Watch List notes:

The Roman Republic

M. Junius Brutus. Denarius 54, AR 3.89 g. BRVTVS Bearded head of L. Brutus r. Rev. AHALA Bearded head of C. Servilius Ahala r. Babelon Junia 30. Sydenham 907. Kosh pl. 18, 73. Lahusen 17 ff. and plates 7 ff. Crawford 433/2.
Wonderful old cabinet tone and two magnificent portraits, minor
marks, otherwise extremely fine

Ex M&M sale 92, 2002, 4.
The moneyer of this issue, Marcus Junius Brutus-not to be mistaken for Decimus Brutus, supporter and friend of Julius Caesar-, was a member of the gens Junia, one of the oldest families of Rome. He claimed to be a direct descendant of Brutus, who had once expelled the last king, Tarquinius Superbus and had installed the Republic. In addition, he was related to Marcus Porcius Cato, the most active and charismatic leader of the opposition against Caesar during the latter's quest for the autocracy. Brutus was an ardent defender of the old Republic and showed relatively early his willingness to fight for these principles: thus this issue was struck in the year, in which there was an existing fear that Pompey, opponent of Caesar, could become dictator. As types, the moneyer chose two of his ancestors who had successfully expelled tyrants: Brutus banned king Tarquinius, and Ahala expelled Spurius Maelius, a tribune of the Plebs who had wanted to introduce too quickly too many changes in the Roman public life. This issue was therefore meant to serve as a warning to Pompey; the message was clear: there would always be found in Rome a successor to Brutus and Ahala to expel any tyrant who should show up.