Summary
Denarius issued by the Ancient Roman Republic, 54 BC
Moneyer: BRVTVS (M. Iunius Brutus)
Minted at Rome
Obverse Description
Head of Liberty facing right, behind, LIBERTAS
Reverse Description
The Consul of 509 BC, L. Iunius Brutus, between two lictors walking to left following an accensus; in exergue, BRVTVS
Edge Description
Plain
Significance
The moneyer is both reflecting on the glory of his ancestors and taking a stand against Pompey's intentions of sole rule. The reverse depict a procession of the moneyers ancestor who was Consul in 509 BC. Magistrates who were attended by lictors had also supernumerary attendants (accensi), who did not bear the fasces, but were ready to replace a lictor if occasion should arise. There is no reason to assume that these attendants were chosen from the class of accensi; in later times they were generally the freedmen of the magistrates whom they served.
More Information
-
Collecting Areas
-
Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 15 Mar 1976
-
Date Issued
54 BC
-
Issued By
-
Deity Depicted
-
Denomination
-
Material
Silver
-
Axis
03
-
Classification
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Dimensions
20 mm (Outside Diameter), 4.07 g (Weight)
-
Shape
Off round
-
References
Crawford 433/1
[Book] Crawford, Michael H. 1974. Roman Republican Coinage., 455-456 Pages