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 Replies: 8 / Views: 2,877 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I recently purchased a D. Junius Albinus AR Denarius. I know he was one of the conspirators in the tyrannicide of Julius Caesar and that he ended his life beheaded. But other then that I know nothing about this person. Anyone out there know something of Albinus? The coin in question displays an obverse of Pietas with PIETAS legend, and a reverse of clasped hands on a caduceus with a legend of ALBINVS BRVTIF. There is what appears to be a bankers mark on the cheek of Pietas.   |
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Moderator
 Australia
16836 Posts |
Let Wikipedia be your friend.  The coin dates from 48 BC. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4253 Posts |
You know, I always forget about wikipedia. My age I guess. The part that Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus may have been the Brutus so beloved by Caesar rather than Marcus Brutus was very interesting.
You said this coin dates from 48 BC prior to Caesar's death. Under what conditions would he be authorized to mint coinage in his name?
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Interesting coin. The issuance of coinage in the latter Roman Republic was administered annually by elected magistrates or 'moneyers'. Basically these people were in charge of the mints and most matters therein including the design of the coins. Internal conflicts raged between Roman generals and they used moneyers to help promote their causes, their names or their victories, all were trying to get to the top of the Republic by whatever means possible. Coins were a fantastic tool for spreading information, news and most importantly propaganda. They were the NY Times and Fox of their day and people like Albinus would persuade, cajole or simply threaten and bribe the moneyer's to ensure they got theirs minted. I like the bankers mark - some collectors dont. I prefer to see a coin thats been used and I think bankers marks add to the appeal of a coin, it makes them much more interesting to me. A bit more on moneyers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moneyer |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
I like the banker's marks as well, but for another reason. It gives an additional proof of the genuineness of the coin. However, some of the coins I have seen have too many banker's marks or the marks are so large they completely obliterate the original coin.
Fascinating to me is that the conspirators were "pardoned" by the Senate the day following the assassination. And that someone like Albinus could move to a position in Gaul where he took control of three legions and proceeded to go about business as usual. Fascinating!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
Here's a little nugget of trivia... About 240 years later, a fellow called Clodius Albinus was one of the contenders for top dog during the Civil War of 193-197. The Roman mint struck coinage for him while he was Caesar, from 193-195. Sometime during the winter of 195-196, he opened a mint at Lugdunum, where he had coins struck for him as Augustus, a PR play against Severus. Clodius Albinus eventually lost to Severus, with the final battle on Feb 19, 197 ending badly. He committed suicide. And here's one of the coins struck in his name...coincidence?  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
509 Posts |
Great history aboarman ! That's one of the great things I find so interesting about ancient coins.
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Valued Member
United States
132 Posts |
Thanks - I think you pretty much gotta love history if you're a true coin enthusiast. What I find amazing is the perception of time that the ancients seemed to have. Compare the span between the two Albinii with, say, George Mason (a friend and colleague of Washington) and Al Gore - today, the 235+ years that separate the 2 men is far too much to even try linking them. Yet for the ancients, 200 years or more was still vividly remembered by the powerful and the public at large.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 2,877 |
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Posted 07/24/2011 9:08 pm
