Rare ancient coin sold for record price of nearly 2.1 million USD

On December 9, an ancient Roman coin engraved with the portrait of Brutus - a close general and mastermind of the assassination of Emperor Julius Caesar - was sold for a record price of 1.98 million Euros at an auction in Geneva (Switzerland).

The historic coin was bought by a European collector in a fierce online bidding war between eight bidders, according to an announcement from auction house Numismatica Genevensis . The final price reached more than 1.98 million euros ($2.09 million), far exceeding the starting price of 800,000 euros.

Rare ancient coin sold for nearly 2 million Euros. (Source: AFP).

The coin, which weighs 8 grams and is about the size of a Euro, is described as 'a piece of history' marking the final stages of the Roman Republic, according to Frank Baldacci, director of Numismatica Genevensis.

The coin was minted by General Brutus and his allies around 43-42 BC, a few years after the assassination of Julius Caesar in March 44 BC.

The obverse of the coin depicts Brutus encased in a laurel wreath - a symbol of victory and power; the reverse depicts war symbols in honor of his military victories.

Mr. Baldacci commented that the laurel wreath not only represents victory but also reflects Brutus' ambition to promote his image and power as a leader.

The coin first appeared in a private collection in the 1950s and was later auctioned in Zurich in 2006 for 360,000 Swiss Francs. According to Numismatica Genevensis, there are only 17 of these coins in existence in the world .