Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 123 23-24 May 2023
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The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. January 44 BC. AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.51 g, 12h). Lifetime issue. Rome mint; M. Mettius, moneyer. Laureate head right; lituus left behind neck, CAESAR • DICT downwards to left, QVART upwards to right / Juno Sospita, wearing goat skin headdress, brandishing spear in right hand and holding shield in left, in galloping biga right; M METTIVS in exergue. Crawford 480/2a; Alföldi Type II, 10 (A3/R4); CRI 98; Sydenham 1057; RSC 36; RBW –. Toned, roughness. VF. Very rare.
This very rare coin comes from the first issue of denarii featuring the portrait of Julius Caesar. In issuing coins of this type, Caesar became the first living Roman to be depicted on a coin issued by the Roman mint, a step that effected great changes in Caesar's life and in Roman numismatics.
The presence of Caesar's portrait on this issue presents a revolution in Roman Republican Coinage. Until now, obverses had been the preserve of patron deities and of deceased Romans of import. Elsewhere in the ancient world obverse designs had featured the portraits of kings, many of whom inhabited a grey area between humanity and divinity. By placing his portrait on the obverse of coins minted in his name, Caesar was clearly adopting the role of king in all but name, with the helpful ambiguity between kingship and divine status as an extra layer of meaning. Such a step would have been unambiguous to contemporary Romans, who had maintained a proudly and virulently anti-monarchy stance since the expulsion of the Etruscan kings.
These coins clearly played an important part in the creation of Caesar's post-Civil War persona, along with various other regal honors and public displays of his power, and therefore contributed to his assassination. The influence of this controversial issue of coins can be seen in all of the later Roman issues, both Imperatorial and Imperial, and, by extension, the coinage of the world.
This very rare coin comes from the first issue of denarii featuring the portrait of Julius Caesar. In issuing coins of this type, Caesar became the first living Roman to be depicted on a coin issued by the Roman mint, a step that effected great changes in Caesar's life and in Roman numismatics.
The presence of Caesar's portrait on this issue presents a revolution in Roman Republican Coinage. Until now, obverses had been the preserve of patron deities and of deceased Romans of import. Elsewhere in the ancient world obverse designs had featured the portraits of kings, many of whom inhabited a grey area between humanity and divinity. By placing his portrait on the obverse of coins minted in his name, Caesar was clearly adopting the role of king in all but name, with the helpful ambiguity between kingship and divine status as an extra layer of meaning. Such a step would have been unambiguous to contemporary Romans, who had maintained a proudly and virulently anti-monarchy stance since the expulsion of the Etruscan kings.
These coins clearly played an important part in the creation of Caesar's post-Civil War persona, along with various other regal honors and public displays of his power, and therefore contributed to his assassination. The influence of this controversial issue of coins can be seen in all of the later Roman issues, both Imperatorial and Imperial, and, by extension, the coinage of the world.