Diagnostic Controls & Presets Most Famous Roman Coin
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
The only coin in ancient history that openly celebrates a political assassination, struck by Marcus Junius Brutus.
Struck by military moneyer Lucius Plaetorius Cestianus in northern Greece to pay Brutus' Republican legions.
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
All-time world auction record for an ancient coin, certified Choice MS 5/5, 5/5, 1 of only 3 gold specimens known.
Sharp, well-centered strike, deeply toned silver fields with razor-sharp dagger hilts and pileus cap.
Porosity throughout fields, rounded soft lettering, filing marks smoothing away a perimeter casting mold seam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Eid Mar' Denarius and why is it so famous?
The 'Eid Mar' (Ides of March) Denarius is widely considered the most important and famous coin of the ancient world. Struck in late summer 42 BC by Marcus Junius Brutus, it openly boasts of the assassination of the dictator Julius Caesar on the Ides of March (March 15, 44 BC).
What do the symbols on the reverse of the Eid Mar coin represent?
The reverse features two daggers flanking a 'pileus' (a cap worn by newly freed slaves in ancient Rome), symbolizing that the assassination of Caesar liberated the Roman Republic from tyranny. The two daggers are intentionally drawn with different blade designs, representing the two chief conspirators: Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus.
Why is the portrait on the obverse controversial?
Ironically, Brutus assassinated Julius Caesar because Caesar placed his own living portrait on Roman coins (a monarchical act forbidden by Republican tradition). Yet on this coin, Brutus placed his own portrait on the obverse with the inscription 'BRVT IMP' (Brutus, Imperator), engaging in the very behavior he condemned!
How many genuine Eid Mar coins exist today?
Only approximately 80 to 90 genuine silver denarii are known to exist worldwide, with many permanently housed in institutions like the British Museum and Bibliothèque nationale de France. Only three specimens are known struck in solid gold (aurei).
What happened to the coins after the Battle of Philippi?
In October 42 BC, Mark Antony and Octavian defeated the armies of Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi. Both Brutus and Cassius committed suicide. The victorious triumvirs ordered all Eid Mar coins gathered and melted down to erase the memory of the assassination, explaining their extraordinary rarity today.
How can you detect a fake Eid Mar coin?
Because an Eid Mar denarius is worth over $500,000, thousands of cast replicas, electrotypes, and tourist fakes exist. Key tests: 1. Authentic coins are struck on hand-hammered dies with sharp die cracks and radial strike flow. 2. Cast fakes have spongy porosity, blurred dagger tips, and casting seams around the edge. 3. The weight must match the Roman standard (3.6 to 3.9 grams of 97% pure silver).
How much is a genuine Eid Mar Denarius worth?
In Fine to Very Fine condition, genuine certified examples sell for $250,000 to $450,000 USD. In Choice Extremely Fine (XF) to About Uncirculated, prices rise to $650,000 to $1,000,000+. The gold aureus version holds the all-time world record, selling for over $4.2 million USD.