Julius Caesar Denarius, mint moving with Caesar 49-48. AR 18.5mm, 3.99 g. Pontifical emblems: culullus, aspergillum, axe and apex. Rev. Elephant r., trampling dragon; in exergue, CAESAR. Babelon Julia 9. C 9. Sydenham 1006. Sear Imperators 9. Crawford 443/1.

Good very fine.

With his crossing of Rubicon and invasion of Italy Caesar would have had an immediate need of money for financing his military operations. This need was largerly met by an unusually extensive issue of silver denarii of a single type. It must remain a matter for conjecture whether this coinage commenced in Gaul, as part of Caesar's preparations for invasion, or whether it dates from his acquisition of bullion left behind in the public treasury by the panic-stricken Pompeians when they fled Rome. Caesar chose to take sole responsibility for this production of coinage despite the obvious unconstitutionality of so doing and did not hesitate to put into circulation silver denarii bearing nothing more than his own cognomen as the issuing authority. The symbolism of the obverse can hardly be anything other than the triumph of good over evil, whilst the reverse alludes to Caesar's possession of the office of pontifex maximus. It is difficult to assess how long this important type remained in issue, but in all probability it served the needs of the Caesarian forces right up to the time of the final campaign leading to the battle of Pharsalus.