The Republicans. Brutus. Early 42 BC. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.85 g, 12h). Military mint, probably at Smyrna; P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, legatus. NGC Photo Certificate graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 3.
Closing Date: May 19 2026 11:00 ET

The PLZ Collection, Silver

Estimate: $ 6 000

BID NOW

The Republicans. Brutus. Early 42 BC. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.85 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. NGC Photo Certificate graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5.

From the PLZ Collection, purchased from Antiqua.

Marcus Junius Brutus was a blue-blooded Roman who had attained a fortune by lending money at exorbitant interest rates when he was suborned into the conspiracy against his former benefactor, Julius Caesar. As his distant ancestor had entered history as a great tyrannicide, Brutus soon became the de-factor leader and spokesmen for the assassins. After the Ides of March, Brutus induced a cowed senate to give him a governorship in northern Greece and promptly departed to raise money and arms for the brewing civil war against Caesar’s adherents. He cut a brutal swath through Greece, Thrace and Asia Minor, looting city treasuries and enforcing horrendous taxes at the point of a sword. He turned his ill-gotten gains into silver denarii to pay his growing army and navy.

The impending confrontation with Antony and Octavian finally happened at the battle of Phillipi in 42 BC. Cassius died during in the initial skirmishes however the legions led by Brutus were successful. The fighting continued and eventually the forces of Antony and Octavian overran the remaining conspiratorial legions. Brutus took his own life to prevent capture. A legend grew up crediting him as a paragon of virtue and martyr for liberty against the advancing tyranny of the Caesars. But, in reality, he was a rather unsavory character undeserving of his libertarian renown.

This coin type of Brutus depicts the tools of the Pontificate on the obverse and the tools of the Augurate on the reverse. The coin offered here is perfectly centered and in exceptional condition for the issue.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session One – Lot 1-318 will be held Monday morning, 18 May 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM 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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