The Ides of March

Today marks the 2059th anniversary of "the" Ides of March, when Brutus assassinated Julius Caesar, in an attempt to bring Rome back to its Republican roots as Julius Caesar fell deeper into a tyrannical reign.

Here's my denarius of Julius Caesar, minted shortly before his death:



Happily for collectors, Brutus minted a coin to commemorate his freeing of the Roman people, the famous "Eid Mar" denarius, of which I'm fortunate to have an example:



Brutus' co-conspirator Cassius also minted coins while traveling, including this denarius:



I have included a more extensive historical writeup/background here: Colosseo Collection

Post your coins of the Imperatorial period!

 

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Wow, AJ, did you rephotograph your Julius Caesar denarius to capture the colours better? I remember the blue, but it's eye-popping in this picture, and if you stare long enough the iridescence on the obverse practically shimmers!

As usual, the bar has been set ridiculously high, but I'll post mine anyway .


JULIUS CAESAR
AR Denarius
3.77g, 19mm
Rome mint, struck by L. Aemilius Buca, February - March 44 BC
Crawford 480/8; Sydenham 1061; RCV 1411
O: CAESAR DICT PERPETVO, wreathed head of Caesar facing right.
R: L BVCA, Venus standing left, holding Victory and a sceptre.
Ex David Sellwood Collection

 

Great Effort AJ. That made me live History.
Charles

 

That is one fantastic set, AJ!

Zumbly, your JC can hold its own against any coins. That was a great pickup and I'm glad it finally made it to your home. (For those who missed it, here's the brief story of its 20,000 mile journey).

Alas, I have no Julius Caesar portrait coin, no coins of Brutus, no Cassius.

Here's an ancestor of JC though


Roman Republic, L. Julius L. f. Caesar
103 BC
AR denarius, 17mm, 3.9 gm
Obv: Helmeted head of Mars left; CAESAR; ・J above
Rev: Venus Genetrix in chariot left, drawn by two Cupids; lyre to left; ・J above
Ref: Crawford 320/1.
Jencek E-auction 26, lot 58, 14 October 2014. Ex CNG XXXI lot 699, September 1994; ex RBW Collection

 

What an awesome thread! I always say Beware de Ides of March!! and folks look at me funny. Kids today did not have Shakespeare.

 

Thanks, TIF. I really love that L.JC. I'm always on the look out for one, but none come close to yours. In particular, they all lack your singularly clumsy cupids .

 

Beware the Ides of March! Beautiful coins as usual AJ.

I only have one coin that counts as being from the Imperatorial period.

THE TRIUMVIRS
Mark Antony (32-31 BC)
AR Denarius (3.45g, 18mm).
OBV: ANT AVG above, Praetorian galley right with rowers, III VIR R P C below.
REV: Legionary eagle (aquila) between two standards (signa), LEG VII across lower field.

 

I have a few coins from the Imperatorial era.

 

My only JC.



Also Octavian

 

Terrific coins guys...I'm still trying to get a Caesar and Pompey and/or Brutus portrait...the next few weeks should tell...Hope to post one or two by then...

 

Sweet coins, gang ... very, very cool

Ummm, I'm fairly sure that this is my only example from the Imperatorial period

Sextus Pompey, Son of Pompey the Great,
AR Denarius (Sicily, Messana)
42-40 BC
Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 3.5 grams
Obverse: MAG PIVS IMP ITER, galley adorned with aquila, sceptre and trident before the Pharos (Lighthouse) of Messana, decorated with a statue of Neptune
Reverse: PRÆF CLAS ET ORÆ MARIT EX S C, the monster Scylla, her torso of dogs and fishes, wielding a rudder as a club
Refernce: Crawford 511/4a; CRI 335; Sydenham 1348; RSC 2
Other: very cool

 

Hmmmm, actually this baby may also be a candidate for this thread, yes?

D. Junius Brutus Albinus
AR (Silver) Denarius
Struck 48 BC => The year Caesar defeats Pompey at Pharsalus and becomes sole dictator of Rome, calling himself "Imperator"
Rome Mint
Diameter: 18mm
Weight: 3.60 grams
Obverse: Head of young Mars right, wearing a crested helmet
Reverse: BRVTI F ALBINVS, two gallic trumpets (carnyces) in saltire, oval shield above, round shield below

 

Well, I already posted this having purchased it recently...otherwise I only have a quinarius' and a fouree...and a quadrant or two...

Needless to say, the examples already posted here are spectacular!! Especially the JC AR denarii-----

Being early retired at 64---and the obvious fixed income and budget restraints---time and money are always a issue for me LOL

 

That coin is excellent compared to whats out there. I dont even own a poor budget example.

 

Despite the connotations of his name, Marcus Junius Brutus wasn't a brute, and in fact is recorded by many historians as being too idealistic in believing that Rome could return to its republican roots. He believed others shared his nobler, somewhat altruistic sentiments and failed to realize that the leaders and politicians of Rome would value power and self-preservation above the people's interests (sounds a lot like the U.S. House of today). It was almost inevitable that Julius Caesar's assassination would fail to restore the republic and lead to four centuries of emperors and Caesars.

From the Imperatorial period:




And, of course, honoring Julius Caesar:

 

My meager holdings:

 

Wow, @IdesOfMarch01, you never fail to bring it.

However... Comic Sans? Seriously?! I'm shocked.



Kill Comic Sans, a shooting game

To be fair, here's a word from the font itself McSweeney's on Comic Sans

 

Ha! Very funny!

Maybe I should have more appropriately used Times Roman font but there's something slightly anarchistic about Comic Sans and I tend to like sans-serif fonts anyway. You know how we Mac users are...

 

Okay, I will accept that your deliberate use of Comic Sans was anarchistic, ironic, or self-deprecating. Phew! My faith in your taste is (somewhat) restored.

 

Uh, this comment about taste coming from someone who staged a diorama using toys, dolls and a stroller in Caesars Forum Shops in Las Vegas, the bad-taste capital of the world...?

;-)