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Choice Quality Portrait Denarius of Julius Caesar
1177
Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (4.19 g), 44 BC. Rome. M. Mettius, moneyer. IMPER CAESAR, wreathed
head of Julius Caesar right. Rev. M METTIVS, Venus standing facing, head left, holding Victory and
scepter, elbow arm on shield set on globe behind her; in left field, B. (Crawford 480/17; HCRI
101; Sydenham 1055; RSC 35). Well struck and well centered. Uniform light grey toning.
Extremely fine.
$ 12,500
ex 51 Gallery.
This stunningly attractive Julius Caesar portrait denarius was struck to celebrate and advertise his preeminent position of power over
the dying Roman Republic. Although the obverse legend naming him as Imperator has been treated as an additional cognomen
or an indicator of a permanent right to command the army, Crawford argued that it reflected Caesar’s status as a permanent
triumphator. On the other hand, one wonders whether it could be connected to the incident of the Senate’s extraordinary offer of
the imperatorial title to Caesar as a praenomen, although it is clearly not used as a praenomen here. The reverse type depicting Venus
Victrix resting her shield on the globe fairly reflects Julius Caesar’s ambitions as dictator - to place the entirety of the Roman world
under his rule as a member of the gens Julia and supposed descendant of Venus.
1178
Julius Caesar. Silver Denarius (3.51 g), 44 BC. Rome. L. Aemilius Buca, moneyer. CAESAR IM before, P M
behind, wreathed head of Julius Caesar right; behind, crescent. Rev. [L AEMI]LIVS BVCA, Venus standing
facing, head left, holding Victory and leaning on scepter. (Crawford 480/4; HCRI 102; Sydenham 1060;
RSC 22). Lightly toned with banker’s mark on neck. Very fine.
$ 2,500