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1175
Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.89 g), 49-48 BC. Military mint traveling with Caesar. CAESAR in
exergue, elephant advancing right, trampling horned serpent. Rev. Pontifical implements: simpulum,
sprinkler, axe and priest’s hat. (Crawford 443/1; HCRI 9; Sydenham 1006; RSC 49). Cabinet toned.
Well
centered.EF.
$ 1,500
Perhaps the most ubiquitous of Caesar’s denarii, this famous issue was struck at the time of his crossing of the Rubicon and the
beginning of the long period of civil wars which resulted in the downfall of the Roman Republic. A few theories have been
presented explaining the obverse type, the most established being that the elephant represents good, the serpent
evil, thus a message of the righteousness of Caesar’s cause. The reverse shows the symbols of Rome’s high priest,
the Pontifex Maximus, Caesar having been elected to the office in 63 BC.
There are two very different styles of Caesar’s elephant denarii of 49-48 BC. Although neither are rare, this is by far the less common
of the two
1176
Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.82 g), 46 BC. Utica(?). COS TERT behind, DICT ITER before, head
of Ceres right, wreathed with grain ears. Rev. AVGVR above, PONT MAX in exergue, emplems of the
augurate and pontificate: simpulum, sprinkler, capis and lituus; in right field, D (
Donativum
). (Crawford
467/1a; HCRI 57; Sydenham 1023; RSC 4a). Attractive old cabinet tone. Extremely fine.
$ 1,400
The legends and reverse type of this denarius advertise the Roman Republican offices held by Julius Caesar in the year of his victory
over the Pompeian forces. His titles on the obverse are extraordinary: Consul for the fourth time and Dictator for the second time,
while those on the reverse are strictly religious and refer to his previous status as one of the augurs and as pontifex maximus. The
depiction of Ceres on the obverse may perhaps refer to the greater security for the Roman grain supply that must have come with
the defeat of the Pompeians at the Battle of Thapsus (April 6, 46 BC) in North Africa.