This is a repost of some of the material that I posted about Julius Caesar last year, but especially for those collectors new to this site, I thought today might be appropriate to repost it. Julius Caesar (Wikipedia image) Bridge Across the Rhine In 55 BC, Julius Caesar decided to confront some marauding Germanic tribes in the eastern border of Gaul. These tribes felt safe on the eastern side of the Rhine, thinking the river provided cover from any retaliatory attacks after their raids across the river into the province. Caesar wanted to teach them a lesson as well as show support for a local tribe supported by the Romans. Upon reaching the Rhine, his engineers proceeded to build a quasi-permanent (i.e., non-pontoon) bridge across the river in just 10 days. Here’s an illustration of what the bridge was thought to look like: (Wikipedia image) The bridge, located most likely between Andernach and Neuwied, has been estimated to be between 450 and 1300 feet long, with a width between 23 and 30 feet. The depth of the Rhine reaches 30 feet in some places, and 40,000 Roman soldiers crossed the bridge to engage the rogue tribes. However, the tribes had moved eastward and had combined in preparation for battle with the Romans, so Caesar decided to simply leave the region and deconstruct the bridge behind him. This engineering feat, especially in pre-first-century conditions, is simply staggering to contemplate. Yet Caesar simply took for granted such abilities in his military planning, and this level of reliability in his engineers might have been one of the foundations of his success as a military leader and emperor. Siege of Alesia Similar engineering feats, although not necessarily as mind-boggling as the Rhine bridge, were necessary in one of Caesar’s greatest military triumphs – the siege of Alesia. Historical accounts describe this effort as both offensive and defensive in nature. Fought against a confederation of Gallic tribes lead by Vercingetorix, the siege of Alesia in 52 BC is considered one of Caesar’s greatest military achievements and marked the end of Celtic dominance in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Northern Italy. Interestingly, despite its history and significance, it’s still not 100% certain where it took place. Most historians place it atop Mont Auxois, which is above modern day Alise-Sainte-Reine in France, while other historians point out that this geography doesn’t fit Caesar’s description of the battle. The leading proposed alternative location is Chaux-des-Crotenay in Jura, in modern France. This much is certain: Alesia was a hill-top fortress surrounded by river valleys. As with all such locations, it was highly defensible and a frontal assault would have been doomed to failure. Rather than direct battle, Caesar chose a siege, cutting off the fortress from outside contact and hoping to eventually force a surrender through attrition and starvation. Since Alesia included about 80,000 soldiers (commanded by Vercingetorix of the Arverni) in addition to civilian population, a well-organized siege could be effective in a short period of time. (Wikipedia image) Again calling upon his engineers, Caesar ordered the construction of over 11 miles of 13-feet high walls around Alesia, finished in just three weeks. Inwards from this wall two ditches were dug, each of which was 15 feet wide by 15 feet deep. The ditch nearest the wall was filled with water from the surrounding rivers, and supplemented with man-traps, deep holes in front of the ditches, and regularly spaced watch towers. Despite these fortifications, a group of soldiers managed to escape through an unfinished section, presumably to raise more soldiers for a relief force. To guard against such a relief force attacking them from the outside, Caesar constructed a second line of similar fortifications, containing his army (probably outnumbered by as much as 4:1) within the inner and outer walls. With conditions worsening in Alesia, Vercingetorix expelled the women and children from the fortress, hoping Caesar would allow them to escape through the fortifications. However, Caesar simply ordered nothing to be done about these civilians, many of whom starved in this “no man’s land.” But the relief force had arrived by this time and was preparing to attack Caesar’s army from the outside. The Romans too were suffering from lack of food and low morale, and although the first simultaneous attack was rebuffed in a daylight battle, the second attack on the following day focused on a weakness in the fortifications that had been uncovered by the Gauls, but which Caesar had tried to hide: an area in the zone whose natural topography and obstructions had made it impossible to completely wall it in. Although close to defeat, Caesar personally led a counterattack against the relief forces and despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered (the exact numbers are somewhat fuzzy and still disputed), pushed back the relief force causing them to break up and flee, becoming easy prey for the more disciplined Roman army. Upon seeing this, Vercingetorix surrendered without a final battle. As brilliant and heroic Caesar’s leadership was in this siege, the fundamental and essential role of the Roman military engineers paved the way for his greatness as a battle commander. Assassination Although Caesar had been declared dictator perpetuo by the Roman Senate, this made a number of senators fear the end of the Republic would inevitably follow, with Caesar overthrowing the Senate and becoming a tyrant. On March 15, 44 BC – the Ides of March – Caesar was stabbed to death by a number of senators, in a location adjacent to the Theater of Pompey. Ironically and unfortunately, Caesar’s assassination led to the ensuing civil wars (the Imperatorial Period), failing to restore the republic, and setting the stage for centuries of rule by Emperors of the Roman Empire. Coins No official Imperial bronzes (as, dupondius, or sestertius) of Julius Caesar were issued during his lifetime. In fact, Julius Caesar was the first emperor to issue denarii showing his own likeness on the coin – a fact that may have ultimately led to his assassination by the senate, who became alarmed that Caesar might not intend to return Rome to its days as a republic. Portrait aurei of Julius Caesar were not struck during his lifetime. However, as Octavian mounted his campaign to become the next Roman emperor, he struck portrait aurei of Julius Caesar posthumously to curry favor with the people of Rome. Most of these coins were crudely struck, by mints moving with Octavian on his various military campaigns. My portrait denarius of Julius Caesar is a lifetime issue, struck approximately two weeks prior to his assassination. These aurei were crudely struck, by mints moving with Octavian on his various military campaigns. Feel free to post your Julius Caesar issues, lifetime or posthumous, portrait or not.
Was that written by an engineer? (Though I absolutely agree, Caesar's engineers were both crucial and amazing!)
Thanks for the interesting writeup, and of course your coins are fantastic! I particularly like your choice of lifetime denarii. Someday I hope to have a lifetime portrait of Caesar, preferable with the Dictator legend. For now though I have just these two denarii which were part of an apparently massive emission from his traveling mint, struck to pay the soldiers as Legio XIII Geminia made its way across the Rubicon and into history. Julius Caesar. 49-48 BCE AR denarii Struck by the military mint traveling with Caesar. Obv: elephant standing right, trampling on serpent; CAESAR in exergue Rev: simpulum, sprinkler, axe, and priest's hat. Ref: Crawford 443/1; Sydenham 1006
Great write-up @IdesOfMarch01 . I have read a lot on him, and it is still always amazing to the the Engineering, the Statescraft, and the Military mind that he and his Legions possessed. I cannot tire from the cool stories. Fun stuff. RImp Julius Caesar Lifetime P Sepullius Macer AR Den Jan-Mar 44 BCE 4.03g. CAESAR – DICT PERPETVO Veiled - Venus Victory sceptre star Syd 1074a Sear Imperators 107e Cr 480-14 Rare RR Caesar AR Denarius 49 BCE Traveling Mint Elephant-Pontificates Sear 1399 Craw 443-1
Beautiful coins in the OP, and the rest are no slouch either. As a pointless aside, one thing I find rather amusing about Caesar's portrait denarii is the obverse-reverse contrast between the single literal most famous Roman of all time, and the unimprovably obscure Publius Sepullius Macer -- did he have even the faintest idea of his numismatic immortality to come? The same sentiment for Lucius Plaetorius Cestianus on the front of the Eid Mar.
I always enjoy reading your post and seeing your grat coins @IdesOfMarch01, thank you for posting this. Of course you all have seen my JC coins many times, but what the heck IOM asked.... Julius Caesar, Denarius minted in Italy, c.49 BC CAESAR, elephant walking rigth, trampling on snake No legend, Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and apex 4.05 gr Ref : HCRI # 9, RCV #1399, Cohen #49 ulius Caesar, Denarius minted in North Africa c.47-46 BC No legend, Diademed head of Venus right CAESAR, Aeneas left, bearing Anchises on his shoulder 3.91 gr Ref : HCRI # 55, RCV #1402, Cohen #12 Julius Caesar, Denarius minted in North Africa in 46 BC COS TERT / DICT ITER, head of Ceres right AVGVR / PONT MAX, simpulum, sprinkler, capis and lituum, D in right field 3,81 gr Ref : HCRI # 57, RCV # 1403/1, RSC # 4a, Cohen # 4 Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, Denarius minted in 43 BC M ANTO IMP RPC, Head of Mark Antony right, lituus behind him CAESAR DIC, Head of Caesar right, jug behind him 3.76 gr Ref : HCRI # 123, RCV #1465, Cohen #3 Q
