- Very Fine Roman Imperatorial silver denarius ancient coin.
- Rare type minted by Lepidus (as Imperator and Triumvir) to celebrate the Second Triumvirate with colleague Octavian (Augustus), nephew of Julius Caesar.
- Believed to have been struck from proceeds of the proscriptions in preparation for the war against Brutus and Cassius.
- Struck at a Military mint with Lepidus in Italy, spring-summer 42 BC.
- 3.75g, Crawford 495/2, Foss 11.
- Certified by NGC to VF, Strike 4/5, Surface 3/5.
- Obverse: LEPIDVS•PONT•MAX•-III•V•R•P•C• (NT and MA ligate, bare head of Lepidus right.
- Reverse: C•CAESAR•IMP•III•-VIR•R•P•C• (MP ligate), bare head of Octavian right.
- A wily and wealthy nobleman, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus parlayed his position as Julius Caesar's colleague in the consulships of 46 BC. While in that the role Lepidus often played as power broker between two formidable rivals, Mark Antony and Octavian, who were vying to replace Julius Caesar after the great dictator's murder. This particular coin issue was stuck under Lepidus to mark the foundation of the Second Triumvirate, composed of himself, Octavian and Antony.
- Although Lepidus gained vast control and power when he joined the Triumvirate in their three-way pact in 43 BC, he shied away from the vendetta and military campaign against Brutus and Cassius. His avoidance inevitably lost him his power and influence, becoming a lame duck "third wheel" in a dyarchy. In 36 BC Lepidus joined Octavian to defeat Sextus Pompey. Victory against Sextus resulted in Octavian easily outmaneuvering Lepidus, and striping him of his Triumvirate powers, retaining only the title of Pontifex Maximus, a post Lepidus held until his death in 12 BC.
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