Ancients: Julius Caesar. 44 B.C. AR denarius,...

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Julius Caesar. 44 B.C. AR denarius, (18 mm, 3.86 g, 11 h). Rome. P. Sepullius Macer, moneyer. Laureate head of Julius Caesar right / Venus standing left, holding small Victory and scepter; on lower shaft if scepter, shield. Crawford 480/10; HCRI 107a; Sydenham 1073; RSC 38. MS NGC, slight flatness.

Probably the most famous portrait issue of Julius Caesar. This series illustrates the dictator's break with the Roman custom forbidding the depiction of living individuals on the coinage, which may have contributed to the mounting fears (perhaps justifiable in retrospect) that he wished to do away with republican institutions and establish a new personal monarchy in Rome. These fears, combined with jealousy of his success and power, led to Caesar's assassination on the Ides of March, 44 B.C. At the same time that the portrait subtly elevates Caesar's status to that of a king, it also reveals his human frailty: the laurel wreath that Caesar wears was awarded to him by the Senate, but he reportedly wore it in public at all times in order to hide a bald spot.

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