Trio of Roman Gold Shines at MillenniaThe Millennia Sale presented by Ira and larry Goldberg got underway yesterday in California and the preliminary results are starting to flow in.This sale will result in an series of reports due to both its importance and breadth. In addition CoinLink will be posting a detailed auction analysis by Greg Reynolds latter this week.
However our first installment will be limited to a short summary of the "Ancients" and a trio of Roman Gold coins that lite up the room, far exceeding their pre-sale estimates.
We expect to see records being set for virtually all of the major rarities in the Millennia sale, continuing the strong pattern where fresh, high quality and truly rare coins continue to bring multiples of what many experts and conventional estimates might dictate. When high quality coins cross the auction block, you can throw out the price guides.
Lot 75 Imperatorial Rome. Marcus Junius Brutus, d. 42 BC. Gold Aureus (8.07 g) - Realized $575,000One of the most historic of Roman issues, gold or silver! Excessively rare. Probably the finest of only 8 recorded specimens. NGC graded Choice About Uncirculated.
Quote:
After Julius Caesar, the second most recognizable name of the imperatorial era is Marcus Junius Brutus. Was he the last guardian of the Republican age or only an infamous and most vile assassin of Caesar? Born about 85 BC, Brutus was thrust into the political realm and early became a follower of Cato, a staunch Republican. Later, Brutus built a fortune by lending money at usurious rates and eventually became a Roman senator.
There grew a great friendship between Caesar and Brutus, but during the Civil War it was clear that Caesar would never return to the former Republican government. Instead, Caesar was swayed by his many victories and public adulation, ultimately accepting the title "dictator for life." Caesar's portrait graced many coin issues, and his likeness was the first of a living person to be depicted upon the specie we now revere. It is ironic to also find the portrayal of Brutus on Coinage.
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Posted 05/27/2008 8:45 pm
