12 Caesars: Julius Caesar

This is my 1,000th post on this site, and I thought I’d mark the occasion by kicking off a presentation of (most of) my small collection. Having almost completed my 12 Caesars collection (lacking only a lifetime portrait sestertius of Tiberius), it seems worthwhile to present it via a series of written vignettes about each of the emperors. I’ll be doing this sporadically over the next weeks, with a new emperor or view every so often as time and whim permit.

I’ll start with “mint sets” of each emperor. My definition of a mint set is: a small bronze (as or dupondius), sestertius, denarius, and aureus. While I realize this is taking great liberty in the definition of “mint set,” it turns out to be (at least for me) an interesting way to view both the emperor and representative coins of that reign.

None of these coins is new -- they've all been posted on this site previously. The writeups of each emperor are new, though, in the hope that they provide some previously undiscovered insights.

Foreword

I’ve always had the following criteria for choosing the coins in my 12 Caesars collection: (1) the obverse must be a portrait of the Caesar; (2) the coin, if possible, must be a lifetime issue; (3) the mint must be an imperial mint (i.e., coins listed in RIC Volumes I and II, although not applicable to Julius Caesar or the Imperatorial coins I’ll be showing); (4) minimal smoothing and no tooling, especially for bronzes.

Additional criteria which I strived to achieve, on an opportunistic basis, were: (5) condition of good VF, or preferably, EF; and last but not least, (6) an interesting reverse type. Not all my coins presented me with these last opportunities, so some have been selected just on criteria 1 - 4.

From a size perspective, my collection is very modest compared to most of the collectors on this site: 48 coins, of which 44 are imperial coins of the 12 Caesars, and four are what I describe as “imperatorial period” coins. Despite its small size, it has taken over nine years to complete, a testimony to the difficulty of finding appropriate coins that meet my criteria above. What my collection lacks in quantity is (I hope) made up in other areas.

Finally, a word about focusing on a “set” and why the 12 Caesars. In various threads on this site there have been disparate opinions on whether a collector of ancients should focus on some sort of theme, or instead collect across all ranges of ancient coins that have some semblance of interest or curiosity to the collector. I had collected for about a year before I realized that I was intensely interested in the 12 Caesars period for a very simple reason: It’s arguably the most dynamic, formative, and compelling historical period not only of the Roman Empire but of Euro-centric civilization as a whole. Much of its history is represented in its coins, and holding these coins in one’s hand fires the imagination and extends one’s appreciation and insight into an era and empire whose range and standards of living (as in the ancient city of Rome during the period of the 12 Caesars) would not be equaled for 1500 years. Additionally, collecting the coins in this period provides an unbroken history stretching from 44 BC to 96 AD, giving a real sense of continuity to the dynasties and events that transpired during their reigns.

About the photographs: For the most part, the photos are those taken by the auction house and used in their online or printed catalogs. While not perfect, these are generally good photos, and I simply don’t have the patience to try to improve on them. In some cases I’ll make the observation that a coin “looks better in hand,” but (with only a few exceptions that I’ll note) I haven’t attempted to improve on the original photographs to illustrate this.

Julius Caesar


(Wikipedia image)

Entire books have been written about Julius Caesar, and no attempt will be made to provide any lengthy history of his life. There are, however, two notable early military efforts that illuminate Caesar’s persistence and tactical thinking as a leader of the Roman armies, as well as the indispensability and brilliance of the anonymous Roman engineers.

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.

The 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. My portrait denarius of Julius Caesar is a lifetime issue, struck approximately one month prior to his assassination. Its portrait is one of the more artistic renderings of Julius Caesar, with a little weakness on the obverse laurel wreath but very well centered and struck otherwise.

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. Harlan Berk estimates this particular issue at 35 known aurei today. Curiously, Berk describes this number as “relatively common compared to other republican or imperatorial aurei” for those wishing to collect this aureus. I find that characterization a bit of an overstatement, but I’ve managed to find a total of 30 of these coins via ACSEARCH; the other 34 of you out there who have one of these, feel free to post them.

Most of these coins were crudely struck, by mints moving with Octavian on his various military campaigns. My own coin has what I consider to be one of the most artistic and compelling portraits of Julius Caesar on an aureus. The legends are complete and visible although a bit worn.

Feel free to post your Julius Caesar issues, lifetime or posthumous, portrait or not.

Next: The Imperatorial Period

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Your coins are simply superb. I am trying to do a 12 Caesars set too, but being a bottom feeder, my criteria are less strict than yours.

1) obverse lifetime portrait coin of each Caesar.
2) Coins can be provincial or Imperial, and no less than a gF grade.
3) Minimal smoothing at most, and no tooling.

But then again, I have to be realistic, given that my average price per coin is in the high $80s.

Here is my Caesar.



Incidentally, this is only one of 3 coins in my collection that exceed the $500 mark. I paid a pretty penny, $900 to be exact. But given the opportunity and the condition of the coin, I don't think I did too terribly bad price wise. At least I think so. No idea, what do you think?

 

@IdesOfMarch01 Wonderful writeup and beautiful coins. I only have 2 examples of JC denarii and they are both very poor examples when compared to your superb coins.

 

Nice write-up @IdesOfMarch01 , and you are in a different strata of coins than I am. Gorgeous.

Here are my IVLIVS CAESARi:


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


RImp CAESAR 49 BCE AR Denarius Military Mint Traveling Elephant-Pontificate Emblems OBV-REV Craw 443-1 3-79g 17mm

 

Even though I have read Caesar's histories many times, I am still fascinated with the stories every time I read them. Nice write-up, but much nicer coins. I'm envious of course, but that is as it should be with such beautiful coins.

