The EID MAR Denarius: Rome’s Most Infamous Coin

Some coins are rare. Some are beautiful. And then there’s the EID MAR denarius — a silver coin that’s both, and also one of the boldest political statements in the history of money. Issued by Marcus Junius Brutus in 42 BC, just two years after he helped assassinate Julius Caesar, this coin doesn’t whisper history — it screams it.

🗡️ The Assassination That Shocked Rome

On March 15, 44 BC — the Ides of March — Brutus and a group of conspirators stabbed Julius Caesar to death in the Roman Senate. They claimed to be saving the Republic from dictatorship. Whether they succeeded or not is up for debate, but one thing’s certain: Brutus wanted the world to remember what he did.

And what better way to send a message than with currency?

🪙 What the Coin Looks Like

The EID MAR denarius is small, like most Roman silver coins, but its design punches way above its weight.

Obverse (Front):

• A portrait of Brutus, facing right. This was shocking enough — Romans didn’t usually put living people on coins.

Reverse (Back):

• Two daggers, flanking a pileus — a freedman’s cap symbolizing liberty
• The words EID MAR (Eidibus Martiis) — “on the Ides of March”

This wasn’t just a coin. It was a declaration. A commemorative strike for a murder — and a political flex that still stuns collectors and historians today.

💰 How Rare Is It?

Incredibly rare. Most estimates suggest fewer than 100 examples of the silver EID MAR denarius survive today. There are also a handful of gold aurei — even rarer, and worth millions.

In recent years, top-condition examples have sold at auction for over $4 million USD.

📍 Where and Why It Was Minted

Brutus had this coin struck while he was campaigning in the Eastern provinces during the Roman civil wars, likely using a military mint. It was designed to rally support and boost troop morale. Imagine paying your soldiers with a coin that literally celebrates the death of your enemy — and your cause.

🧠 What Makes It So Fascinating?

• Political propaganda at its rawest
• A named assassin glorifying his deed — almost unheard of
• Brutus’s portrait makes it a rare Roman coin featuring a living issuer
• It’s a coin that changed the tone of Roman numismatics

For collectors, it’s the ultimate prize. For historians, it’s a chilling reminder of how personal and powerful ancient coins could be.

🔒 Tips for Collectors

Let’s be honest — you’re unlikely to find a real EID MAR denarius at your local coin shop. But:

• Be wary of fakes: Many replicas exist, and some are quite convincing
• Study real examples: Learn the strike, weight, and legend details
• Auction records and museum catalogs are great places to get familiar

Even if you can’t own one, understanding this coin enriches any Roman coin collection.

🏁 Final Thoughts

The EID MAR denarius isn’t just a coin — it’s an artifact from one of the most dramatic turning points in Western history. It captures betrayal, ideology, revolution — all in one silver disc barely an inch wide.

To hold one would be to hold history’s pulse at the moment Rome changed forever. And even if we can’t all own one, we can still admire the boldness, the symbolism, and the legacy it left behind.