A denarius with Julius Caesar's bust+ a comet!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by JayAg47, Sep 22, 2021.

  1. JayAg47

    JayAg47 Well-Known Member

    Finally got myself a coin that portrays Julius Caesar!
    Caesar.jpg
    This denarius was minted under Augustus celebrating the Secular games (Ludi Saeculares) in 17 BC.
    It's also a bonus that this coin features the famous 'Caesar's Comet', right above Caesar's head.
    Obv: M SANQVINIVS (moneyer) III VIR, youthful laureate head of the deified Julius Caesar right, above, a comet with four rays and a tail.
    Rev: AVGVST DIVI F LVDOS SAE, herald or ludius standing left, wearing long robe reaching to ankles and helmet with two long feathers, and holding winged caduceus upright in right hand and round shield with a six pointed star.
    2.48g, 17 mm.
    RIC 340; BMCRE 70; RSC (Julius Caesar) 6; BN 273-4; FFC 4.

    In the book Natural History, Pliny the Elder talks about how this comet signified a new era when it appeared during the games held in honour of Venus Genetrix, the patron deity of the Julii, and how this event cemented the notion of Augustus claiming himself the 'son of god' or DIVI FILIVS.
    In the book he quoted Augustus saying "On the very days of my games a comet was visible for seven days in the northern region of the sky. It used to raise about an hour before the dark and was bright and visible from all lands. The general populace believed that this signified Caesar's soul recieved among the spirits of the immortal gods, and this gave rise to the addition of a star to the bust of Caesar that we dedicated soon after in the forum".
    I was lucky to have come across this coin being listed new in Vcoins from the dealer Marcantica, and although the coin has seen better days, I still snatched it up to satisfy my need for a JC portrait coin that wouldn't make me take a loan :wideyed:
    Post your coins of JC, or a coin with the Caesar's Comet!
     
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  3. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

  4. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

  5. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    You can never go wrong with a portrait of Caesar.

    [​IMG]
    Julius Caesar (February-March 44 B.C)
    AR Denarius
    Lifetime Issue
    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.
     
    jdmKY, JayAg47, Spaniard and 8 others like this.
  6. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Julius Caesar 7.jpg
    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

    Julius Caesar 2.jpg
    JULIUS CAESAR
    AR Denarius
    OBVERSE: Diademed head of Venus right.
    REVERSE: CAESAR - Aeneas advancing left, carrying Anchises and palladium
    Carthage or military mint with Caesar in North Africa, 47 to 46 BC
    4.0g, 17mm
    CRI 55, Sydenham 1013, RRC 458/1, S 1402
     
    jdmKY, JayAg47, Spaniard and 7 others like this.
  7. Limes

    Limes Well-Known Member

    Great coin, and I like to comet reference too. I don't have that type, this is my only portrait coin:
    0.4.png
     
    jdmKY, JayAg47, Spaniard and 7 others like this.
  8. PlanoSteve

    PlanoSteve Well-Known Member

    Actually, in theory you can, although that theory has never been proven! :D;)
     
  9. Parthicus

    Parthicus Well-Known Member

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