Watch List notes:

Imperatorial Issues

Julius Caesar and M. Mettius. Denarius January-February 44, AR 4.12 g. CAESAR IMP Wreathed head of Caesar r.; behind, littus and culullus. Rev. M·METTIVS Venus standing l., holding Victory in outstretched r. hand and sceptre in l., resting l. elbow on shield which in turn rests on globe below; in l. field, H. Babelon Julia 32 and Mettia 4. C 34. Sydenham 1056. Alföldi, Monarchie, pl. 5, 3. Alföldi, Portrait, pl. I, 14. Kraay, Quattorviri, pl. 3, 5. Sear Imperators 100. RBW 1678. Crawford 480/3.
Rare and unusually well struck for the issue. A superb portrait of fine style,
lovely old cabinet tone and extremely fine

Ex Spink sale 5014, 2005, 388.

This is a really nice lifetime, laureate portrait of Julius Caesar. The head is delicately engraved and fully struck. The usual reverse flatness is, only minor here and the reverse details are all fully present and well centered. A really nice example. MSG.

Marcus Mettius was one of four moneyers for 44 BC. No clear information survives to indicate why the college of moneyers, traditionally always being three, was upped to four in this fateful year. Perhaps the increase was mandated by the large outpouring of money needed in anticipation of the planned war with Parthia. In any event, Mettius is alone to use control letters on his reverse dies (here the letter "H"). These control letters were common on republican coins but had not been used for imperatorial issues. More curiously, Crawford believes that the issues with control letters G through L are from an earlier date than those with control letters A through E. No convincing argument has ever been presented to identify why this might have been so. Both Crawford and Sear indicate that those issues with G-L are lifetime issues while those with A-E are posthumous. MSG.