Julius Caesar, as Dictator (49-44 BC). AR denarius (18mm, 3.89 gm, 6h). NGC Choice AU S 5/5 - 4/5. Military mint traveling with Caesar in North Africa, 48-46 BC. Diademed head of Venus right, wearing necklace / CAESAR, Aeneas advancing left, head facing, palladium left in right hand, carrying Anchises on his left shoulder. Crawford 458/1. Sydenham 1013. Julia 10. This issue was struck in later 47 BC for the campaign in Africa and was likely chosen with the victory at Pharsalus in mind, but almost certainly not chosen by Caesar himself. Caesar apparently felt the need to invoke Venus during this campaign, most especially when confronting Pompey or his sons. Pompey was devoted to Venus, but feared the loss of her favor before the Battle of Pharsalus on 9 August 48 BC (on the Republican calendar, but the precise date in June on the Julian calendar is uncertain) - the decisive battle of Caesar's Civil War, from which Pompey fled to Egypt and was executed by Ptolemy XIII.

HID09801242017

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