Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus, Assassin of Julius Caesar Rare AR Roman Imperatorial Denarius 43-42 BC Silver Coin Museum Reproduction CSRD0071

This rare coin was struck in a military mint in the East (Smyrna) during the preparations for war against Mark Anthony, Octavian and Lepidus. It’s one of a series of types struck by Lentulus on behalf of Brutus and Cassius. Denarii which has earned the nickname “Poor man’s Eid Mar” because of the knife on its obverse. The obverse depicts the symbols of the college of pontifices to which Brutus belonged, while the reverse bears the symbols of the priestly college to which P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther was elected in 57 B.C., namely the augurate.

Though in history the names Julius Caesar and Brutus are virtually inseparable, as people they could not have had more distinct philosophies. Brutus was a supporter of the wealthy upper class, whereas Caesar found his political niche as a populist; Brutus defended the status quo, and Caesar wanted to restructure Roman society in favour of the common man. On many occasions Caesar recruited Brutus to his side, for his talents and honour were obvious to all. Brutus benefited greatly from Caesar’s generosity, and on at least one occasion Caesar spared Brutus’ life when he could have executed him without comment. Complicating matters further were their family ties and personal friendship – at the very least because Brutus’ mother was one of Caesar’s great lovers, and some even believed Caesar was Brutus’ father. Clearly their fates were intertwined from the outset, and few could have predicted that Brutus would lead a coup to murder his benefactor Caesar. To this day historians question the integrity and the motives of Brutus in this act of regicide, for his personal character is contradictory on so many levels that it is impossible to summarise. Though an issue of Brutus, this piece was produced by P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, a legate of Cassius. The designs are emblematic of both issuers: the axe, culullus and knife represent the pontificate of Brutus, and the jug and lituus recall the augurate which Spinther assumed in 57 B.C. (the same year in which the man presumed to be his father, L.C. Lentulus Spinther, was ordinary consul). Spinther was quaestor in 44, and in 43 he stood for proquaestor pro praetore in Asia before becoming a legatus for Cassius. Essentially nothing is known of Spinther’s personality, but the coinage suggests that he squandered no opportunity for self-promotion, as he also used his personal reverse type on a substantial issue of denarii that he struck for Cassius.
DESIGN:
Obverse side
Pontifical emblems: Sacrificial axe, simpulum and sacrificial dagger
Legend:
BRVTVS

Reverse side
Emblems of the augurate: Jug and lituus
Legend:
LENTVLVS SPINT in two lines

A perfect choice for Numismatists, Historians, Military Veterans, Collectors.