273

Roman Rep. C. Vibius Varus. Aureus 42, AV 8.06g.

Currency:CHF Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:24,000.00 CHF Estimated At:30,000.00 CHF
Roman Rep. C. Vibius Varus. Aureus 42, AV 8.06g.
The sign-up for this auction will close 48 hours before the auction starts. Please make sure you sign up on time. Also, there is NO ABSENTEE BIDDING for this auction. Please plan to bid live during the sale.
The Roman Republic. C. Vibius Varus. Aureus 42, AV 8.06g. Bust of Roma l., wearing helmet with a plume on each side, holding spear in r. hand and shield in l. over shoulder. Rev. C·VIBIVS–VARVS Winged Nemesis standing r., raising fold of dress with r. hand. Babelon Vibia 25. Bahrfeldt 37. Sydenham 1136. Sear Imperators 191. Crawford 494/35. Calicó 32. Extremely rare, possibly the finest of only nine specimens known of which only four are in private hands. Stuck on a very broad flan and good very fine. Ex Rollin & Feuardent 1887, Vicomte Ponton d’Amécourt 15; Rollin & Feuardent 1888, Vicomte de Quelen 461; Rollin & Feuardent 1896, Montagu 23; Rollin & Feuardent 1898, Hoffmann 1042; Sotheby 1908, O’Hagan, 14 and M & M 52, 1975, 446 sales. Hardly a more explicit coin type could have been struck in 42 B.C. for the leaders of the Caesarean party, who were in the midst of final preparations for the war against Brutus and Cassius. Roma is shown on the obverse in a state of battle- readiness, as if already marching off to war. The reverse depicts Nemesis in her only appearance on Republican coinage as a reflection of the Caesarean desire to exact righteous revenge upon the murderers of Julius Caesar Throughout the spring of 42 B.C. Brutus and Cassius campaigned in the East, finally meeting at Sardes in the summer before departing for Greece. Antony and Octavian traveled from Italy to Greece to confront them, with battle lines being drawn in the fall. The armies clashed at Phillipi in two great battles in October. The Caesareans emerged victorious as Brutus and Cassius, in response to presumed defeat, both committed suicide. Octavian’s legacy was now sealed, though he would still require slightly more than a decade to eliminate Antony, Lepidus and the remnants of the Pompeian party.