“You too, my son?”
The murder of the Roman politician Gaius Julius Caesar on 15 March 44 BC, on the Ides of March, is one of the major events in world history.
Caesar’s murderers were also the highest ranking politicians, namely senators led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius.
Caeasar’s supposed last words were directed at Brutus: “You too, my son?”
Political propaganda
The assassins boasted of their deed with a new coin.
This depicted a portrait of Brutus on the front and the inscription BRVT IMP and L.PLAET.CEST which means “Brutus Imperator” and the name Lucius Plaetorius Cestianus.
The reverse side features two daggers or short swords as well as a felt cap (Pileus) as a symbol of freedom.
The inscription reads EID MAR which means the “Ides of March”.
Early fame
Brutus had the silver coins issued in 43 and 42 BC and these already became famous in ancient times.
The Roman historian Cassius Dio wrote (around 164–235):
“Brutus stamped upon the coins which were being minted his own likeness and a cap and two daggers, indicating by this and by the inscription that he and Cassius had liberated the fatherland.”
The coin is therefore closely associated with the murder of Caesar and brings a piece of world history to the Roman province.
The coin found in Borg is even a copy from ancient times with only a thin coating of silver.
All coins exhibited here are modern copies.