54 BC Libertas Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus AR Denarius Rome Mint.
Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus. 54 BC. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.96 g, 10h). Rome mint. Head of Libertas right, no jewels in hair / The consul L. Junius Brutus walking left between two lictors, each carrying axe over shoulder, preceded by an accensus. Crawford 433/1; Sydenham 906a; Junia 31a; RBW 1542. Lightly toned.
This is an important coin to the beginning of U.S. coinage. This coin is the first coin, as far as I know, to have the portrait of the Roman goddess Libertas with the inscription of her name in the obverse. It should be obvious to all early U.S. coin collectors that this coin is the prototype for all depictions of Liberty called for in our coinage in the Mint Act of 1792. Our founding fathers did not want depictions of monarchs and tyrants in our coinage as was the practice throughout Europe at the time.
The coin was issued by Quintus Servillius Caepio Junius Brutus who would, 10 years after the issuance of this coin, go on to assassinate Julius Caesar. Brutus’ patrician family worshipped the goddess Libertas and detested tyranny. That was the reason why Brutus with his coconspirators assassinated Julius Caesar. They feared that Julius Caesar would end the Roman Republic and install himself as the first Roman emperor and tyrant.
