Saturday, January 3, 2009

Roman Coins



This coin is a silver Denarius of Julius Caesar, struck in 40 BC. Notice how it was mis-struck by the slave coin maker. The coin blank probably was too large for the coin.

Part of the motivation for Caesar's assasination was the need to destroy a man who was arrogant enough to put his image on a coin. No Roman had attempted this in the history of the Republic. Caesar's early coins showed him veiled as the Pontifex Maximus of Rome (chief priest). Later Denarii, such as this one, show him wearing a crown. This coin was struck four years after Caesar's death when he had already been deified by the Senate.

1 comment:

Tie Dye said...

Caesar coins are probably one of the most counterfeit coins of them all. And Brutus is one of the rarest and most treasured.