Heritage World Coin Auctions
Monthly Auction 271726 25 Jun 2017
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Julius Caesar, as Dictator (49-44 BC). AR denarius (3.61 gm). NGC Choice VF 4/5 - 3/5. Rome, lifetime issue, L. Aemilius Buca, moneyer, February-March 44 BC. DICT • PERPETVO CAESAR, laureate head of Caesar right; CAESAR / L • BVCA, Venus Victrix seated right, holding Victory in outstretched right hand and transverse scepter in left. Crawford 480/7b. CRI 104a; Sydenham 1062. RSC 24. Well centered and cleanly struck, with a realistic portrait. A pleasing example of one of the rarest Caesar lifetime portraits!
For two centuries, Rome had spurned the Hellenistic practice of placing the ruler's portrait on the coinage of the realm, much as they rejected the concept of kingship altogether. So early in 44 BC, many Romans must have been stunned to see the image of Julius Caesar on circulating silver denarii. Like a profusion of other honors and titles, the right to place his image on coins had been bestowed on Caesar by the Roman Senate. Caesar's enemies may have had an ulterior motive in approving the honor, as it almost certainly would fuel the growing suspicion that Caesar intended to name himself king of Rome. If this was the intent, it succeeded, for within three months a conspiracy had been formed and Caesar was duly assassinated at a meeting of the Senate on March 15, 44 BC. This rare silver denarius by L. Buca carries a realistic portrait of Caesar on the obverse and the seated image of the dictator's patron goddess, Venus, on the reverse. The obverse legend acclaims Caesar as "DICT(ator) PERPETVO," or "Dictator For Life," a title approved by the Senate in February of 44 BC.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 2500-3500 USD
Julius Caesar, as Dictator (49-44 BC). AR denarius (3.61 gm). NGC Choice VF 4/5 - 3/5. Rome, lifetime issue, L. Aemilius Buca, moneyer, February-March 44 BC. DICT • PERPETVO CAESAR, laureate head of Caesar right; CAESAR / L • BVCA, Venus Victrix seated right, holding Victory in outstretched right hand and transverse scepter in left. Crawford 480/7b. CRI 104a; Sydenham 1062. RSC 24. Well centered and cleanly struck, with a realistic portrait. A pleasing example of one of the rarest Caesar lifetime portraits!
For two centuries, Rome had spurned the Hellenistic practice of placing the ruler's portrait on the coinage of the realm, much as they rejected the concept of kingship altogether. So early in 44 BC, many Romans must have been stunned to see the image of Julius Caesar on circulating silver denarii. Like a profusion of other honors and titles, the right to place his image on coins had been bestowed on Caesar by the Roman Senate. Caesar's enemies may have had an ulterior motive in approving the honor, as it almost certainly would fuel the growing suspicion that Caesar intended to name himself king of Rome. If this was the intent, it succeeded, for within three months a conspiracy had been formed and Caesar was duly assassinated at a meeting of the Senate on March 15, 44 BC. This rare silver denarius by L. Buca carries a realistic portrait of Caesar on the obverse and the seated image of the dictator's patron goddess, Venus, on the reverse. The obverse legend acclaims Caesar as "DICT(ator) PERPETVO," or "Dictator For Life," a title approved by the Senate in February of 44 BC.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 2500-3500 USD