M. JUNIUS BRUTUS. Denarius (43-42 BC). Military mint traveling with Brutus. Pedanius Costa, legate.

Obv: LEG COSTA.
Laureate head of Apollo right.
Rev: IMP BRVTVS.
Trophy with figure-of-eight shield and two spears.

Crawford 506/2; RBW 1778.

Marcus Junius Brutus was one of Caesar's assassins. His uncle Cato the Younger was responsible for his political education, raising him as a supporter of the democracy. He sided with Pompey against Caesar but, after the defeat at Pharsalus (48 BC), he obtained his pardon and the office of propraetor in Cisalpine Gaul (47-45 BC). However, he was drawn into the conspiracy against Caesar and became one of its leaders, participating in the stabbing on the Ides of March (44 BC). He was then forced to flee Rome and take refuge in the East, when this denarius was minted, and where he prepared a strong army which, united with that of Crassus, clashed with the forces of the triumvirs at Philippi (42 BC). The battle was lost and Brutus was killed.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 3.84 g.
Diameter: 18 mm.