This rather attractive lifetime denarius IMHO was on offer at Roma and I feel I was lucky to get it at a decent price. Auctioneer's description: Julius Caesar AR Denarius. Rome, January-February 44 BC. P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer. Wreathed head of Caesar to right; star of eight rays behind, CAESAR•IMP downwards before / Venus Victrix standing to left, holding Victory in outstretched right hand and with left, resting on vertical sceptre set on star; P•SEPVLLIVS downwards to right, MACER upwards to left. From the Andrew McCabe Collection, collector's ticket included. The middle section of the reverse appears a bit weakly struck but overall I thought the details and even the face of Venus was very clear. I particularly liked the portrait of JC on a good shaped flan and the metal quality also appears very good in the pictures I'm even prepared to overlook what appears like a small flan flaw at around 3 o'clock on the reverse. This will definitely make my top 10 for 2020 with the year I'm having Looks like an almost uncirculated specimen to me, what do you all think?
I would say limited circulation as there is wear on the reverse. Nice coin and one that I want for my collection sooner or later. But in the meantime I will settle for this JC portrait denarius: JULIUS CAESAR AR Denarius OBVERSE: CAESAR IMP, laureate head right, lituus & simpulum behind. REVERSE: M METTIVS, Venus standing left with Victory & scepter, shield resting on globe; control letter G to left Rome January-February 44 BC 3.81g, 18mm RSC 34 ex. Andrew McCabe plugged and ex-mount
Surprising no one wanted it, it's amazing. Julius Caesar (February-March 44 B.C) AR Denarius O: Wreathed head of Caesar right; CAESAR downward to right, DICT PERPETVO upward to left. R:Venus Victrix standing left, holding Victory in outstretched right hand and vertical scepter in left; L • BVC[A] downwards to right. L. Aemilius Buca, moneyer. Rome Mint 3.92g 17mm Crawford 480/8; Alföldi Type XIV, 62–3, 67, and 69 (A13/R22); CRI 105; Sydenham 1061; RSC 23; RBW 1683.
There were a couple of other bidders but somehow the bidding stalled and I guess they wanted to get it cheaply. The other coin, which was much more heavily circulated, achieved quite a lot more than its estimated value. I guess I was lucky.
Here's my old "bargain basement" example. Something of an ugly duckling, but you can't often say you got a lifetime JC denarius for under 500 bucks, which in this case I did- just barely.
Under 500 bucks...LM you certainly know how to find them. I posted a presentation AV Toman here a few months ago. Thought you might like that one. Came back an MS61, much better than I expected.
Great Denarius, @1934 Wreath Crown ... minor circulation on the reverse. But, to me, that is the beauty of the coin. It means it has been transacted and in different peoples hands. Congrats! I have the version where Caesar is veiled. The office of Pontifex Maximus was very important to Caesar and his career. Roman Imperatorial Era Julius Caesar Lifetime P Sepullius Macer AR Den 1st 2 weeks-Mar 44 BCE 4.03g. CAESAR – DICT PERPETVO Veiled - Venus Victory sceptre star Syd 1074a Sear Imperators 107e Cr 480-14
I don't see a lot of wear but the strike was not hard enough transfer detail to Venus' body or the small Victory. If I were to pretend to be an NGC grader I would let this one have an AU but knock it down quite a bit for strike (2/5?). The face on Venus certainly is nice and makes the coin better than many with better body details.
Doug to me only the body of Venus looks weaker than other coins I've seen but the face and also details of Victory are much better. Looking at both sides of the coin, with a nice shaped flan, good centering and clear Caesar's portrait, I would hope to get a Ch. AU with 5 for surface/metal quality and 4 or at worst 3 for strike. We'll find out in a few weeks.
I will be interested in the verdict. On average, I tend to be harder on strike but easier on scratches than the NGC pro's. I am a little surprised that the obverse of your coin has as much detail as it does and that the legends are not more flat on one side or the other if I am right about the strike being responsible for the body and Victory. Still, I do not believe the letter/number grades are important but what counts is whether the coin is one I would welcome into the collection. It most certainly is. Of course that Venus face would make it a winner no matter what other issues it might have.
Thank you both. My thoughts exactly. Who knows maybe the engraver concentrated on the face and forgot to add details in her attire. I compared it to other examples like this one below and thought it is a much more attractive coin with greater eye appeal all round. The flan on this one looks like a rat's been at it. Hope you agree with me
Would you enjoy the coin less if it came back XF? It's unquestionably genuine and a nice coin so I hope the slab grade doesn't impact its place in your collection.
It's a lovely example! Really great obverse, which is where the money is, and very nice reverse with just some flatness on Venus' body (not a big deal overall IMO). \ A great coin. Enjoy and don't worry about condition because a nominal grade doesn't matter!
Hell NO Joe. The grading exercise is just to preserve the coin and a personal learning process. I recall you telling me what to look out for in ancients as each one is unique. I love most things about the coin and perhaps I'm now biased, but I thought it was one of the better looking JC's by Sepullius Macer I've seen for quite a while. Ticks most of the boxes for me and most importantly........good eye appeal. Definitely one I would hope to cherish for many years.
