By Gina Gomez
London, Mar 16, (THAINDIAN NEWS) A gold coin which represents the assassination of Julius Caesar went on display at the British Museum on Monday, the Ides of March, the day the Roman emperor was killed in 44 B.C. The coin is an unique artifact as it is one of kinds although 60 silver versions of the coin are known to exist. However, only a single one is believed to exist in gold which was displayed in the London based museum on Monday. This was the first time that the coin was displayed for public viewing.

The historical significance of the coin is all the more pertinent as it was supposedly worn by one of Julius Caesar’s assassins as a memento. At the same time, it has also come to light that one side of the coin depicts the face of Brutus, the emperor’s disloyal friend who was mainly responsible for carrying out the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. While the other side displays two daggers as well as the hat of a freeman, which is considered to be a symbol of the conspirator’s belief that by bringing an end to the emperor’s life they were freeing Rome of an oppressor, who threatened the Roman republic. Moreover, on the side, the date has also been engraved which says Eid Mar, which means the Ides of March.

Although the British Museum was first offered to buy the unique artifact in the year 1932, it was unable to purchase it then. Since then the gold coin has been sold to a number of private collectors and ultimately was procured by the museum after it’s present owner loaned the coin to the British Museum.