A rare Roman coin bearing the portrait of Brutus, one of Julius Caesar’s assassins, has sold for €1.98 million at an auction in Geneva, according to Numismatica Genevensis, the event’s organizer.
The coin, minted between 43 and 42 BC, was acquired by a European collector after intense bidding involving eight online participants. The final price of over 1.83 million Swiss francs ($2.09 million) significantly surpassed its initial estimate of €800,000, the auction house said in a statement.
Historical Significance
Weighing eight grams and roughly the size of a modern euro coin, the artifact marks a pivotal moment in Roman history—the final days of the Roman Republic.
“This is a piece of history,” said Frank Baldacci, director of Numismatica Genevensis. The coin, minted by Brutus and his supporters after Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC, features Brutus’s profile adorned with a laurel wreath. The reverse side depicts military symbols, celebrating his victories and serving as propaganda to bolster his claim to power.
“The laurel wreath suggests someone positioning themselves as emperor,” Baldacci explained, emphasizing the coin’s propaganda value during a period of political upheaval.
Rarity and Provenance
The coin is one of only 17 known examples and is considered a coveted collector’s item. It resurfaced in the 1950s in a private collection and appeared at a Zurich auction in 2006, where it sold for 360,000 Swiss francs.
Its latest sale highlights the enduring fascination with artifacts linked to one of history’s most famous betrayals.
