Heritage World Coin Auctions
CCE Signature Sale 3054 7-8 April 2017
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Divus Julius Caesar (died 44 BC). AR denarius (20mm, 3.91 gm, 4h). NGC Choice VF 3/5 - 3/5. Posthumous, pre-deification issue of L. Flaminius Chilo, August 43 BC. Head of Caesar right, wearing thick laurel wreath / L • FLAM[INIVS] III • VIR, Pax standing left, holding caduceus in right hand and long scepter in left. Crawford 485/1. CRI 113. RSC 26. Areas of weakness, otherwise possessing a powerful and expressive portrait of Caesar. Even during his lifetime, Caesar had been worshipped as a semi-divine figure in Egypt and eastern Roman client kingdoms. Caesar claimed descent from the goddess Venus and ordered construction of a temple to Venus Genetrix ("originator") in 46 BC; the obsequious Senate placed a statue of Caesar within with an inscription referring to him as a demigod, but he reportedly ordered it erased. After his assassination, Octavian and Mark Antony began an immediate campaign to have Caesar officially deified by the Senate, an unprecedented act that was at first resisted. Their efforts were greatly aided by the appearance of a bright comet , the "Julian star," in July of 44 BC. Coins continued to be struck with Caesar's portrait after his death, including this denarius of the otherwise unknown moneyer L. Flaminius Chilo, with idealized features suggesting godhead. But it was not until January 1 of 42 BC that the Senate officially voted divine honors to Caesar, starting a 300-year tradition for the deification of "good" Roman rulers and their relations.
Estimate: 3500-4500 USD
Divus Julius Caesar (died 44 BC). AR denarius (20mm, 3.91 gm, 4h). NGC Choice VF 3/5 - 3/5. Posthumous, pre-deification issue of L. Flaminius Chilo, August 43 BC. Head of Caesar right, wearing thick laurel wreath / L • FLAM[INIVS] III • VIR, Pax standing left, holding caduceus in right hand and long scepter in left. Crawford 485/1. CRI 113. RSC 26. Areas of weakness, otherwise possessing a powerful and expressive portrait of Caesar. Even during his lifetime, Caesar had been worshipped as a semi-divine figure in Egypt and eastern Roman client kingdoms. Caesar claimed descent from the goddess Venus and ordered construction of a temple to Venus Genetrix ("originator") in 46 BC; the obsequious Senate placed a statue of Caesar within with an inscription referring to him as a demigod, but he reportedly ordered it erased. After his assassination, Octavian and Mark Antony began an immediate campaign to have Caesar officially deified by the Senate, an unprecedented act that was at first resisted. Their efforts were greatly aided by the appearance of a bright comet , the "Julian star," in July of 44 BC. Coins continued to be struck with Caesar's portrait after his death, including this denarius of the otherwise unknown moneyer L. Flaminius Chilo, with idealized features suggesting godhead. But it was not until January 1 of 42 BC that the Senate officially voted divine honors to Caesar, starting a 300-year tradition for the deification of "good" Roman rulers and their relations.
Estimate: 3500-4500 USD