ROMAN IMPERATORIAL: D. Junius Brutus Albinus. Ca. 48 BC. AR denarius (3.99 gm). Head of Pietas right, PIETAS behind / Two clasped hands holding caduceus, ALBINVS. BRVTI. F below. Crawford 450/2. RSC Postumia 10. RCTV 427. Some minor striking flatness at high points, otherwise extremely fine.

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Decimus Albinus Brutus, the "other Brutus" involved in Julius Caesar's assassination, was at first a loyal adherent to the great dictator. The son of the consul of 77 BC, D. Junius Brutus, he was later adopted into the Postumia gens and thus bore the names of two illustrious Republican families. He campaigned with Caesar in Gaul and commanded the fleet sent to blockade Massalia in 49 BC. Caesar rewarded him for good service by granting him the governorship of Transalpine Gaul. Caesar even named him in his will as his heir if Octavian should renounce his inheritance. Despite all this, Decimus joined in the conspiracy against Caesar and was one of those who struck him down in the Senate on the Ides of March, 44 BC. In view of Caesar's fondness for Decimus Brutus, is it possibly he, not the more famous Marcus Junius Brutus, whom Caesar addressed with his famous final words, "you too, my son?" After the assassination, Decimus was appointed supreme commander of the Republican army and was instructed to pursue the renegade Mark Antony into Transalpine Gaul. But Decimus' troops, mainly Caesarian veterans, opted not to fight for an assassin and deserted in droves to Antony. Decimus sought refuge in the camp of a Gallic chieftain, who executed him on Antony's orders, becoming the first of Caesar's assasins to fall.