Known as the вЂњEid MarвЂќ or the вЂњIdes of March,вЂќ the coin may have marked a high point of good feeling among CaesarвЂ™s assassins. He minted several of these coins in silver and gold in Greece, where he fled shortly after killing Caesar and launching ancient Rome into a civil war, David Sanderson reports for the Times UK. Known as the вЂњEid MarвЂќ or the вЂњIdes of March,вЂќ the coin bears a heroic portrait of Brutus with the inscription BRVT IMP, which casts him as a military victor. One of BrutusвЂ™ high-profile, wealthy supporters-or perhaps even one of his co-assassins-could have worn the coin as a badge of pride, per the statement.ДЄncient Romans may have-literally-killed for this small piece of gold. The coin is pierced with a hole indicating that it might have been worn by a high-ranking official around their neck as jewelry. вЂњIt is extremely rare to come across an ancient coin with such exceptional provenance, a point illustrated by its inclusion in the British MuseumвЂ™s display for over a decade.вЂќ вЂњThe Eid Mar coin commemorates one of the most important moments in Western history: the assassination of the dictator Julius Caesar,вЂќ says Russo in an emailed auction house statement. The front side features a heroic portrait of Brutus, who likely had the coins made in a mobile military mint after he had fled to Greece. Following the assassination, the infamous Roman politician Marcus Junius Brutus is said to have minted the coin to mark his key role in the murder and to celebrate RomeвЂ™s freedom from tyranny. On the March 15, 44 B.C.E., a group of senators stabbed to death the dictator Julius Caesar on the floor of the Roman Senate. вЂњItвЂ™s priceless, but it still has a price tag,вЂќ says Arturo Russo, managing director of the auction house Numismatica Ars Classic, per Bloomberg. Experts estimate that the historical coin could sell for as much as $2 million when it goes on the chopping block in Zurich, reports Marina Stanley for Bloomberg. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced.A rare golden coin, one of just three known specimens in the world, is likely to tempt buyers with deep pockets at auction later this spring.

This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Rev.: Emblems of the pontifex (pontifical emblems): culullus, aspergillum, axe and apex. Descriptions Description Obv.: Elephant trampling dragon r. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Sackler Museum, Transfer from Harvard College Library Accession Year 1976 Object Number 1976.40.353 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. State, Edition, Standard Reference Number Standard Reference Number RRC 443/1 Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Title Denarius of Julius Caesar, Moving Mint Classification Coins Work TypeД¬reation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Moving Mint Period Roman Republican period Culture Roman Republican Persistent Link Physical Descriptions Medium silver Metal AR Technique Struck Dimensions 3.82 g Die Axis 6 Denomination denarius Inscriptions and Marks Identification and Creation Object Number 1976.40.353 People

Julius caesar denarius