A Founder and TWO Defenders of Res Publica Roma

Rome had been ruled by Kings traditionally since 753 BCE. However, her last King, after many offenses and excesses at the expense of the Roman people... Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was deposed in 509 BCE. The Monarchy was replaced by a Republic.

Instrumental in the overthrow of the monarchy, one of the first two Consuls of Rome in 509BCE, was Lucius Junius Brutus. He was consul with Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus and later Publius Valerius Publicola. According to Livy, one of Brutus' first acts as a Consul was to have the Roman citizens swear an oath to never allow a King of Rome. Even when his own two sons were caught in a conspiracy to restore the monarchy, under orders of the Consuls, he stoically witnessed their execution... Tough love...

Later, in 439 BCE Republican Rome was gripped in a severe famine; people starving, suffering abounded. Enter Spurius Maelius, a wealthy Plebeian, who saw an opportunity to seize Rome... He purchased a large amount of wheat to distribute - at a low price - to the starving people of Rome. However, his ulterior motive was to foster support to usurp the fledgling Republic and proclaim himself Rex (King). A hated word in Roman vocabulary! The cry of the people arose and Maelius was to appear before the aging Cincinnatus, (the elected Dictator during this crisis.) Enter Gaius Servilius Ahala, Magister Equitum (Master of the Horse). Maelius refused to appear, and was hunted down and killed by Ahala. Ahala then razed his home to the ground and distributed the withheld wheat to the starving people.

Fast forward to 54 BCE: Long descendant of the two early Republic Heroes, Marcius Junius Brutus, (also known as Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus), new to politics at 31 years old, enters the membership of the vigintisexvirate (the three Moneyers authorized to mint coinage). This was the first step on the cursus honorum - the road to political office in the Republic. Because of his deep-rooted love for the Res Publica, he honors his ancestral heritage by placing the busts of both great family forefathers, Brutus and Ahala, on the obverse and reverse of the denarius issue of 54BCE.

You all know the rest of the story as Senator Brutus, who on the Idus Martiae, 15-Mar-44 BCE, delivered the killing blow to the Tyrant Gaius Iulius Caesar, usurper of the Res Publica...


Roman Republic 54 BCE
AR Denarius, 18.3mm, 3.7g
Moneyer: Marcus Iunius Brutus (aka Quintus Servillius Caepio Brutus)
Obv: Bare hd of L. Iunius Brutus (Consul 509 BCE), Bearded r, BRVTVS behind
Rev: Bare hd of C. Servilius Ahala (Master of the Horse 439 BCE), bearded r, AHALA behind
Ref: Sear 398, Crawford 433/2, from collection W. Esty CKXSUB 613

My camera captures ALL details, and this coin looks VERY good in hand...the scratches are virtually non-existent to these tired eyes. I love this coin!

 

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Great summary, thanks!!

 

OH! And of course, please feel free to show your Republicans that honor the Res Publica and overthrow of Tyranny! Not those Roman Empire later wannbe's

 

Great writeup. I have always wanted an example of that coin due to its story, but I am afraid I have so many wants they overwhelm my bank account.

 

Tough for me too... But, when they hit the heartstrings in history...the temptation can be overwhelming...

 

Great writeup and coin, congrats!

 

Nice coin. Thanks for the interesting writeup.

 

Could your eye overlook my coin's problem as easily as your scratches? I have to wonder how a fake die got so broken up making fourrees. Did they make that many or steal the used dies from the mint? Experts say that last never happened.

 

WOW! Not only a broken die, but bonus SLIME from Nickelodeon! (Your Grandkids may like that!)

 

'Al', I Love that coin too!!!

Doug's fouree just screams of history and a 'hard life'....

How about Brutus as Proconsul????

AR Denarius (3.24 grams) of 42 BC, by L. Sestius
Bust of Libertas right with Tripod between ax and simpulum
Junia 37 Cr. 502/2

 

Nickelodeon hasn't used slime since I was a kid. So the only slime here is the kind that stole some dies from the mint.

 

NICE one @Mikey Zee

 

When thinking of Res Publica, I think of the staunch supporters of republican principles...including Marcus Porcius Catō Uticēnsis (95 BC–46 BC), known as Cato the Younger. Stubborn, tenacious, immune to bribes, with high moral integrity, Cato was critical of his fellow senators who he felt were corrupt or remiss in carrying out their duties.


89 BC
Draped female bust r., ROMA behind, M CATO below / Victory seated r., holding patera and palm branch, ST below seat, VICTRIX in ex.
AR denarius 4.1gm - 20 mm
Ref: Crawford 343/1c, SR247

 

Excellent posting! Great example.

 

excellent write up to go along with an sweet coin aleg!

 

A sweet looking denarius!

 

Nice!!!! I need one.

 

LOL, well, right now I am driving down to the Charlotte Coin Show...put in your order!

 

Terrific denarius of 'Cato' !!!

Now you did it AL....You have me bidding on a Sulla and a few others.....

OK, OK, I admit this area is my prime area of interest along with Greeks---but you have me looking a bit harder LOL

Good luck at the Charlotte show....Feel free to pick me up a coin or two