Since today is the day Julius Caesar was assassinated, lets share our coins of J. C.. If you dont have one, then share a coin with an emperor who was assassinated, which is basically all of them
JULIUS CAESAR 100 - 44 B.C. AR Denarius (4.05 gm) Rome Feb. - Mar. 44 B.C. Wreathed head of Caesar / Venus Victrix. Moneyer P. Sepullius Macer. This coin was struck within a month of Julius Caesar's assassination. OCTAVIAN & JULIUS CAESAR AV Aureus (8.15 g.) Mint moving w/Octavian late summer-autumn 43 B.C. Bare head of Octavian right; C CAESAR COS PO(NT) (AV)G. Rev. C CAESAR DICT PERP PO(NT) (MA)X around wreathed head of Julius Caesar right Caesar's portrait on this aureus gives him an unsurpassed air of nobility and a touch of sadness.
Great set, IdesOfMarch - that is a fantastic portrait of Julius on your aureus. There one coming up at HD Rauch is of a slightly higher grade but a worse portrait in my eyes, and that has a starting bid of 60K Eur, so I think you bought yours at the absolute right time. Here's my denarius of Julius, minted right around the same time as yours: "Julius Caesar with L. Aemilius Buca. Denarius 44, AR 3.63 g. CAESAR·IM – P – M Wreathed head of Caesar r.; behind, crescent. Rev. [L]·AEMILIVS – BVCA Venus standing l., holding sceptre and Victory. Babelon Julia 34 and Aemilia 13. Sydenham 1060. Sear Imperators 102. Crawford 480/4. A very attractive portrait and a light iridescent tone. About Extremely Fine"
Thanks for the compliments. I saw the HD Rauch aureus and while the legends are a bit crisper than mine, the portraits -- especially Julius Caesar -- are much less well-executed. Interestingly, the original grade on my coin was a bit higher than the grade Rauch assigns to theirs. But all these aurei are rare and highly sought-after so it will be interesting to see what it goes for.
Don't forget the other major player of the day. Both are fourree. Both of the relatives on the first coin were known in history as men who killed tyrants. Brutus was just following in the family avocation. Here is the place to post your EID MAR denarius, too. I regret I do not own a fourree EID MAR. They do exist but sell for prices over nice tetradrachms. The one below is the best known fourree (no core showing). http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=7693
BRUTUS 85- 42 B.C. AR Denarius (3.85 gm.) Tyrannicide, d. 42 B.C. Smyrna (?) early 42 B.C. Axe, Simpulum, knife / Jug & Lituus. Moneyer P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther
Fantastic coins all of you. I need to do some penny saving to one day come home with a Caesar of my own. I love the toning on your coin AJ. Just subtle enough to highlight the features of the coin.
