Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3071 6-7 Jan 2019
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Divus Julius Caesar (49-44 BC). AR denarius (20mm, 3.84 gm, 8h). NGC Fine 5/5 - 3/5, bankers mark, graffito. Rome, 43 BC, moneyer L. Flaminius Chilo. Wreathed head of Julius Caesar right / L FLAMINIVS-IIII VIR, Venus standing left, head bowed, holding caduceus and scepter. Crawford 485/1. Sydenham 1089. Possessing a powerful and expressive portrait of Caesar.
From the Morris Collection.
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.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1000-1500 USD
Divus Julius Caesar (49-44 BC). AR denarius (20mm, 3.84 gm, 8h). NGC Fine 5/5 - 3/5, bankers mark, graffito. Rome, 43 BC, moneyer L. Flaminius Chilo. Wreathed head of Julius Caesar right / L FLAMINIVS-IIII VIR, Venus standing left, head bowed, holding caduceus and scepter. Crawford 485/1. Sydenham 1089. Possessing a powerful and expressive portrait of Caesar.
From the Morris Collection.
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.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 1000-1500 USD