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

 

Still a nice coin, even with the plug. You can see Caesar's face clearly, which is what truly matters. And it is a nice portrait if you ask me.

 

CONGRATULATIONS!
@IdesOfMarch01
On your
1000th post
Beginners like me are grateful to seasoned collectors like you for the inspiration!
Beautiful collection! Awesome accomplishment!​

 

I'm totally impressed by what you have started to show of your 12 Caesars coinage, and intrigued by the possibilities of what is yet to come. I just recently completed a 12 caesars set in silver and a writeup on another list. Thanks for the invite to let them tag along with your group.

Julius Caesar (44 BC)
(Crawford 480/19; RSC 8; BMC(republican) 4187

This is a coin of the moneyer C. Cossutius Maridianus issued very shortly after the death of Caesar in early 44BC. The obverse bears a portrait of Julius Caesar laureate and veiled. It is one of the first types to bear the title PARENS PATRIAE, ascending on the left. His name CAESAR ascends on the right. In the fields left and right respectively are an apex, a pointed priestly cap the emperor was entitled to wear as one of the flamines, and a lituus, inspired by the staff shepherds used to redirect or rescue sheep, but used as a wand to mark out sacred space in the sky above the worshiping conclave.

The reverse has the name of the moneyer arranged in a crossword pattern, C.COSSVTIVS + MERID IANVS, with the letters A A A FF at angels in the 4 corners as if radiating from the center. These letters stood for the words aere argento auro (the three metals bronze, silver, and gold) flando feriundo (referring to the making of coins). Crawford puts this coin in the class of those that were propaganda for the treviri monetales. The office of "moneyer" was an old honorarium in the Republic, and as a pathway to privilege had been fixed at three as early as 289 BC. That number had been increased to four by Julius Caesar in 44 BC as part of an effort to increase the number of minor magistrates in the imperial administration (promoting upward mobility and gratitude to the emperor). But after his death that number was not long in returning to the historical three.

 

WOW!! What a wonderful presentation!! Of course, both coins are simply fabulous for the type.

Terrific coins guys!!

My denarius of a Caesar portrait (Mark Anthony military mint) is posthumous but I still relish it


Mark Antony & Julius Caesar. 43 B.C. AR denarius (17 mm, 3.44 g, 5 h). Mint traveling with Antony in Cisalpine Gaul. CAESAR [DIC], bare head of Julius Caesar right; behind, capis / M A[NT(Conjoined letters)]O IMP R P C (= ReiPublicae Constituendae---Regulation of the Republic), bare head of Marc Antony right; behind, lituus. Crawford 488/1; HCRI 118; Sydenham 1165; RSC 2. Lightly toned. Good metal. Nearly very fine.

 

What a gorgeous coins!
I have 5 lifetime issue denarii, but none portrayed, and two posthumous portrayed (both fourrées...):

April 44 BC. Fourrée Denarius 19mm, 2.89 g Imitating a Rome mint issue. C. Cossutius Maridianus, moneyer. Laureate and veiled head right; apex behind, lituus before / Legend arranged in form of cross; A A A F • F in angles. Crawford 480/19; CRI 112; Sydenham 1069; RSC 8.

42 BC. Fourrée Denarius 19mm, 2.23 g; Rome mint; L. Mussidius Longus, moneyer. Laureate head right / Rudder, cornucopia set upon globe, winged caduceus, and apex. Crawford 494/39a; CRI 116; Sydenham 1096a; RSC 29.

 

Ahem, @Alegandron your elephant denarius reverse is upside down!

 

I always enjoy your writeups and your fantastic coins. My JC coins are all low grade but I still enjoy them.

 

LOL, of course you are ABSOLUTELY correct! I had corrected that, but I obviously grabbed the wrong file! Believe it or not, this was the original auction house's photo. I will fix this when I get back to the office.

Cripes, now you got me checking to see if my fly is open!

[EDIT] LOL, done...

 

Great thread and excellent coins all!

 

Great write up and two fantastic coins, can't wait to see the rest of your twelve caesars. I am sure they will be just as spectacular. I only have two a lifetime Dupondius and a provincial posthumous portrait from Macedon.

 

Nice, I still have no Julius Caesar coins..

also Dan Carlin released a free 6 hour podcast on Caeasar's conquest of Gaul a few days ago..
http://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-60-the-celtic-holocaust/

 

Gorgeous presentation and of course coins IOM (what else to expect from you ?)

No lifetime portrait to show but some denarii anyway, hopefully not too bad


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



Julius 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

 

Beautiful set of Julius coins, in perfect condition, you must be very proud.

 

Thanks !
More happy than proud would I say

Q

 

Great write-up and a beautiful pair of coins! I agree with your portrait aureus being the most aesthetic.

Although, I'd be surprised if there were that few coins in existence - anecdotally, I've seen quite a few in older catalogs but haven't tried to build a census. I know the ANS has two, Berlin has one, and the BM has at least two. A quick search on CoinArchives shows at least 33 examples (many of which are low grade). I'll need to do a more comprehensive search soon, or perhaps someone has done a die study and has a view into available examples.

I'll post a picture of my Caesar denarius when I have access to a computer: I originally consigned it to an auction but it ended up not selling and I've decided to keep it, having been outbid twice when attempting to upgrade. I suppose it never left but I'm happy to have it back!