Ancients: Caesar's Comet

While the type as a whole is relatively common, finding a nice example of the Caesar's Comet denarii proved to be very difficult. I thought I had found a nice one at a CNG auction but didn't quite like it based on its images. However, the same coin was happily offered for sale privately by another auction firm who bought it from CNG and I was able to see it in hand, resulting in me being very pleased with the condition and "old collection" toning (due to its presence in the Huntington collection from the ANS).

I know some members here have examples of this type: post your coins!



With the primitive technology available to the ancient world, it is understandable that incorrect assumptions would be made of the significance of astronomical events. Most cultures carefully tracked the night sky and believed in the astrological principle that the heavens above affected the earth below.

When something anomalous or unexpected was observed, the ancient people took notice, considering it to be a message from the gods or potentially a sign of impending misfortune. The periodic and irregular nature of meteors and comets made them especially mysterious. The Latin term for comet was “stella crinita” – “hairy star” – and some believed they were wandering planets, whereas Aristotle thought they were the result of gas igniting in the upper atmosphere. Their mystique caused them to be recorded worldwide in historical documents, carvings, and sometimes on coins.

After his assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, 44 BC, Marcus Brutus realized that, despite the increasingly corrupt and tyrannical actions of Caesar, a large portion of the population resented Brutus’ own actions, considering him to be the murderer of their beloved leader.

In an attempt to gain back favor with the public, Brutus arranged to sponsor theLudi Apollinares, an annual festival to honor the god Apollo held from July 6-13. Sponsors of the various ludi often spent significant portions of their personal funds to increase their standing in the public eye by making the festivals as lavish as possible. It has been noted that in some years, more than 135 days would be spent at these types of festivals, during which no business was allowed to be conducted.

Despite Brutus’ efforts to improve his negative perception, Caesar’s heir Octavian significantly upstaged him with his Ludi Victoriae Caesaris, the “Games in Honor of Caesar’s Victory”, immediately following those of Brutus, held from July 20-30.

Roman custom dictated that the funeral for elite and powerful members of society was to be celebrated with extensive gladiatorial games. Octavian used this opportunity to not only embarrass Brutus by overshadowing his festival but also to pay homage to his adoptive father Caesar, four months after his assassination.

During Octavian’s games, a spectacular comet, likely the brightest in recorded history, was seen for seven days and nights in the northern sky. Chinese sources confirmed this sighting, and it appears that the comet may have disintegrated as it approached the sun, as it has not been seen again.

Octavian used this well-timed comet to his advantage, saying that it was Caesar’s soul ascending to the heavens. This was sufficient evidence for the Senate to posthumously grant him the title Divus Julius, "the Divine Julius", with the appearance of the comet proving his status as a god. Octavian ordered gold stars to be added to statues of Caesar and evangelized his divinity.

Octavian, being Caesar’s adopted son, was then given the title of “Divi Filius”, “son of a god”. This shaped and defined his reign. It indicated the ultimate expression of Roman power and the fact that all peace, justice, and security came from the emperor who had favor with the gods. This divine right became an underpinning attribute of all subsequent Roman rulers and throughout the Middle Ages for the next fifteen centuries.

This coin was struck in Spain in 18 BC, after Octavian adopted the title “Augustus”. Augustus issued this coin as he was preparing for the celebrations of the Ludi Saeculares, the Centennial Games, which were being held for the first time since deviating from their normal schedule in 46 BC due to the tumultuous political climate.

As was often the case with Augustus’ coinage, this denarius conveys a strong political message. He is shown wearing the “corona civica”, an oak wreath given to individuals who have saved a citizen, or, in Augustus’ case, it represented his saving the entire populace of the Roman world. The reverse depiction of Caesar’s comet is the most detailed comet on any ancient coin, reinforcing Caesar’s and Augustus’ divinity with its inscription.

This coin comes from the Huntington collection, a part of the American Numismatic Society Museum. Archer M. Huntington was one of the wealthiest collectors of all time, assembling an astonishingly complete collection of coins, sculptures, and other artifacts which rivaled that of the world’s largest institutions. In 1905, at only 35 years old, Huntington was nearly finished with the numismatic portion of his collection, having acquired pieces from the pre-Roman period and Roman imperial era through the Middle Ages. He donated a great deal of land to the American Numismatic Society and was president of the ANS from 1905 until 1910, when he became an Honorary President and continued to advise and assist the ANS.

