3.845 grams.
Note: Sold.EB

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