High grade EID MAR silver denarius brings $533k

A Brutus EID MAR silver denarius from 43 or 42 B.C. — “the obverse struck slightly off center and with minor weakness and light marks, otherwise, Extremely Fine” — brought a closing price May 30 of 420,000 Swiss francs ($533,039 USD) in Leu Numismatik’s auction of ancient coins. The most famous Roman coin in existence, Brutus’ EID MAR issue relates to one of the crucial turning points in world history: the assassination of Emperor Julius Caesar on the Ides of March. On March 14, 44 B.C., a group of more than 60 senators led by Marcus Iunius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus attacked Caesar during a Senate meeting and stabbed him to death. About 100 silver examples are known to exist. High-grade or certified pieces command high prices, with exceptional examples fetching sums up to $720k at major auctions. Low grade examples will bring $50k.