Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 86 8 October 2015
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Imperatorial Issues
L. Flaminius Chilo. Denarius 41, AR 3.90 g. Laureate head of Julius Caesar r. Rev. L·FLAMINIVS – III VIR Goddess (Venus ?) standing facing l., l. hand raised holding sceptre and r. hand outstretched holding caduceus. Babelon Julia 44 and Flaminia 3. C 26. Sydenham 1089. Sear Imperators 113. Woytek Arma et Nummi p. 558. RBW –. Crawford 485/1.
Rare. A superb portrait of fine style struck on a very broad flan. Lovely old cabinet
tone, insignificant areas of weakness, otherwise good extremely fine
Ex Robert J. Myers December 1974, 253; CNG 36, 1995, 2335; NAC 40, 2007, 585 sales. Antiqua list XV, 2009, 104. I believe the portraits of Julius Caesar minted by Flaminius are the finest of all the moneyers. This is a marvellous portrait style and a wonderful coin. Coins like this were for me just too hard to find to pass up when they came along. MSG.
The coinage of Flaminius is of similar appearance to the issues of 44 BC, both lifetime and posthumous. The obverse with the laureate head of Caesar is without legend but there can have been no doubt as to who was being portrayed by this point. The head is also more idealized than the issues of 44 and perhaps intentionally "Godlike" in appearance. The reverse design is also reminiscent of the earlier issues but Venus holding Victory would no longer be appropriate for the now slain dictator. Instead Venus holds a caduceus in her outstretched right hand. This change of symbolism relates to the prosperity that was hoped for under Caesar. The caduceus also has a second meaning that may apply here. This was an accessory of Mercury who, among many other attributes, was also the "protector of the dead."
The issues of Flaminius are scarcer than the portrait issues of the preceding year. This is only natural since there was no longer a Parthian war for which to build up money reserves. It is in this year that perhaps the finest portraits of Caesar are seen. Later issues would suffer from Caesar becoming the secondary figure on the coinage which would come to identify primarily with Octavian and Antony. MSG.