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BRUTUS. AR Denarius (3.74 gms), Military mint traveling with Brutus in Lycia, 42 BC.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:10.00 USD Estimated At:1,750.00 - 1,975.00 USD
BRUTUS. AR Denarius (3.74 gms), Military mint traveling with Brutus in Lycia, 42 BC.
NOT SOLD (BIDDING OVER), HIGH BID WAS
1,000.00USD+ applicable fees & taxes.
This item WAS NOT SOLD. Auction date was 2023 Nov 16 @ 16:00UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
Phone Number for Telephone bids during the live auction:
561-203-9502
NGC AU, Strike 4/5 Surface 3/5. Cr-501/1; CRI-199; Syd-1287. Obverse: Head of Libertas right; Reverse: Lyre between quiver and filleted laurel branch. A somewhat off-center strike as is typically found with the issue, but pleasingly toned with some good brilliance remaining. A scarce issue commemorating one of the most brutal and uncertain times in human history. This coin is in flawless condition with a strong strike and detail. It is slightly off center, but the beauty of the coin as a whole makes up for it. Quality wise, we can confidently say this is among the FINEST KNOWN for the series. The First Triumvirate was a pivotal alliance in Roman history, consisting of three influential figures with distinct backgrounds and ambitions. Pompey, a staunch supporter of Sulla, rose to power as a military leader and held significant influence. Crassus, renowned for his wealth, brought financial prowess to the alliance. Meanwhile, Caesar, hailing from an ancient elite family, was the youngest among them but possessed a charismatic personality that could sway hearts and minds. Together, they found common ground in their frustration with the Senate, which they viewed as a hindrance to their aspirations. While Caesar campaigned extensively in Gaul and even invaded Britain, he remained attuned to public sentiment in Rome. As time passed, Crassus met his demise in Spain in 53 BC, leaving Caesar and Pompey to grapple with their growing ambitions and simmering jealousy. Pompey attempted to strip Caesar of his command, but Caesar, undeterred, crossed the Rubicon into Rome, effectively declaring a formal civil war. This move drove Pompey out of Italy, and he fled to Greece and later to Egypt, where he met his tragic end in 45 BC. With his adversaries defeated, Caesar consolidated power as a dictator. He won the favor of the masses through grand public celebrations and treated his opponents with surprising leniency, earning a reputation as a ruler who wasn't needlessly cruel. His governance expanded citizenship and the Senate, creating more opportunities for participation. He also established colonies for retiring soldiers and exiled those he deemed undesirable. Concurrently, he undertook various public projects, signaling his intent to work outside the confines of the Republican system. However, not all in the Senate supported Caesar's unchecked power. A group of loyal senators, including Cassius Longinus, Marcus Brutus, and Marcus Cicero, began conspiring against him. On March 15, 44 BC, these senators publicly stabbed Caesar, symbolically defending the traditional system and the old way of doing things, a moment that left a lasting mark on Roman history. Caesar uttered the haunting words, "Et tu, Brute?" - in reference to Brutus' betrayal. This coin was minted a mere two years after the betrayal, in a time of civil war and political upheaval as Brutus was making his campaigns in Lycia against the Triumvirate.