Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus AR Denarius - Assassin Of Caesar

Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, as moneyer, 48 BC
PIETAS, head of Pietas right
ALBINVS BRVTI F, Clasped hands over Caduceus
Crawford 450/2


Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus was born into a distinguished aristocratic family in about 85 BC, and was a distant relative of Julius Caesar. He was adopted by Aulus Postumius Albinus, but opted to keep his family name.

He served with distinction under Caesar in his Gallic wars, and sided with Caesar in the following civil war. Around the time of Caesar's appointment to the office of Perpetual Dictator, Decimus had a change of heart and was one of the lead conspirators in the assasination plot. It was said that he coaxed Caesar from his house on the Ides of March to address the senate, and purposefully avoided Mark Antony, who sought to inform Caesar of the plot. He was said to have delivered the final stab before Caesar collapsed.

In early 43 BC, he fled to the Alps where he was in control or some troops, and prepared for a siege by Antony's forces. He was nearly defeated when Octavian came to break the siege (to check Antony's power only, not to aid the conspirator), but most of Decimus' troops defected to join Octavian. Decimus fled to regroup with Brutus and Longinus, but was apprehended and murdered.