A rare gold coin commemorating the assassination of Caesar won a bid for 365 million yen - record breaking

 Recently CNN.co.jp reported the following:

(Source :CNN) 

カエサル暗殺を記念した希少金貨、３億６５００万円で落札　記録更新

2020.10.31 Sat posted at 13:31 JST

Harry Clarke-Ezzidio, CNN

共和政ローマ末期の将軍ユリウス・カエサルの暗殺を記念した金貨が競売にかけられ、硬貨で過去最高額となる２７０万ポンド（約３５０万ドル＝３億６５００万円）で落札された。

金貨は紀元前４４年にカエサル暗殺を首謀したマルクス・ユニウス・ブルートゥスの肖像を描いたもの。

このほか、ブルートゥスと共謀者のカシウスが暗殺に使った短剣や、解放奴隷に与えられた自由を象徴する帽子、カエサルが死亡した３月１５日を表す語句も刻まれている。

競売を手掛けた英ロンドンのオークションハウスの責任者は声明で、この金貨について「カエサル暗殺に使われた武器と実行の正確な日付、動機を提示するという比類のない権力誇示行為が見て取れる」と指摘。「あからさまに臆面もなく（暗殺を）記念したもの」と評している。

暗殺の背景には、カエサルが君主就任を狙っているというローマの政治家の見方があったとされる。

カエサルは「終身独裁官」に就任したのも束の間、そのわずか２カ月後に一部の元老院議員によって殺害された。その後ブルートゥスはフィリッピの戦いに臨むも、カエサルの後継者でおいのオクタビウスと友人のマルクス・アントニウスに敗れ、自害している。

金貨は鋳造時の状態をほぼ保っており、現存するわずか３枚のうちの１枚となっている。

これ以前に古代ローマの硬貨として最高額が付いたのは２００８年、ハドリアヌス帝の銅貨が約２５０万ドルで落札された時のことだった。全通貨を通じての最高額は、２０１２年に落札された古代ギリシャの金貨の３２５万ドル。

Translation

A gold coin commemorating the assassination of General Julius Caesar at the end of the Roman Republic was auctioned and sold for a record £ 2.7 million (about $ 3.5 million = 365 million yen).

The gold coin depicted a portrait of Marcus Junius Brutus, who masterminded the assassination of Caesar in 44 BC.

In addition, the dagger used by Brutus and the co-conspirator Cassius to assassinate, together with a hat symbolizing the freedom given to the freedman, and the phrase representing Caesar's death on March 15th were also engraved.

The auction house manager in London of UK pointed out in a statement that "with the weapons used to assassinate Caesar, the exact date of execution, and a show of motives, an unparalleled act of showing off power can be seen"; and commented that “it's an openly unabashed (assassination) memorial".

It was said that the background of the assassination was the view of Roman politicians that Caesar was aiming to become a monarch.

Caesar was briefly appointed as a "lifetime dictator" and was killed by some senators just two months later. Brutus then went to the Battle of Philippi. He committed suicide after being defeated by Caesar's successors, Octavian and his friend Mark Antony.

The gold coin was almost in the same condition as when it was just cast, and was one of the only three existing coins.

Prior to this, the highest amount of an ancient Roman coin was reached in 2008 when Hadrian's bronze coin was sold for about $ 2.5 million. The highest amount across all currencies was $ 3.25 million, that was an ancient Greek gold coin sold in 2012.

              I am always amazed at the Roman empire (27 BC – AD 476). It was the world’s first super power. With Rome as its power center, the empire had reached as far north as England, and with Egypt to the south, Spain to east, Turkey and beyond to the west. There is the idiom that “All roads lead to Rome”. The background for this idiom is that in ancient and mediaeval times Rome was considered as the political, cultural and religious center of the European world. One of the most iconic building structure that was built by the Roman empire and could now be seen is the Colosseum in Rome of Italy to-day.

(Source: Barnes & Noble Everyday Handbooks)