BRUTUS. Fouree Denarius (3.38 gms), Military mint traveling with Brutus in Northern Greece, ca. 43-42 B.C.cf.Cr-508/3; cf.S-1439; cf.Syd-1301. "BRV[T] [I]M[P] [L] [PL]AET CEST" Bare head of Brutus facing right; Reverse: "EID MAR" Pileus flanked by daggers. The reverse is reasonably centered and well struck, while the obverse is somewhat shifted. The core is visible just before Brutus nose. <p><strong>RARE</strong> and historically significant. These Fouree are the closest most numismatists can get to owning this type celebrating one of the most famous murders in Western history. Marcus Junius Brutus initially opposed the first Triumvirate (Crassus, Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar) and was subsequently defeated in the Battle of Pharsalus. Caesar pardoned him and inducted him into his inner circle of allies. After Caesar adopted the title of Dictator in Perpetuity, a conspiracy formed to end the tyrants life, and Brutus took on a leading role. On March 15th - the Ides - the conspirators ambushed Caesar at the Senate and murdered him. Though initially granted amnesty by the Senate, the conspirators fled Rome after a populist uprising. Caesars successors formed a second triumvirate (Lepidus, Marc Antony and Caesar Octavian), rallied the late Caesars Legions and set off on a campaign of retribution. Two and a half years later, the final battle of the war would be decided at Philippi, Macedonia. An intense battle took place with many casualties. His forces routed, Brutus foresaw the futility of continued resistance and the likelihood of capture and death and chose to die by his own hand.NGC VF, Strike: 3/5 Surface: 3/5. Core Visible.
