Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 41 2 Dec 2017
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Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Rome, February - March 44 BC. Lifetime issue. L. Aemilius Buca, moneyer. Laureate head of Caesar right; CAESAR DICT PERPETVO around / Venus standing left, holding Victory and sceptre; L•BVCA downwards to right. Crawford 480/8; CRI 105; RSC 23. 3.86g, 17mm, 1h.
Very Fine - Good Very Fine. Struck on a tight flan. Old collection tone with iridecent highlights.
From the Andrew McCabe Collection;
Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 398, 28 April 2009, lot 367;
Ex Numismatica Varesi 52, 12 November 2008, lot 55.
This coin has a portrait of exceptional and refined style for RRC 480, an issue which is usually indifferently engraved. Bernhard Woytek (Arma et Nummi, 2004) and Ted Buttrey (Caesar at Play: Some Preparations for the Parthian Campaign, 44 BCE, Journal of Ancient History, Dec. 2015) are of the view that the entire RRC 480 coinage, with the exception of the two late Mark Antony pieces with desultor, was struck before 15th March 44 BC, while the Caesar/desultor type is a mule struck in error using an old obverse die during the Antonian coin issue.
Andrew McCabe notes: I concur with this, on the basis of the fabric and styles of the RRC 480 coinage showing such as variation as to be consistent with being a set of parallel issues from separate workshops, rather than a sequence as Alföldi proposed and Crawford supported. Given that the number of obverse dies does not exceeed 200, such an issue could be produced in its entirety in several weeks if divided among several workshops. Such an arrangement would be exactly what one would expect in preparation for a Parthian campaign. It is only a shame that the entire issue does not have portraits in such beautiful style." "
Very Fine - Good Very Fine. Struck on a tight flan. Old collection tone with iridecent highlights.
From the Andrew McCabe Collection;
Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. 398, 28 April 2009, lot 367;
Ex Numismatica Varesi 52, 12 November 2008, lot 55.
This coin has a portrait of exceptional and refined style for RRC 480, an issue which is usually indifferently engraved. Bernhard Woytek (Arma et Nummi, 2004) and Ted Buttrey (Caesar at Play: Some Preparations for the Parthian Campaign, 44 BCE, Journal of Ancient History, Dec. 2015) are of the view that the entire RRC 480 coinage, with the exception of the two late Mark Antony pieces with desultor, was struck before 15th March 44 BC, while the Caesar/desultor type is a mule struck in error using an old obverse die during the Antonian coin issue.
Andrew McCabe notes: I concur with this, on the basis of the fabric and styles of the RRC 480 coinage showing such as variation as to be consistent with being a set of parallel issues from separate workshops, rather than a sequence as Alföldi proposed and Crawford supported. Given that the number of obverse dies does not exceeed 200, such an issue could be produced in its entirety in several weeks if divided among several workshops. Such an arrangement would be exactly what one would expect in preparation for a Parthian campaign. It is only a shame that the entire issue does not have portraits in such beautiful style." "