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Showcase Auction 61309  12 Feb 2023
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Lot 21050

Starting price: 230 USD
Price realized: 3800 USD
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Ancients
Julius Caesar, as Dictator (49-44 BC). AR denarius (18mm, 4.00 gm, 1h). NGC Choice XF 3/5 - 2/5. Rome, February-March 44 BC. DICT•PERPETVO-CAESAR, laureate head of Julius Caesar right / L•BVCA, Venus Victrix standing facing, head left, Victory left in outstretched right hand, grounded scepter in left. Crawford 480/8. Sydenham 1061. Julia 35 and Aemilia 14.

From A Professor's Collection of Ancient and Medieval Coinage. Ex Davisson's, Auction 7 (21 August 1996), lot 104

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 15 March 44 BC. This rare silver denarius by L. Buca carries a realistic portrait of Caesar on the obverse and the 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, 44 BC.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-republic/ancients-julius-caesar-as-dictator-49-44-bc-ar-denarius-18mm-400-gm-1h-ngc-choice-xf-3-5-2-5/a/61309-21050.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61309-02122023

HID02906262019

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