Ancients: Julius Caesar, as Dictator (49-44 BC). AR denarius (19mm, 3.64 gm, 11h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 4/5....

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Lifetime Caesar Portrait

Julius Caesar, as Dictator (49-44 BC). AR denarius (19mm, 3.64 gm, 11h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 4/5. Rome, moneyer P. Sepullius Macer, January-February 44 BC. CAESAR · IMP, laureate head of Caesar right, eight-pointed star behind / P · SEPVLLIVS - MACER, Venus Victrix standing left, holding Victory in right hand and scepter set on star in left. Crawford 480/5b. CRI 106a. RSC 41. Minor reverse weakness, otherwise beautifully toned, with a hint of iridescence, and possessing an excellent lifetime portrait of the great dictator.

This silver denarius carries a startlingly realistic, warts-and-all portrait of Caesar on the obverse and the image of the dictator's patron goddess, Venus, on the reverse. The obverse legend acclaims Caesar as "Imperator," or victorious general, without any mention of his forthcoming title "Dictator For Life" (DICT. PERPETVO), voted by the Senate on 15 February 44 BC, indicating this piece was struck in January or early February of that fateful year. The star behind his head is probably employed here as a control mark or space filler, however, its use here can be considered eerily prescient, as the appearance of a bright comet in the heavens some four months after Caesar's murder was taken by his supporters as marking his apotheosis, leading the Senate to vote him divine honors the following year.

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