In numismatics, it is completely normal for money to depict those events that the issuer—most often the state—considers significant. This is especially pronounced on commemorative coins, which, as the name itself suggests, are issued on the occasion of certain special events. On such occasions, money performs its propaganda function in addition to its monetary function.
One of the most morbid occasions (shamelessly) commemorated on currency is the assassination of Gaius Julius Caesar. Furthermore, an even more morbid fact is that this money was issued by one of his assassins—Marcus Junius Brutus. This assassin was not ashamed of the deed he committed, but rather boasted about it, and the very pinnacle of his boasting was putting this „occasion“ on his own minted coins. Brutus went down in history, but as a criminal, traitor, and murderer of a benefactor, and even his name became a synonym for cruelty (brutality).
Certainly of interest to numismatics is the coin mentioned here, which is a Roman denarius bearing the inscription EID MAR (Eidibus Martiis, i.e., the Ides of March) and issued between 43 and 42 BC. This commemorative coin openly celebrates the assassination of Gaius Julius Caesar, which took place on March 15, 44 BC.
On the obverse of the coin is a portrait of Marcus Junius Brutus facing right. Above the head is the semicircular inscription „BRVT“, and to the right is „IMP“. To the left of the head, along the edge of the coin, is the author's signature „L • PLAET • CEST“ (Lucius Plaetorius Cestianus). There are dots along the edge of the coin.
On the reverse of the coin, in the central part is a pileus (a special type of cap) with a dagger on each side with the blade pointing downwards. Below the cap is the inscription „EID • MAR“ which stands for Eidibus Martiis, i.e., the Ides of March, the day of March 15 when the assassination of Gaius Julius Caesar took place. Along the edge of the coin are dots.
The symbolism of this coin is very interesting. Specifically, Brutus considered that by assassinating Caesar, he had done a good deed rather than a crime. He believed that by assassinating the tyrant Caesar, he brought freedom to the Romans. A special type of cap (pileus) depicted on this coin represents a symbol of Roman freedom and was often worn by freed slaves. The two daggers symbolize that „freedom“ was brought to Rome precisely by the daggers plunged into Caesar's body.
This coin was struck in silver and has a weight of approx. 3.80 g, and a diameter of 18 mm. In all likelihood, it was minted in a military mint that accompanied Brutus's army and was used to pay his soldiers. The coin itself carries a strong political message and was meant to symbolize that the Roman state had, in a way, „legitimized“ Caesar's assassination, but that was far from the truth. Likewise, the majority of Romans did not support Caesar's assassination.
To date, about a hundred silver specimens of this coin are known to exist, while the gold ones are extremely rare, with only three such gold coins known. On the numismatic market, this coin is extremely popular and sought-after, achieving exceptionally high prices when it appears at an auction.
The highest price achieved for a silver specimen of this coin is 685,000 EUR (720,000 USD) at the Heritage auction in May 2023.
The highest achieved price for a gold specimen is EUR 2,989,606, at a Roma Numismatics auction in October 2020. Unfortunately, this specimen eventually turned out to have been acquired illegally and lacked valid provenance documentation, so it was seized by the authorities and returned to Greece, whence it had allegedly been illegally exported.
All in all, this Brutus denarius is not only one of the rarest Roman coins, but also a witness to a dramatic and decisive turning point in Roman history. A tragic event, a political assassination, found its expression on coinage and, after more than 2,000 years, has become an object of desire for people who have nothing to do with it, other than collecting ancient money. Brutus did not hope for this…
Author: Zlatko Viščević
Photos: Classical Numismatic Group [www.cngcoins.com], Roma Numismatics [www.romanumismatics.com].
