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The Caesarians. Julius Caesar. February-March 44 BC. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.72 g, 7h). Lifetime issue. Rome mint; C. Cossutius Maridianus, moneyer. Laureate and veiled head right; CAESAR downwards to right, DICT • IN • PERPETVO upwards to left / Venus Victrix standing left, holding Victory in extended right hand and resting left arm on shield set on globe to right; C • MARIDIANVS downwards to right. Crawford 480/16; Alföldi Type XIX, 23 (dies A6/R4); CRI 111; Sydenham 1067; RSC 9; RBW –. Lightly toned. In NGC encapsulation 6290513-004, graded Ch XF, Strike: 3/5, Surface: 4/5. Expressive portrait.
For two centuries, Rome had spurned the Hellenistic practice of placing the ruler’s portrait, or any living person, on its coinage. So, early in 44 BC, many Romans must have been stunned to see the image of Julius Caesar, recently appointed to an unprecedented fourth term as dictator, stamped upon newly minted 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 pushing for the honor, as it certainly fueled the growing suspicion that Caesar intended to name himself king (Rex) of Rome, an intolerable offense to tradition. If this was their intent, it succeeded, for within three months a conspiracy had been formed and Caesar was assassinated at a meeting of the Senate on March 15, 44 BC. This silver denarius carries a startlingly realistic, warts-and-all 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 IN PERPETVO -- Perpetual dictator -- a title bestowed by the Senate between January 26 and February 15 of 44 BC. Caesar’s shattering of tradition would continue after his death, as portraits of living Romans on the state’s coinage began to proliferate, ultimately even among his assassins.
The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.
Triton XXVI – Session Two – Lot 335-673 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 10 January 2023 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.
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