Rare ancient gold coin comes to auction through Numismatica Ars Classica
One of the most important gold coins from the ancient world, on display at the British Museum for the last decade, will come to auction in Zurich this May, through the leading ancient coin firm, Numismatica Ars Classica.
The Eid Mar coin was minted to commemorate the assassination of Julius Caesar by his betrayer, Brutus, who was killed on the 15th March, known as the Ides of March in 44 BC, an event widely recognised as one of the great moments in Western European history.
Coins of this design in gold, rather than silver, were extremely rare, and almost certainly intended as gifts for senior army officers. This particular coin, having been expertly pierced just above the head of Brutus, was highly likely to have been worn by a high-ranking supporter and, it has been speculated, even one of the conspirators of Caesar’s murder.
Image credit: Eid Mar coin, c. Numismatica Ars Classica.