Julius Caesar Silver Denarius

Name: Julius Caesar Silver Denarius
SKU: EC2395
Availability: InStock

£ 2,355.00

A very fine Ancient Roman Republican silver denarius, minted by a travelling military mint under Julius Caesar. The obverse presents the laureate head of Pietas facing right. Her hair is swept up in a bun at the back of her head and she wears an oak-wreath, diadem, and a string of pearls. Her facial features have been beautifully rendered, with curls of hair extending behind and across her neck. Behind her head, LII, resembling TII, is featured in the left field, representing Julius Caesar’s age at time of minting (52). The reverse displays a trophy of Gallic arms, a carnyx, and an axe surmounted by an animal head in the right field. The accompanying legend CAE-SAR has been written across the coin at the bottom of the field. Both the obverse and reverse are presented within a circular border of dots.

Date: 48-47 BC
Provenance: From the Dr Erik Miller Collection, Spink.
Condition: Excellent condition. Toning and signs of wear as consistent with age, such as minor scratches.

In stock

SKU: EC2395 Category: Other Antiquities Tags: Animals, Female Figures, Inscription, Religious

Description
Additional information

Julius Caesar (100 BC – 44 BC) is one of the most famous Romans from antiquity. His victory in the civil war with Pompey (49-45 BC) marked the beginning of the end of the Roman Republic. Before the war, Caesar had led an invasion of Gaul for almost a decade, and his refusal to give up his provinces and armies led him to march on Rome, crossing the Rubicon in 49BC. Upon his victory in the civil war, Julius Caesar was named ‘dictator perpetuo’ (dictator for life) in 44BC. He was assassinated very soon after 60 conspirators, led by Brutus and Cassius. It is said that in the morning of the Ides of March, his wife Calpurnia begged him not to go to the Theatre of Pompey due to a prophetic dream she had of his death. Caesar did not heed her calls and it is at the Theatre of Pompey that he is attacked in all directions by the conspirators and stabbed 23 times. In the aftermath of Caesar’s death, there was an immense power vacuum, which allowed Octavian, his adopted son and heir, to seize power, becoming the first Emperor of Rome.