A rare Roman coin depicting Brutus, Julius Caesar’s assassin, fetched 1.98 million euros at a Geneva auction.
This historic piece attracted a European collector who prevailed after intense competition with eight online bidders, securing the coin for over 1.83 million Swiss francs ($2.09 million).
Originally listed at more than 800,000 euros, the coin weighs eight grams and is about the size of a euro. Frank Baldacci, the director of Numismatica Genevensis, described it as “a piece of history” emblematic of the Roman Republic’s final era.
Minted in 43-42 BC by Brutus and his allies who assassinated Julius Caesar in 44 BC, the coin portrays Brutus’s profile with a laurel wreath on the front and war symbols on the back to commemorate his military achievements.
“The laurel wreath signifies ambitions akin to those of an emperor, serving as propaganda for Brutus,” Baldacci noted.
This coin is one of only 17 known examples. It resurfaced in the 1950s, featured in a private collector’s catalogue.
