Augustus (27 BC-AD 14), Denarius, Spanish mint (Colonia Caesaraugusta), struck 19-18 BC, RIC I 37b;

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Amit Vyas, Dec 22, 2021.

  1. Amit Vyas

    Amit Vyas Well-Known Member

    Not the best example, but I definitely wanted one of this type. Was likely worn as an amulet by someone (a soldier, perhaps) soliciting the protection of the divine soul of Julius Caesar.

    Augustus (27 BC-AD 14), Denarius, Spanish mint (Colonia Caesaraugusta), struck 19-18 BC, RIC I 37b; RSC 97 (2.9 g, 19.5 mm)

    When beggars die there are no comets seen;
    The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

    (William Shakespear, Julius Caesar, Act II, Scene 2)

    In 44 BC, following the murder of Julius Caesar, a comet bright enough to be seen in daytime appeared for seven days near the beginning of the Ludi Victoriae Caesaris (Games of the Victorious Caesar), a festival held in honour of Julius Caesar.

    Octavian used this opportunity to spread propaganda that the comet was Caesar’s soul ascending to the heavens, and convinced the Senate to deify Caesar. Octavian, being the adoptive son of Caesar, himself took the title “Divi Filius” (son of a god).

    In 42 BC, a temple of the Deified Julius Caesar was built for fostering a "cult of the comet". At the back of the temple a huge statue of Caesar, with a flaming comet affixed to its forehead, was erected.

    Coins of this type were struck in Spain in 18 BC, before the Ludi Saeculares (the Centennial Games), after Octavian had adopted the title “Augustus”.

    Obverse: CAESAR (AVG)VSTV(S). Head of Augustus left, wearing oak wreath
    Reverse: DIVVS • IVLIVS across field, comet with eight rays and tail

    A.jpg
     
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  3. JayAg47

    JayAg47 Well-Known Member

    An iconic coin!
    This is my not so great example combining Caesar+his comet+and the games. Caesar.jpg
    This denarius was minted under Augustus celebrating the Secular games (Ludi Saeculares) in 17 BC.
    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".
     
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