Julius Caesar, as Dictator Perpetuo (February-March 44 BC), with Lucius Aemilius Buca, as Moneyer. AR denarius (19mm, 3.52 gm, 7h). NGC AU 3/5 - 3/5, bankers mark. Rome, February-March 44 BC. DICT•PERPETVO-CAESAR, laureate head of Julius Caesar right / L•BVCA, Venus Victrix standing facing, head left, Victory left in outstretched right hand, grounded scepter in left. Crawford 480/8. Sydenham 1061. Julia 35 and Aemilia 14. From the Rockport Collection. Privately purchased from Heritage Auctions in the 1980s. Sold with original custom holder listing older catalog references. For two centuries, Rome had spurned the Hellenistic practice of placing the ruler's portrait on the coinage of the realm, much as they rejected the concept of kingship altogether. So early in 44 BC, many Romans must have been stunned to see the image of Julius Caesar on circulating silver denarii. Like a profusion of other honors and titles, the right to place his image on coins had been bestowed on Caesar, by the Roman Senate. Caesar's enemies may have had an ulterior motive in approving the honor, as it almost certainly would fuel the growing suspicion that Caesar intended to name himself king of Rome. If this was the intent, it succeeded, for within three months a conspiracy had been formed and Caesar was duly assassinated at a meeting of the Senate, on 15 March 44 BC. This rare silver denarius by L. Buca carries a realistic portrait of Caesar on the obverse and the seated image of the dictator's patron goddess, Venus, on the reverse. The obverse legend acclaims Caesar as "DICT(ator) PERPETVO," or "Dictator For Life," a title approved by the Senate in February, 44 BC.

HID09801242017

© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

To the auctioneer's website