The Republicans. Brutus. Early 42 BC. AR Denarius. Military mint; P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, legatus. NGC graded MS*, 5/5, 5/5.

Triton XXVI
Lot: 632. Estimated: $ 5 000

Roman Republican, Silver

Sold For $ 16 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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The Republicans. Brutus. Early 42 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.96 g, 12h). Military mint, probably at Smyrna; P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, legatus. Emblems of the pontificate: securis, simpulum, and secespita; BRVTVS below / Emblems of the augurate: capis and lituus; LENTVLVS/SPINT in two lines below. Crawford 500/7; CRI 198; Sydenham 1310; RSC 6; BMCRR East 80-1; Kestner 3770; RBW 1766. In NGC encapsulation 5780848-005, graded MS(star), Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. Exceptional iridescent tone and strike. Among the finest known.

Ex Nomos AG 2 (18 May 2010), lot 159.

Although religion was an essential part of Roman daily life, Rome had no separate priestly class or caste. Instead, religious practice was interwoven with civic and political life and all public men and women were expected to learn, observe and practice civic rites. Priesthoods were bestowed on members of rich, powerful or politically connected families; politicians and military men often served as Pontiffs (high priests), Flamens (cult leaders), and Augurs (interpreters of signs), while their daughters were named Vestals (keepers of the sacred flame). This coin of Marcus Junius Brutus, leader of Caesar’s assassins, depicts the tools of the Pontificate on the obverse, including the securis victima (sacrificial axe), simpulum (dipper for libations), and secespita (sacrificial knife). The reverse depicts tools of the Augurate: The capis (ritual bowl for entrails) and the lituus (augur’s wand, used to divide the sky into quadrants for studying the flight of birds).

The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.

Triton XXVI – Session Two – Lot 335-673 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 10 January 2023 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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