Owner Comments:
The date offered by NGC, "After 54 B.C.," is the most conservative date range to assign this coin. These coins have been attributed for more than 180 years to Brutus, assassin of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.
Or, one source has it, these were minted for Brutus, by Coson, a King of Thrace, to whom Brutus granted permission to strike money in his own name shortly before the battle of Philippi, in 43-42 B.C, where Brutus and Cassius were defeated.
The earlier date of 54 B.C. is given as the earliest date because of the obverse depiction of the three figures proceeding in a line. They are "lictors" carrying axes. The monogram in the bottom left quadrant is to be read as "BR" or "LBR" for L. Brutus. Almost the same design appears on a silver denarius minted in Rome in 54 B.C. under supervision of Brutus as a moneyer for that year (Crawford 433/1). It is presumed that this gold coin is based on, or inspired by, that denarius obverse. The eagle on the reverse of this coin is said to be gripping a wreath and "scepter." From research of silver denarii, I believe the "sceptre" may actually be a measuring stick, or "decempeda." A decempeda is associated with the measurement of land, and symbolizes redistribution of land. Besides nice gold coins, armies of soldiers and officers need to be promised redistribution of land after their victory.
There is also a reference in Appian to gold and silver coins bearing the face of Brutus himself struck from the treasure entrusted to Brutus by Polemocratia, the widow of a Thracian king Sadalas. King Sadalas had been murdered by his enemies. Those coins bearing the portrait of Brutus and the words "eid mar" are of course a lot more valuable than this example.
These coins in mint state are extremely affordable, and according to one source, they are "at least 100 times more rare" than the gold staters of Alexander III "the Great," which are substantially more expensive. But, I can see that NGC has certified 1,365 of these! In "Choice Mint State" there are 211 of them. I only see 1,140 Alexander III "Lifetime - early posthumous" certified at NGC. I don't think that source is accurate.
I can find an example of one of these coins sold in 1913 in Chicago for $12.