2016-03-01 Tue

The Classical Numismatic Group’s annual Triton auction which was held on January 5th and 6th realized over $26 million. The star coin at the sale was the finest portrait Brutus gold aureus which brought $800,000.

It was struck in late summer-autumn 42 B.C.E. by the military mint travelling with Brutus and Cassius in western Asia Minor or northern Greece. P. Servilius Casca Longus was the moneyer. It shows a bare head of Brutus right, wearing short beard; all within a combined army and naval trophy, consisting of a cuirass, a crested helmet on the top, a curved sword and two crossed spears on the left arm, and an oval shield with incurved sides on the right, set on a post made from a tree trunk; at base, two prows, two shields, and a rudder.

It was graded EF with peripheral marks in field on obverse. There are just 17 examples known of which eight are in museums.

For further details email CNG at cng@cngcoins.com.