MACEDON. Philippi. Time of Claudius or Nero, 41-68. Assarion (Copper, 19.5 mm, 5.25 g, 5 h). VIC - AVG Victory standing left on base, holding wreath in her outstretched right hand and a palm branch in her left. Rev. COHOR - PRAE - PHIL Three standards. RPC I 1651. SNG Copenhagen 305. Well-centered, complete and unusually nice. Good very fine.

This coin was struck to commemorate the battle of Philippi of 42 BC, fought between Brutus and his Republican allies against Marc Antony and Octavian. While it was a decisive defeat for the Republicans, the Civil Wars continued for a further twelve years, only ending with the deaths of Antony and Cleopatra. This type must have been issued in quite considerable numbers. It is dated to the period of Claudius and Nero since it is made out of copper rather than bronze; pure copper coins only came into use at Philippi beginning in the reign of Claudius. It would be interesting if this issue was struck to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle and of the foundation of the Roman colony: that took place in 58, under Nero.