From then until his death in 1955, he donated his collection and any newly acquired pieces to the ANS. The 2012/13 sale of the coins from the Huntington collection was the first time since 1973 that any complete collection from a public institution was sold at auction, and the coins from the Huntington collection redefine “fresh to market” after having been stored in the museum for over a century.

Huntington focused on finding spectacular examples of beautiful coins, and this denarius is no exception.

Augustus. 27 BC-AD 14. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.85 g, 6h). Spanish mint (Colonia Caesaraugusta). Struck 19-18 BC. CAESAR AVGVSTVS, head left, wearing oak wreath / DIVVS • IVLIVS across field, comet with eight rays and tail. RIC I 37b; RSC 97; BMCRE 326-7 = BMCRR Gaul 138-9; BN 1298-304. Near EF, with attractive deep toning.

 

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Probably a new favorite of mine in your collection. I love the portrait & the toning.

Im just surprised you didnt hold out for one thats perfectly centered on both sides.

I dont own an example to share.

 

Thanks!

After searching through a large number of catalogs and the usual online databases, I decided that the reverse centering was acceptable for me. It isn't perfect but at least it includes part of the 'D'. Perhaps because the design is large, these tend to fall off of part of the coin, which is quite frustrating. I looked at many of the coins which are classified as "among the finest known" and they either have ratty metal, poor centering, or a less aesthetic portrait. It's a common occurrence, being forced to select the least of several evils.

I have wanted another coin from the Huntington collection as well and the toning is perfect for a denarius in my eyes. If a spectacular example comes around, I may add another: there is one other significant variety where the 'DIVVS' is on the top and the 'IVLIVS' is on the bottom: different enough to justify adding it in addition or as an upgrade. Historical types tend to be very "liquid" but I don't know if I'd let this one go even if I did find a better centered coin.

 

Very cool coin ... sadly, I only own AE-examples of Augustus

=> amazing toning (it has some sweet, comfy eye-appeal) ... great addition!

 

Totally awesome. Much like all the other coins you post. Beautiful portrait.

 

Bing, I thought that you had a couple of those examples? (post 'em, dawg)

 

I wish. Nothing so good.

AUGUSTUS AR Denarius
OBVERSE: CAESAR AVGVSTVS - Bare head right
REVERSE: OB/CIVIS/SERVATOS - Legend in three lines within oak-wreath, ties inward
Colonia Patricia mint 19 BC
3.3g, 17mm
RIC 77A, C208


AUGUSTUS AR Denarius
OBVERSE: CAESAR AVGVSTVS - Bare head right
REVERSE: OB/CIVIS/SERVATOS - Legend in three lines within oak-wreath, ties inward
Colonia Patricia mint 19 BC
3.3g, 17mm
RIC 77A, C208

 

Here is mine (which is not as toned as this seller's photo made it seem).
21 mm. 3.70 grams. Sear 1607.

 

Great coin! I've encountered this exact example before - I quite like the "font" of the reverse inscription, with taller letters than mine.

 

This is one of the coins at the top of my must have list. Spectacular example!

 

Fantastic coin AJ and a great write up too!

 

Mine is a nice coin that suffered the indignity of being nailed to something and still has the iron nail head in the hole. I could deal with the matter a lot better were it not for the fact that the hammer man hit it one time too often and caved in the obverse.

 

Doug, your coin certainly has a pretty cool history (sure, the whole nasty impaling thingy is a bit disturbing, but still pretty cool) ... neat example

 

Cool looking coins, going to keep an eye out for that type. And the list just keeps growing.

 

Sigh. Another coin I'll now have to have.

Thanks for another great post. I always learn some new things when reading your writeups.

 

Reviving an old thread to post the one I got today. Nowhere close to the OP coin and poorly struck due to a thin flan but Doug gave it a stamp of approval yesterday so today I took the plunge.

 

cool ... I forgot about this coin-type (it's back on the ol' coin wish-list!)

 

I'm going to drive nails in all my coins! I love this coin! A story here that we will never really hear!

 

Wow. What a tremendously beautiful coin AJ. One of my favourite types struck by Augustus in superb condition. Congrats!

 

Being fascinated in astronomy, I've always wanted this type, so it's a very welcome necro-post. Ancient Joe's write-up is awesome.

Does anybody collect coins of astronomical significance? Does anyone have a coin with the Stone of Emesa for example - which is believed to be a meteorite?