The Roman Republic

No.: 9

Schätzwert/Estimation: CHF 30000

d=22 mm
C. Vibius Varus. Aureus circa 42 BC, 7.95 g. 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. Crawford 494/35. Syd. 1136. B. Vibia 25. Calicó 32 (this coin), Sear Imperators 191. Bahrfeldt 37.7 (this coin),

Extremely rare, only seven specimens known. An appealing example of this desirable coin.

Two abrasion on edge at four and seven o’clock, otherwise good very fine
Ex Hirsch XVIII, 1907, Himhoof-Blummer, 462, Hess 1912, Graf Tolstoi, 1182 and Schulman 1923, Vierordt, 432 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.