Lifetime portrait denarius of Julius Caesar

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Parthicus, Apr 14, 2020.

  1. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    And, minted 2-Weeks before his death. Personally, I like the Veiled version due to his being Pontifex Maximus for several years; an interesting portent to hs impending death; and he veiled himself with his toga as he was being stabbed.
     
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  3. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    Great coin @Parthicus! I love coins of Caesar. But they are very expensive, since I am definately not the only one who really likes them! Here is mine:
    Julius Caesar portrait.png
     
  4. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Utterly fantastic with a superb write-up!
     
  5. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  6. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Augustus 9.jpg
    AUGUSTUS (OCTAVIAN)
    AE Dupondius
    OBVERSE: CAESAR DIVI F, bare head of Octavian right
    REVERSE: DIVOS IVLIVS, wreathed head of Julius Caesar right
    Gallic or Italian mint 38 BC
    30mm; 17.90 g
    CR535/v1, RPC620v
     
  7. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I THINK yours looks like 480/14 like mine. Your attribute says shield, but it LOOKS like those are rays at the bottom of the Scepter... like a star's rays. Similar to mine.
     
  8. IdesOfMarch01

    IdesOfMarch01 Well-Known Member

    On the reverse of your coin, the bottom of the scepter is definitely resting on a star, not a shield.
     
  9. 1934 Wreath Crown

    1934 Wreath Crown Well-Known Member

    Still working on the Caesar portrait coin but here are a couple I have in the house:

    Julius Caesar Conquered Gaul Obv.jpg

    Julius Caesar Conquered Gaul Rev.jpg

    Julius Caesar Elephant Obv.jpg

    Julius Caesar Elephant Rev.jpg

    Sorry about the poor quality photos but that's the best I could manage with my phone:(
     
  10. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member


    By today’s standards the conduct of Julius Caesar and many other men whom historians view as “great” is abhorrent. The trouble is you have look at them in the context of their times.

    After extensive studies into the lives of the British monarchs from Alfred the Great to date and some beginning studies of the Roman emperors, I have come to a “Leo Durocher” conclusion. “Nice guys finish(ed) last” in those days. If you were not able to take territory or put down you enemies, they would put you down. You could not be like Ferdinand the Bull and gently bend down and sniff the flowers. If you did, one of your opponents would have stuck a sword in your back.

    Just look at the history of the British kings. They were constantly at war or imprisoning or killing their enemies. Kings like Henry III (1216 to 1272), who was drawn to religion, culture and the building of Westminster Abby, are generally viewed as “weak.” Most kings who were deposed didn’t get live out their lives. They were killed or committed suicide.
     
  11. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I thoroughly understand the perspective of NOT viewing History through today's eyes. However, even the Roman Senate stated repeatedly that Caesar had gone too far. Yes, I understand that it were his opposition. And I am not sure that "today's standards" are any different: The wars of extermination within the 20th Century (WWII, Yugoslavia, etc.) were not mild compared to 49 BCE... Going into the 19th Century the US Civil War was not a tame conflict, etc. No, things have not changed, and the History is the same. Folks thought the conflicts were as abhorrent then, as they are today.
     
    Andres2 likes this.
  12. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    The thing we don’t have today is the frequent execution of heads of state. Just look at a single year in Rome, 69 AD. Two emperors were murdered, and one committed suicide. One of the murdered emperors, Vitellius, was grabbed from the palace, dragged through the streets and killed by a mob. Today that could happen in a third world country, but not in a modern place with the prestiege of ancient Rome.

    Vitellius Den O.jpg Vitellius Den R.jpg

    BTW, I found it be very difficult to find a denarius that had Vitellius' full name on it.
     
  13. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Understood.
     
  14. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the attention! I haven't noticed, but now that you mention it... There does not seem to be a shield. I've encircled the - in my eyes - rays. Those are the rays you mean right?

    CaesarPort_a_star.png

    When looking for other examples online, I noticed stars have either four or six, or seven rays towards the sides. Seeing the pattern on my coin vaguely, I would assume there would have been six (seven?) rays. I've also noticed that there's no distinction made when it comes to the amount of rays.
     
  15. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Yes, my observation.
     
    Limes likes this.
  16. IdesOfMarch01

    IdesOfMarch01 Well-Known Member

    Yes, you've circled the area to which I was referring. Yours is similar to the reverse on my coin, but I can't quite count the exact number of rays on your reverse (mine appears to have five):

    JC denarius reverse illus.jpg
     
  17. Carthago

    Carthago Does this look infected to you?

    Love the Caesars! Here's my example of the OP's coin.

    Caesar and Buca 480-4 Roma 2013.jpg

    Provenance:

    Ars Classica Auction XV July 2, 1930 Lot 1306;

    Adolf Hess Nachf, Frankfurt am Main, Theodor Prowe of Moscow Collection, May 20, 1912 Lot 243.
     
  18. 1934 Wreath Crown

    1934 Wreath Crown Well-Known Member

    Love the coin and great portrait.......I'm envious:D
     
    Carthago likes this.
  19. Paul M.

    Paul M. Well-Known Member

    Here's mine, excerpted from a 1999 CNG catalog (sorry for the terrible image!):

    JC denarius catalog listing.png
    Of note, the price I paid was very, very close to the price realized here after inflation. It seems JC wouldn't have been a great investment in 1999, but it's good to know he probably won't lose me money when I go to sell. :)
     
    Limes, Carthago, Alegandron and 3 others like this.
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